The Accreditation For Growth Process at Pond Road Middle School

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• The Accreditation For Growth Process at Pond
  Road Middle School

2
What is the Middle States Association?
The Middle States Association (MSA) is a private,
non-profit organization that provides leadership
in school improvement.
3

• Pond Road Middle School is participating in a
  challenging and rewarding process of
  self-assessment as part of the Accreditation for
  Growth Process. The Accreditation for Growth
  (AFG) protocol, developed by the Middle States
  Association and the Commission of Elementary and
  Secondary Schools, asks schools to examine their
  current performances, identify objectives and
  develop a plan to better achieve the objectives.

4

• In January 2005, Washington Township School
  District began the formal process of
  accreditation. Two internal coordinators and a
  Planning Team, comprised of teachers, students,
  administrators, parents, community and a Board
  member began working together to assure that all
  stakeholders had a voice in the process.

5
Why is accreditation important?

• Because our world is in a constant state of
  change, there must be a continuous overview of
  the curriculum to ensure that it remains fluid
  and changing with the culture of the school and
  education. Accreditation provides an approach
  that requires the school to examine and reflect
  upon the current curriculum, teaching
  methodology, and standards to provide an
  environment which is developmentally appropriate,
  culturally sensitive, and challenging.
  Accreditation provides a way to manage the change
  through regular assessment, planning,
  implementation and reassessment.

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What does AFG mean for my child?

• By choosing the AFG accreditation protocol, our
  school is committed to improve student
  performance. As we begin the process of
  examining the objectives that are chosen, our
  focus will be on improving the skills of all
  students and to prepare today's students to
  successfully meet the challenges of tomorrow.

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What is our task?

• Our task is to align our curriculum with the New
  Jersey Core Curriculum Standards, improve our
  assessment strategies, and continue to develop
  student-centered activities that promote higher
  thinking skills. Through the gathering and
  analysis of data collected, we will be able to
  measure whether these objectives have been met.
  AFG shows our communitys commitment to the
  welfare of our students.

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What does AFG mean for parents?

• The Accreditation Committee is committed to
  provide the parents with feedback of the
  accreditation process through various avenues
  such as the district report card, newsletters and
  the district website www.wtpsmercer.k12.nj.us

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What Does Accreditation For Growth Require?

• Requires the commitment of all stakeholders
• Commits to continuous review
• Agrees to peer review and external validation

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What happens during the AFG "visit" to the
school?

• The purpose of the Middle States Association
  visit is to validate the District's strategic
  plan by reviewing the vision, objectives, school
  improvement efforts, and supporting written data.
  The visiting team of educational professionals
  will interview members of the school and
  community to determine whether the Middle States
  Association expectations and standards are being
  met. If all standards are met, the Validation
  Team offers an accreditation recommendation to
  the Commission and accreditation is granted.

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What happens after the visit?

• AFG is an ongoing process. The school will
  continue to meet the requirements of the action
  plans that have been put into practice and will
  continue to move closer to meeting our
  objectives. Each year we will conduct an annual
  review to chart and analyze our progress. The
  Middle States Association requires that a
  mid-point progress report is completed. In
  addition, the Middle States Accreditation
  Commission requires that each school is revisited
  by the validation team every five years.

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• To begin with the end in mind means to start
  with a clear understanding of your destination.
  It means you know where you are going so that you
  better understand where you are now so that the
  steps you take are always in the right
  direction.-- Stephen CoveySeven Habits of
  Highly Effective People Powerful Lessons in
  Personal Change