Building and Recognizing Quality School Systems

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District Accreditation

• Building and Recognizing Quality School Systems

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District Accreditation

• A research-based protocol for districts committed
  to systemic, systematic, and sustainable
  continuous improvement
• Builds the capacity of the system and its schools
  to increase student learning and organizational
  effectiveness over time
• Stimulates, supports and examines how all
  elements of a system work in harmony

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District Accreditation

• Ensures all people, processes, departments and
  operations of the system work in concert
• Recognizes that increasing student learning
  involves an integrated framework
• Strengthens efforts to meet accountability
  requirements
• Encourages growth beyond compliance to achieve
  excellence
• Promotes continuous not episodic improvement

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Three PillarsThe Cornerstones of Accreditation

• Accredited Schools/Districts Must
• Meet high standards
• Engage in continuous improvement
• Demonstrate quality assurance

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AdvancED Accreditation 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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AdvancED Accreditation Standards

• Provide a system of standards that are aligned
  (school, district, service agencies)
• Cross state, regional, national and international
  boundaries
• Are based on research
• Are interrelated and form a collective whole
  (systemic connectedness)
• Focus on factors that contribute to student
  learning
• Address variables schools/districts can impact

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Continuous Improvement

• The district has the responsibility and
• flexibility to identify and implement a
• process of continuous improvement
• one process is used by the district and schools
• promotes continuity, coherence, alignment and
  collaborative planning among all levels
• all schools, departments, operational units and
  staff work to achieve district vision
• encourages customized planning at the school and
  classroom level

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Improvement Process Elements
What future are you pursuing ?
What have you accomplished?
Vision
Profile
Results
What is your current reality?
Monitoring
What actions will you take to improve?
Plan andImplementation
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Quality Assurance

• Internal Review (mirror)
• The district implements methods to monitor
  progress and determine effectiveness of efforts
• External Review (window)
• The district participates in a Quality Assurance
  Review every five years

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Quality Assurance
Internal and Ongoing

• The district designs and implements a program of
  assessment practices and methods to
• monitor and document improvement
• provide meaningful feedback and support
• ensure standards are met and strengthened
• make certain there is alignment of efforts within
  the system
• The district collects and uses assessment data
  and results to determine actions

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Quality Assurance External Review The Hallmark
of Accreditation

• Every Five Years
• District hosts a visit by a national team of
  professional peers. That team
• Evaluates adherence to the AdvancED quality
  standards.
• Assesses the efficacy and impact of the
  districts continuous improvement process.
• Assesses the effectiveness of the districts
  methods for quality assurance.
• Identifies strengths deserving of commendations
  and provide recommendations for improvement.
• Makes an accreditation recommendation for
  national review.

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Expectations

• District
• Meets the AdvancED Standards for Quality Systems
• Identifies and guides the implementation of a
  systemic continuous improvement process
• Monitors its schools through a quality assurance
  process
• Prepares and hosts a QAR visit every five years

• Schools
• Meet the AdvancED Accreditation Standards for
  Quality Schools
• Implement the districts continuous school
  improvement process
• Participate in the districts quality assurance
  process

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5-Year Accreditation Term
Submit Standards Assessment Report

• Constantly
• Assess
• Learn
• Improve

Submit Progress Report Two Years After
the Visit
Host a Quality Assurance Review
Team
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Standards Assessment Report

• Executive Summary of System
• Standards Section (for each standard)
• Narrative describing evidence
• Guided by focus questions
• Assessment of indicators and over-all standard
• Rubrics
• Description of Quality Assurance Methods
• Identification of Peer-to-Peer Practice
• Conclusion General insights, Strengths and
  Challenges

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Resources

• AdvancED State Staff
• AdvancED Field Consultants
• AdvancED Professional Services Team
• Professional Colleagues and Peers
• AdvancEd Wesite
• Accreditation Tab District
• Resource Network
• Products and Publications
• Accreditation for Quality School Systems

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Explorewww.advanc-ed.org
Click on the accreditation tab
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Steps to District Accreditation

• Applicant
• Submit Letters
• Complete Self-Assessment
• Host a Readiness Visit
• Candidate
• Prepare For the Visit
• Host the Visit
• Accredited
• Act on Findings
• Report on Progress

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The capacity of any organization to improve is
directly related to its ability to recognize,
acknowledge and act on its strengths and
limitations. Dr. Mark A. Elgart,
AdvancED President/CEO