District Accreditation as a Quality System

1
District Accreditation as a Quality System

• Presented by
• Mary Beth Huber
• On behalf of the Calcasieu Parish SACS CASI
  Steering Committee

2
Three Levels of AccreditationThe Southern
Association of Colleges and Schools and the
Council on Accreditation and School Improvement
(SACS CASI) offers three levels of accreditation

• School-Based Accreditation Particular schools
  within a school system are individually
  accredited.
• Accreditation as a Super System All schools
  within a school system are individually
  accredited.
• District Accreditation as a Quality System The
  school district is accredited as a quality system
  and this designation provides accreditation for
  all school units under its jurisdiction.

3
Requirements of District AccreditationTo
Qualify to receive District Accreditation as a
Quality System, a school district must

• Be fully-accredited (grades K-12)
• Demonstrate engagement in continuous school
  improvement
• Meet SACS CASI high standards for Quality
  Systems
• Demonstrate Internal Quality Assurance aligned
  with SACS Standards

4
Benefits of District Accreditation

• Support for Schools
• Coherence and Continuity
• External Validation and Recognition
• Continuous Improvement

5
Grades K-12 Preparation

• Meet the SACS CASI Standards for Accreditation
• Complete the Annual Online Accreditation Report
• Engage in continuous school improvement process
• Participate in the Districts Internal Quality
  Assurance Reviews
• Participate in the SACS CASI Regional Quality
  Assurance Reviews (Random Selection)

6
Grades K-12 PreparationWhat are Quality
Assurance Reviews?

• Formerly referred to as Peer Review Visits
• Meet Accreditation Standards for K-12 Public
  Schools
• Conducted by Calcasieu staff members (internal)
• Conducted by SACS CASI Regional Staff members
  (external)

7
Grades K-12 PreparationWhat will the Internal
Quality Assurance Teams do?

• Tour the facilities and observe programs and
  operations
• Review key documentation provided by the school
• Conduct interviews with school faculty and
  stakeholders
• Conduct an exit interview with the school
  administration

8
Grades K-12 PreparationWho will meet with
Internal Teams?

• Administrative Team
• Curriculum Support Staff
• School Improvement Team
• Student Groups
• Parents, Community and Business Partners

9
What key documentation is required?

• Current School Improvement Plan and Current SIP
  Supplements (components meeting the Guided
  Self-study requirements)
• School Documents (handbooks, policy books, etc.)

10
Engaging in continuous improvement

• Vision (expectations for student learning)
• Profile (description of the current reality of
  student learning)
• Plans (implementation of interventions to
  improve student learning)
• Results of improvement efforts (as they are
  related to the interventions)

11
Projected School Visits2007-08 K-12 Internal
Quality Assurance Schedule
12
SACS CASI Regional Quality Assurance

• Conduct Random Quality Assurance visits of
  District Schools
• Interview with the Superintendent, School Board
  Members, District Level Administrators and
  Stakeholders
• Review District data, Internal Quality Assurance
  reports, Districts Guided-Self Study and
  determine compliance to SACS Standards for
  Quality Systems
• Share findings and eligibility for District
  Accreditation as a Quality System with Calcasieu
  Parish School Community

13
Quality Assurance Review

• Fall 2008
• Approximately 10-15 member team
• Visit Schedule
• Sunday Team Orientation and Preparation
• Monday Interviews with Key District
  Stakeholders (Superintendent, Central Office
  staff, School Board members, Principals,
  Parents, Students, Community)
• Tuesday Half-day Visits to a Sample of Schools
• (Schools provide information and perspective on
  the system)
• Wednesday Interviews with District Staff
• (Evidence and dialogue to complete standards
  verification)
• Team Work Session
• Oral Exit Report (Commendations and
  Recommendations)

14
District Standards

• Vision and Purpose
• Governance and Leadership
• Teaching and Learning
• Documenting and Using Results
• Resources and Support Systems
• Stakeholder Communications and Relationships
• Commitment to Continuous Improvement

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Standards Activity
16
Focus ActivityA system of schools..orA
school system?
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What does that mean?

• Which are we?

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Systems Approach

• System
• -network of parts which function as a whole
• Systemic
• -all parts are interrelated, interdependent,
  aligned
• -all parts contribute to shared purpose
• Systematic
• -parts are organized, structured, arranged
• -processes are planned and predictable
• Sustainable
• -capacity to endure, to embed and to maintain

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What happens Next?All SACS CASI Schools should

• Complete annual online application
• Engage in continuous school improvement process
• Annually review and file all SACS CASI
  documentation
• Participate in annual internal Quality Assurance
  Reviews
• Participate in a 5-year random visit by Regional
  Staff
• Meet Accreditation Standards for K-12 Schools