October 9, 2026 – (SOMERVILLE, MA) – During the week of October 26, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE) will conduct a Tiered Focused Monitoring Review of Somerville Public Schools. DESE 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 onsite visit, parent outreach is an important part of the review process. The district will send a survey to the parents of students whose records are reviewed by the team, focused on key areas of their child’s English learner education program. Survey results will be reviewed by DESE and they will contribute to the monitoring report.

Within approximately 60 business days of the onsite visit, the review chairperson will provide the district with a report with information about areas in which the schools meet or exceed regulatory requirements and areas which require assistance to correct or improve practices.

The report will be available to the public at https://www.doe.mass.edu/ele/cpr/.