During the week of May 6, 2024, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Office of Public School Monitoring (PSM) will conduct a Tailored Focused Monitoring Review of Lawrence Family Development Charter School. The Office of Public School Monitoring visits each district and charter school every three years to monitor compliance with federal and state special education and civil rights regulations. Areas of review related to special education include student assessments, determination of eligibility, the Individualized Education Program (IEP) Team process, and IEP development and implementation. Areas of review related to civil rights include bullying, student discipline, physical restraint, and equal access to school programs for all students.

In addition to the onsite visit, parent outreach is an important part of the review process. The review chairperson from the Office of Public School Monitoring will send all parents of students with disabilities an online survey that focuses on key areas of their child's special education program. Survey results will contribute to the development of a report. During the onsite review, the Office of Public School Monitoring will interview the chairperson(s) of the district's Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC). Other onsite activities may include interviews of district staff and administrators, reviews of student records, and onsite observations.

Parents and other individuals may call Joan Brinckerhoff, Public School Monitoring Chairperson, at (781) 338-3715 to request a telephone interview. If an individual requires an accommodation, such as translation, to participate in an interview, the Department will make the necessary arrangements.

Within approximately 60 business days after the onsite visit, the review chairperson will provide the district with a report with information about areas in which the district meets or exceeds regulatory requirements and areas in which the district requires assistance to correct or improve practices. The public will be able to access the report at http://www.doe.mass.edu/psm/tfm/reports/. 

Press Release for Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Office of Language Acquisition Re: 2023-2024 ELE Tiered Focused Monitoring

April 8, 2024

On May 8, 2024 the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's (DESE's) Office of Language Acquisition (OLA) will conduct a Tiered Focused Monitoring Review of the Lawrence Family Development Charter School's English Language Education department. The Office of Language Acquisition reviews each district's and charter school's ELE program every six years to monitor compliance with federal and state English learner education laws and regulations. Areas of review will include English learners' student assessments, identification of English learners; what programs English learners are placed in, parent and community involvement, curriculum and instruction, student support services, licensure requirements for faculty, staff and administration, program plans, and evaluation and recordkeeping.

In addition to the virtual visit, parent outreach is an important part of the review process. The district will send a survey to the parents of students whose records the review team examines. The survey focuses on key areas of their child's English learner education program. Survey results will be reviewed by OLA and they will contribute to the monitoring report.

Parents and other individuals may call Samantha Kodak, M/Ed., Office of Language Acquisition Review Chairperson, at (781) 338- 3561 to request a telephone interview. If an individual requires an accommodation, such as translation, to participate in an interview, DESE will make the necessary arrangements.

Within approximately 60 business days of the onsite visit, the review chairperson will provide the Lawrence Family Development Charter School with a report with information about areas in which the Lawrence Family Charter School meets or exceeds regulatory requirements and areas in which the Lawrence Family Development Charter School requires assistance to correct or improve practices. The report will be available to the public at https://www.doe.mass.edu/ele/cpr/. 

Congratulations to Brianna Espinola, winner of the LFD/LFDCS TV Raffle Fundraiser.

Georgia Guzman in Grade 1 from Ms. Zinke's class sold the winning ticket.

Students, Yahir Almonte and Shayla Bano, from Ms. Hidalgo's grade 3 class helped us in choosing the winner today! 

Thanks to all who contributed in raising $4,481 for LFDCS graduates' scholarships!

Attention all alumni who receive LFDCS Scholarships! 

SY'2024-2025 LFDCS Scholarship Renewal Applications are now available and due to the Opening Doors department no later than June 1, 2024 in order to renew scholarships for next school year.

If you have any questions, please contact openingdoors@lfdcs.org .

Lawrence Family Development Charter School Offers another Year of Meals at No Cost for Students

Lawrence Family Development Charter School will be participating in the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program. As part of this program, all LFDCS schools will offer healthy meals every school day. The Massachusetts legislature has provided funding to make meals available at no cost to all students during school year 2023-2024, regardless of household income. However, families should still complete a Meal Benefit Application as this provides data for key funding for academic resources and may also connect families to additional benefits. This data will also support the additional funds provided by the Commonwealth for this pilot. Household size and income criteria are used to determine eligibility for free and reduced-price benefits if the household does not receive assistance or the children are not in the other categories mentioned above. Children can get free or reduced-price meals if the household's gross income falls at or below the limits on the Federal Income Eligibility Guideline chart.

Community Eligibility Provision

Lawrence Family Development Charter School will be participating in the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program. As part of this program, LFDCS schools will offer healthy meals every school day at NO COST to the students due to the implementation of the Community Eligibility Provision for school year 2023-2024. Students will be able to participate in these meal programs without having to pay a fee or submit a household application.

Non-Discrimination Statement:

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant's name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

1.mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or

2.fax:
(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or

3.email:
program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider. 

Congratulations to Thomas Strong, the winner of the Picnic table and accessories. The student that sold the winning ticket was Daylon Fajardo who is in Ms. Sullivan K-2 class.

The students who pulled the winning ticket were Genesis Munoz in Grade 3 and Yann Gonzalez Nolberto in Grade 3.

$2,950 was raised for graduates of Lawrence Family Development Charter School--thank you!

On April 14, LFDCS celebrated Employee Appreciation Day with a half day of professional development followed by a luncheon and presentation of certificates, pins and gift cards for employees who had completed 5, 10, 15 and 20 years of service.

Congratulations to Rosanna Mejia, Janetsy Rodriguez, RN, Colleen Saia, Priya Shrivastava, Erika Witham and Anna Yuen for 5 years of service; Alyssa Duffy, Sandra Gonzalez and Julian Paulino for 10 years of service; Superintendent Ralph Carrero for 15 years of service and Trevia Tate for 20 years of service. Trevia was also presented a placque for her 20 years of service by Superintendent Carrero.