DESE Monitoring Visit Local Outreach and Notification Rescheduled!
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Public School Monitoring (PSM) will conduct an Integrated Monitoring Review of the Waltham Public Schools during the week of April 28, 2025 and not January 27, 2025. Please make note of this change. Each school district, charter school, vocational school, and virtual school undergoes an Integrated Monitoring Review every three years. The areas addressed during an Integrated Monitoring Review are organized into two groups, known as Group A Universal Standards and Group B Universal Standards.
The Waltham Public Schools will be undergoing a Group B monitoring review that addresses special education teacher and related service personnel licensure and professional development; parent, student, and community engagement, including compliance with Child Find requirements; facilities and classroom observations; implementation and oversight of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs); time and learning, and equal access.
The process includes interviews with district staff and administrators, review of policies and procedures, and school building visits. The process may also include parent/caregiver, student and teacher focus group meetings to gather additional information. Interpretation will be provided, if needed.
The Department will send a parent survey, in multiple languages and formats, as needed, to parents /guardians of special education students to gather key information on the special education processes and procedures.
Parents/guardians and other stakeholders may call Gillian Lange, Monitoring Review Chairperson, at (781) 338- 3246 to request a telephone interview. If anyone 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 charter school with a report that includes information on further actions that may be required. The public can access the report at https://www.doe.mass.edu/psm/tfm/default.html
Multilingual Department
All WPS Multilingual Learners and their teachers are preparing for WIDA ACCESS testing. This assessment measures student language progress in listening, speaking, reading and writing in English. Students take these assessments during the school day between January 6, 2025 and February 14, 2025. Learn more about WIDA ACCESS testing here:
Change of Address
If you have moved within Waltham or need to update the address Waltham Public Schools has on file, you must provide the new address to your child(ren)’s school(s). To complete the update, you will need to provide the school with the following:
Proof of Residency
Homeowners
- City of Waltham quarterly tax bill -OR-
- Copy of Purchase & Sales or Deed for a new home purchase
Renters
Current Lease Agreement - Signed & dated within one year -OR-
Residency Affidavit Form [English] [Spanish] [Portuguese] [Haitian Creole]
*Please be aware that changes to your address may result in:
Reassignment to a different school based on district boundaries
Changes to bus eligibility as determined by Waltham School Committee policy
Assignment to a new bus route or bus stop
Your child(ren)’s school will provide you with this information and assistance.
If you are experiencing housing instability:
Please contact our McKinney-Vento office by email mkvliaison@walthampublicschools.org or 781-314-5425 to update your address and receive additional assistance. Families identified as McKinney-Vento are not required to change their child's school if they move as under this policy your child is eligible to remain in their school of origin.
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION
WELCOME CLASS OF 2038! KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION
Children whose parent/legal guardian(s) are living in Waltham may enroll in Kindergarten with the Waltham Public Schools if they have reached 5 years of age on or before September 1, of the new school year. The communication for our 2025-26 Kindergarten Registration will be mailed out in January to families on our list of expected kindergarten students. If you do not receive this notice from our office, you are encouraged to contact us and confirm that your child is either on our list or needs to be added so that you will receive communications and mailings for Kindergarten registration.
Families wishing to participate in the Dual Language School lottery must notify the PIC at the time of registration. The Dual Language lottery will be held in May 2026 (date TBA) and to qualify you must submit your child's registration and all required documents prior to May 1st. We look forward to welcoming your child and working with your family throughout the registration process.
More information and future updates can be found on the Kindergarten Registration page: https://www.walthampublicschools.org/page/kindergarten-registration-information
INTEGRATED PREK REGISTRATION
The Pre-K Application for the current 2024-25 school year is still open to fill available spots at the Stanley Elementary School location. Parents are encouraged to apply for either the 3 year old morning or 4 year old afternoon program. Rolling admission to the morning program for children turning 3 after September 1st will be offered if space allows. Applications will be accepted through December 2024 or until all spots are filled.
The Pre-K Application for the 2025-26 school year is now accepting applications for NEW students. Children whose parents or legal guardians reside in Waltham and will turn 3 or 4 years old on or before September 1, 2025 are eligible to apply. Rolling admission to the morning program for children turning 3 after September 1st will be offered if space allows. More information including the online applications for all Integrated Pre-K Programs can be found on the Pre-K Programs page: https://www.walthampublicschools.org/page/waltham-public-schools-pre-k-programs
Fine and Performing Arts Department
The Fine & Performing Arts Department of Waltham Public Schools has launched a dedicated webpage to keep families informed about its events. Visit the page at Fine & Performing Arts Webpage to explore a calendar of performance events and the City Hall art show schedule. Updates will be added throughout the year, so check back often! We are also on social media. Follow us on instagram!
