What is Public School Monitoring?
What is Tiered Focused Monitoring?
What is Group A and Group B TFM Review?
What role do parents/guardians play in the Tiered Focused Monitoring Review?
Where do I find my district/school's report?
Public School Monitoring (PSM) is an office within the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE); monitoring teams from PSM work with school districts, charter schools, vocational schools, and virtual schools to ensure state and federal laws and regulations for special education and civil rights are being followed. This is accomplished through a process called Tiered Focused Monitoring (TFM).
There are four PSM monitoring teams, with each team focused on one region of the state: Western, Central, Southeast, and Metro/Northeast.
PSM Contact Page
Tiered Focused Monitoring (TFM) is the review of select policies, procedures, student records, and building facilities to see if schools and districts are in compliance with, or following, the state and federal laws and regulations for special education and civil rights. PSM reviews all school districts, charter schools, vocational schools, and virtual schools across the state every three years. The TFM review includes:
The Parent Orientations provide additional information on the review process.
Tiered Focused Monitoring Reviews are broken into two groups, Group A and Group B. Each group has a different monitoring focus and different review activities.
Parent involvement is an important part of the review process. There are several ways parents can become involved:
Parent OrientationA member of PSM conducts a Parent Orientation, providing a general overview of the Tiered Focused Monitoring Review process. Typically PSM conducts the parent orientation in conjunction with the SEPAC, at a time and location that works for parents.
Parent Telephone InterviewParents may request a telephone interview. The school or district publishes a press release to notify parents and the public when a PSM team will be in the school or district to carry out monitoring activities. Contact information (email and direct telephone) for a PSM member is included in the press release.
Interview with the SEPAC chairperson
At the conclusion of the Tiered Focused Monitoring Review, PSM develops a report. The report identifies any areas that require corrective action and PSM supports districts in implementing the corrective action. The report is available to the public through the PSM webpage.
The Office of Public School Monitoring is committed to ensuring that parents have the information they need about the Tiered Focused Monitoring Review process. If you have questions, please contact us at Publicschoolmonitoring@mass.gov .
You can also call the supervisors of each region:
Jesee Kihiko, Southeast Region, 781-338-3745
Amy Krukonis, Central Region, 781-338-3725
Andrew MacKenzie, Northeast Region, 781-338-3761
Michelle Poulin, Western Region, 413-314-6710
The Problem Resolution System (PRS) is the Department's process for addressing complaints from the public about students' educational rights and the legal requirements for education. PRS staff are available by phone and email between 8:45 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. every business day to discuss your issues, answer your questions, and if needed, to help you to file a complaint with the Department.
Website: http://www.doe.mass.edu/prs/
Main Telephone: 781-338-3700 TTY: N.E.T. Relay: 1-800-439-2370 Fax: 781-338-3710 Compliance Email: compliance@doe.mass.edu
Last Updated: February 24, 2022
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 135 Santilli Highway, Everett, MA 02149
Voice: (781) 338-3000 TTY: (800) 439-2370
Disclaimer: A reference in this website to any specific commercial products, processes, or services, or the use of any trade, firm, or corporation name is for the information and convenience of the public and does not constitute endorsement or recommendation by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.