JRI, a provider of trauma-informed care to children and families in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, today announced that the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has found all nine JRI schools to be in full compliance with the requirements that it has established, as part of a recent review that DESE conducted.

The approved private school program review from DESE was based on onsite visits at each of JRI’s schools and determined that JRI met the specifications of 17 compliance areas, including staffing, training and facility requirements. 

JRI’s schools include Berkshire Meadows (Housatonic), Meadowridge Academy (Swansea), Pelham Academy (Lexington), Swansea Wood School, Glenhaven Academy (Marlborough), Walden Street School (Concord), Southeast Alternative School – Middleborough, Southeast Alternative School – Cape Cod (Sandwich), and The Victor School (Acton).  These schools provide quality education to a broad range of students, from children and young adults with developmental disabilities to students who struggle in the traditional school setting due to issues such as past trauma, depression, anxiety, and mood disorders. 

“We have worked very hard as an organization to make our schools special places that provide trauma-informed and highly appropriate care for our students, many of whom have experienced challenges getting access to a quality education before coming to us,” said Andy Pond, President and CEO of JRI.  “The fact that all of our schools were found to be 100% compliant with DESE’s stringent standards, with absolutely no corrective action required, is quite an accomplishment and is truly a testament to our skilled and dedicated teachers, counselors, program directors, therapists and staff, who have given so much of themselves to ensure that our students have the very best.”

The DESE intensive review assesses compliance with Massachusetts education laws and regulations, specifically, “Special Education Regulations” and “Program and Safety Standards for Approved Public or Private and Residential Special Education School Programs.”