District Reviews

Theory of Action
DESE's Office of District Reviews and Monitoring (ODRM) examines district systems, policies, and practices through written reports. These reports provide information and recommendations that promote systemic improvements and advance equitable student outcomes and experiences.

What is a District Review?

The Office of District Reviews and Monitoring (ODRM) conducts in-depth reviews of school districts, as mandated by M.G.L. c. 15, § 55A . These reviews provide districts with critical information and recommendations for improvement, based on the District Standards and Indicators .

All published district reviews are available on the District Review Reports page.

The Review Process

The review process is broken into four distinct phases which culminate in an in-depth, publicly available report.

For additional details on each of these phases and the overall review process, please reference the District Review Handbook and the District Review Resources and Guidance page.

Last Updated: March 26, 2026

Featured

District Standards and Indicators
The District Standards and Indicators is DESE's definition of effective district systems, structures, and policies, and the foundation of all district reviews.
District Review Classroom Observations
Explore classroom observation data from district review reports between 2021 and 2025 in this interactive Power BI dashboard.

For questions about district reviews, please contact the Director of District and School Accountability, Robert Havdala .