Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School: Tiered Focused Monitoring Review

Heather Zolnowski, Executive Director of the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School was informed by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education of an upcoming Tiered Focused Monitoring (TFM) Review that will be taking place this school year. As part of this TFM Review, Department staff will visit the charter school during the week of November 12, 2018. 

Such visits are routinely conducted by the Department to satisfy federal and state requirements for the periodic review of specific education programs and services in schools throughout the Commonwealth. The Department is reviewing several programs during a single visit in order to use Department and school staff's time most efficiently and to encourage strong connections among the programs.

The Department's TFM Review will involve reviewing charter school procedures and individual student records, interviewing administrators and a Special Education Parent Advisory Council member, and surveying parents of students with IEPs. After the onsite visit, a report will be prepared for the Executive Director and Board of Directors, with detailed findings.

Using a scale of ratings ranging from "Commendable" to "Not Implemented," the report will rate the implementation of each requirement reviewed by the Department. Where requirements are found not implemented or only partially implemented, the district [or charter school] must propose to the Department corrective action to bring those areas into compliance with statutes and regulations. Districts and schools are encouraged to incorporate the corrective action into their district and school improvement plans and professional development plan. 

The school district [or charter school] will be provided with technical assistance from the Department in developing a corrective action plan. Both the Department's report and the corrective action plan are public information and will be available to the public upon request. TFM Review Final Reports are also available on the Department's Internet website at: http://www.doe.mass.edu/pqa/review/cpr/reports/.

Any member of the public may request to be interviewed by telephone by a member of the Department's visiting team. Those wishing to be interviewed should call the charter school leader's office at (508) 541-3434 no later than 11/9/2018 to leave their name and phone number, or they may call the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education at (781) 338-3704. 

A member of the visiting team will contact each person desiring an interview within two weeks after the completion of the onsite visit. If an individual is not comfortable communicating in English or requires some other accommodation, the Department will make arrangements to communicate appropriately with the individual.

Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School: Tiered Focused Monitoring Review