District Review Frequently Asked Questions

The district review is an evidence-based process that assesses district systems, enabling district leaders to reflect on progress and strengthen performance. The focus of the district reviews is to provide formative and actionable feedback. These reviews are conducted according to Chapter 15, Section 55A of the Massachusetts General Laws.

The district review is designed to examine the systems, policies, and practices that drive the day-to-day work of the district, as well as those factors that may help or hinder staff performance and, ultimately, student performance and outcomes. Analysis of these systems, policies, and practices includes a focus on the ways in which the district works to improve and promote equity for all students.

Districts are selected for review based on a variety of criteria.

State law (Chapter 15, Section 55A ) outlines key factors that guide the annual selection of districts for review. These include:

• A focus on districts demonstrating relatively lower levels of student achievement, either in absolute terms or compared to districts serving similar populations.
• Consideration of districts showing strong performance, as well as a subset chosen through a randomized process.
• Timing of other DESE-led monitoring activities, such as the Integrated Monitoring Review (IMR), which may affect eligibility.

Furthermore, DESE's Office of District Reviews and Monitoring (ODRM) may use additional criteria to narrow the pool of selected districts, including but not limited to:

• ODRM ensures that districts are not reviewed more than once in a five-year period.
• ODRM prioritizes districts that have never been reviewed or have not been reviewed in ten or more years.
• ODRM prioritizes geographical diversity and aims to select districts across all regions of the Commonwealth.
• ODRM typically selects one or more vocational technical schools for review each year.

The review process is overseen by ODRM, but the review itself will be conducted by the American Institutes for Research (AIR). AIR has been conducting district reviews, in partnership with ODRM since 2021.

The review focuses on DESE's District Standards and Indicators .

No, districts may not opt out of any part of the review or delay the review to a future year.

The review process is broken into four distinct phases (Preparation, Onsite, Drafting and Publication, and Post-Review) which culminate in an in-depth, publicly available report. Additional information on each of these phases and their corresponding resources and guidance are available on the District Review Resources and Guidance page.

AIR and DESE will work with the district to select dates for an onsite visit between the months of October and April. The onsite week should be one that represents a typical week in the district and is convenient for the community.

The district will receive a Districtwide Instructional Observation Report that outlines findings from classroom observations approximately one month after the onsite visit. Approximately three to six months after the onsite, the district will receive a draft of the full report to review for factual errors. After any edits have been resolved, the final report will be posted to the District Review Reports page. (Note that these estimates are based on previous years and may vary from district to district.)

The entire review culminates in a published report that shares findings, relative to the District Standards and Indicators and recommendations for consideration.

Superintendents often find their reports helpful in identifying areas for growth and guiding the district's strategic direction. You can view a library of past reports from other districts on the District Review Reports page.

Once each report is finalized, ODRM will send a copy of the report via email to the superintendent. The report will also be posted on the District Review Reports page.

Districts are strongly encouraged to utilize the Post-Review Action Kit to guide their reflection, planning, and implementation of the recommendations listed in the report.