AdvancEd District Wide Accreditation

A Beginning Guide for Schools

AdvancEd

What is District Wide Accreditation?

Ensure Desired Results

Improve Teaching & Learning

Foster a Culture of Improvement

A powerful systems approach to improving student performance.

District is accredited rather than individual schools.

Schools and District work together in harmony. Entire school system focuses on improving student learning.

System is designed for continuous self-evaluation and improvement.

Leon County Schools District Wide Accreditation

AdvancEd

Who is AdvancEd?

A Coalition of Accrediting Agencies:

• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

• North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI)

• National Study of School Evaluation (NSSE)

AdvancEd

Together They Form:

• the world’s largest education community• representing over 23,000 public and private schools

and districts• in 30 states and 65 countries• serving nearly 15 million students

AdvancEd

Why District Wide Accreditation?

Ensure Desired Results

Improve Teaching and Learning

Foster a Culture of Improvement

Leon County Schools District Wide Accreditation

AdvancEd

Leon County Schools District Wide Accreditation

What are the Benefits?

With district wide accreditation, the Leon County School District enjoys:

1)Easier student access to postsecondary resources

2) An emphasis on constant improvement

3)Increased/enhanced recognition nationally and internationally

4) Highly cost effective use of resources

AdvancEd

What this Means to Schools: Schools are no longer individually accredited with SACS

Schools participate in a self study with the school district

Schools will evaluate themselves based on seven (7) Standards and their accompanying Indicators.

AdvancEd

3 Core Tasks1. Ensure Desired Results2. Improve Teaching and Learning3. Foster a Culture of Improvement

AdvancEd

Organizational Conditions• Quality Teachers• Effective Leadership• Quality Information• Policies and Procedures that Foster and

Sustain Improvement• Resources and Support Systems to Sustain

Improvement

Effec

tive

Scho

ol D

istr

icts

There are 7 Standards for measurement

1. Vision and Purpose

2. Governance and Leadership

3. Teaching and Learning

4. Documenting and Using Results

5. Resources and Support Systems

6. Stakeholder Communications and Relationships

7. Commitment to Continuous Improvement

AdvancEd

StandardsThe entire school district must meet each Standard. The Standards have Indicators to describe or define them.

IndicatorsSchool Indicators:Indicators for Schools are different from Indicators for the District.

District Indicators:Indicators for the District are different from Indicators for Schools.

StandardsThe entire school district must meet the Standards. Each Standard has Indicators to describe or define it.

IndicatorsSchool Indicators:Indicators for Schools are different from Indicators for the District.

District Indicators:Indicators for the District are different from Indicators for Schools.

Schools will evaluate themselves based on School Indicators.

Get to know the Standards

and their Indicators.

StandardIndicators

A Standard is a comprehensive statement of quality practices and conditions necessary for school districts to improve student learning. Each Standard has a number of Indicators.

Indicators are operational definitions or descriptions of exemplary practices and processes. Together they form a picture of the Standard.

Standard

Indicators

FOR EXAMPLE:STANDARD 1: Vision and PurposeThe school establishes and communicates a shared purpose and direction for improving the performance of students and the effectiveness of the school.

School Indicators1.1 Establishes a vision and purpose for the school in collaboration with its stakeholders.

1.2 Communicates the vision and purpose tobuild stakeholder understanding and support

1.3 Identifies goals to advance the vision.

1.4 Develops and continuously maintains a profileof the school, its students, and the community.

1.5 Ensures that the school’s vision and purpose guide the teaching and learning process and the strategic direction of the school.

Identifies . . .

Communicates . . . Establishes . . .

Vision and Purpose

FOR EXAMPLE:STANDARD 1: Vision and PurposeThe school establishes and communicates a shared purpose and direction for improving the performance of students and the effectiveness of the school.

School Indicators1.1 Establishes a vision and purpose for the school in collaboration with its stakeholders.

1.2 Communicates the vision and purpose tobuild stakeholder understanding and support

1.3 Identifies goals to advance the vision.

1.4 Develops and continuously maintains a profileof the school, its students, and the community.

1.5 Ensures that the school’s vision and purpose guide the teaching and learning process and the strategic direction of the school.

Start here.

Identifies . . .

Communicates . . . Establishes . . .

1.1 Establishes a vision and purpose for the school in collaboration with its stakeholders.

Does your school have a written vision?Does your school have a written purpose?Did you involve your Stakeholders in its development?

Perhaps this is part of your School Improvement Plan.

Self EvaluationStep One:Find evidence that your school practices Indicator 1 of Standard 1. List the evidence you find.

Step Two:

After identifying your evidence, use the provided rubric to determine at what stage your school is in practicing Indicator 1.1.

Not Evident: Your school does not have a Vision or Purpose statement.

Emerging: You are in the process of adopting a Vision and Purpose in collaboration with your Stakeholders, or you have a written Vision and Purpose but it is not yet used for planning and decision making.

Operational: You have a written Vision and Purpose that is used for planning and decision making.

Highly Effective: You have a written Vision and Purpose that is fully integrated into all your major plans and decisions.

Step Three:

Continue this process for all the indicators under each Standard. Don’t guess. Find the evidence. List it.

Standard 3: Teaching & Learning Indicator 3.9: Monitors school climate and takes appropriate steps to ensure that it is conducive to student learning.

Evidence:1. Climate Survey and Results2. Minutes of Faculty and SAC Meetings discussing

survey3. Email regarding morning playground activities4. Changes made to give teachers duty-free lunch

Step Four:

When finished, review your answers and assess yourself on the Standard. Use the rubric.

Step Five:Look for areas where you might improve. Plan for improvement.

Good Luck!You are on your way to continuous improvement.