Audit of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)

This is a State Auditor performance audit of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, focused on how it oversaw adult education providers from July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019.

“In this performance audit, we examined whether DESE conducted all program quality reviews and site visits (SVs) of adult education (AE) providers and ensured that AE providers maintained complete, accurate, and up-to-date course attendance records and waitlists in accordance with its policies and procedures.”

Auditors checked whether DESE followed its own rules for reviewing adult education providers and making sure attendance records and waitlists were accurate and current.

“Does DESE ensure that AE providers maintain accurate, complete, and up-to-date attendance records and waitlists in accordance with its “FY19 Massachusetts Policies for Effective Adult Education”?”

If you or someone you know needs adult education, bad waitlist records could affect whether people get fair access to classes and services.

“Without adequate assurance that waitlist information is properly maintained, DESE cannot ensure fair and equitable access for individuals who would like to benefit from the AE program.”

The auditor found four main issues: DESE did not adequately verify attendance data, waitlists, risk-based scheduling, or completion of site visits.

“DESE did not always perform its scheduled SVs for AE providers.”

The auditor recommended that DESE create and use stronger procedures and controls for attendance data, waitlists, cohort assignments, and site visits.

“DESE should implement controls to ensure that AE providers are placed in the appropriate cohorts and monitoring visits are scheduled in accordance with its risk-based cohort assignment policy.”

The findings matter because adult education serves adults who may need basic skills, English language instruction, high school equivalency, or career readiness support.

“The program offers educational assistance to Massachusetts residents who are 16 years and older, are not enrolled in high school, and require instruction ranging from basic literacy and numeracy, as well as English for speakers of other languages, to high school equivalency and college and career readiness skills.”

AE means adult education; LACES is the database used for adult education information; PQRs are full program reviews; SVs are shorter site visits.

“A PQR is a full-day monitoring visit.”