During the week of February 9, 2026, Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School (Whittier Tech) will participate in a Tiered Focused Monitoring Review conducted by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE’s) Office of Language Acquisition (OLA).
DESE’s Office of Language Acquisition conducts reviews of each district’s and charter school’s English Learner Education (ELE) program approximately every six years to monitor compliance with federal and state laws and regulations related to the education of English learners.
As part of the review, OLA will examine a range of topics related to Whittier Tech’s ELE program, including:
Student assessment practices
Identification of English learners
Program placement and services
Parent and community engagement
Curriculum and instruction
Student support services
Licensure requirements for faculty, staff, and administrators
Program planning, evaluation, recordkeeping, and overall program implementation
In addition to a virtual visit, family outreach is an important component of the monitoring process. Whittier Tech will distribute a survey to parents and guardians of students whose records are reviewed by the team. The survey focuses on key elements of students’ English learner education experience, and responses will be reviewed by OLA and considered in the final monitoring report.
Parents/guardians and other interested individuals may request a telephone interview as part of the review. To request an interview, individuals may contact David Parker, Office of Language Acquisition Review Chairperson, at (781) 338-3466. If an accommodation is needed—such as translation—DESE will make arrangements to ensure participation.
Within approximately 60 business days of the review, the Review Chairperson will provide Whittier Tech with a report identifying areas where the district meets or exceeds regulatory requirements and any areas requiring corrective action or improvement. The final report will be publicly available through DESE at: https://www.doe.mass.edu/ele/cpr/