Schwartz Center for Children Garners Perfect Score From State Department

The Massachusetts State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has given the Schwartz Center for Children a perfect score after a critical once-every-six-years program review of its private Day School.

State officials were onsite in late May combing through policies, interviewing staff, and observing staff interactions with the children. The lead DESE official in the exit interview talked about the “happy environment” that the staff create – their engagement with the children, the education and care that the staff ensure the children get, the parents who say the Schwartz Center provides the “real quality of life” for their sons and daughters, and the policies that they have to keep children safe and allow them to thrive – the policies that they live every day, not just put down on paper.

“The dedicated staff and leadership of the Day School at the Schwartz Center take pride in providing quality education and therapeutic services for our children in a safe and caring environment. It is heartening that the state education officials agree that our school does just that, day in and day out, throughout the full 12-month calendar year,” stated Mary Harrington, the Schwartz Center’s Chief Operating Officer.

She added, “Walking through our corridors you can feel the energy, see the progress in learning and watch as another child struggles and succeeds at taking that first step unaided, saying your name for the first time, guiding a ball into a small net for a first goal – all progress along the road to achieving their own greatest potential. For DESE to give our school a perfect score, certifying that every aspect of our program – every single one – meets these complex requirements, is a testament to the staff under the leadership of Day School Director Margaret Maiato. That team includes teachers, teacher’s assistants, therapists and therapy assistants, nurses, Educational Administrator Brandy Williams and all the support staff within the Day School and the center itself. Daily their goal is to strive for only the best for our children. And we are very proud of them all.”

“The Schwartz Center has and will continue to act on the best interests of the children we service. It was validating to have the DESE recognize those efforts and the entire staff’s participation in helping children achieve”, said Margaret Maiato, Day School Director.

About Schwartz Center for Children:
The Schwartz Center for Children is a nonprofit organization with offices at 1 Posa Place in Dartmouth, MA. It has been serving children with a variety of special medical and developmental needs from birth to age 21 in Southeastern Massachusetts since 1947. Services include a Day School, Early Intervention Program, Outpatient Rehabilitation Services, Regional Consultation Program, Pediatric Specialty Clinics, and a variety of other programs. For more information visit: schwartzcenter.org