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District clears special‑education monitoring, but preschool peer slots are full and waiting list growing
Summary
The Falmouth School Committee was told Tuesday that the district satisfied state corrective actions on special‑education IEP timelines and preschool peer‑slot targets after a recent DESE on‑site audit.
The School Committee received an update Tuesday showing the district met corrective actions in a DESE tiered monitoring review and passed an on‑site audit of special‑education recordkeeping tied to IEP timelines and preschool placements.
Student Services Director Sandy (last name not specified) told the committee the district had addressed two prior areas of concern — timely IEP documentation and peer numbers in preschool — and provided training and evidence to DESE during a recent on‑site review. DESE’s reviewer accepted the corrective action documentation, Sandy said.
Sandy said the district submitted a further action plan in February regarding older cohort graduation and MCAS performance gaps that DESE flagged; that plan is still under review. Meanwhile, preschool enrollment is near capacity. The district plans 10 preschool sessions for the coming year, equivalent to about 150 peer slots, and currently has a waiting list of roughly a dozen children. Sandy explained that early‑intervention evaluations (at age 2 years 9 months) and spring screenings can shift some peer slots to students who qualify for IEPs, potentially opening additional peer slots or, if demand rises, requiring a midyear classroom addition.
Sandy asked the committee for patience while the district implements its action plan to address longer‑term indicators such as cohort graduation rates and MCAS gaps. The committee asked for written summaries of the corrective actions and a copy of the preschool screening schedule to assist with planning.
Sandy also noted the district’s back‑to‑school collaboration with the Falmouth Recreation Department is scheduled for Aug. 22, and said the preschool screening for next year will take place at the recreation center on June 12.
