SACS/CASI District Accreditation2008

January 2007

April 2007

May 2007 January – April 2008

Board Approval for Pursuit of District Accreditation

Completion of Readiness Report

Readiness Visit Development of

Standards Assessment Report (SAR) & Preparation for Quality Review Team (QAR)Visit

April 27 – 30, 2008

April 30, 2008

May 2008

July 2008

Quality Assurance Team (QAR) Visit

Board Meeting for Exit Report with Recommendation for Accreditation

Receipt of Complete QAR Report

Notification of Approval of District Accreditation

Summary of Findings• Commendations• Recommendations• Next Steps

Standards Reports• Strengths• Opportunities for Improvement• Finding/Overall Assessment

Quality Assurance Findings

Collaboration with appropriate stakeholders in continuous school improvement

Direction, assistance, & resources to aid student performance

Assessment system which monitors & documents district, school, & student performance & use of this info in decision-making for continuous improvement

Hiring & retaining of experienced & highly qualified teachers & support staff

Effective stakeholder communication

Implement research–based teaching & learning strategies that will promote the increase of student sub-group achievement scores & grade six through eight science & social studies scores

Establish a systematic process to better align professional development efforts & track the effect of teacher training on student academic gain

Strengths• Collaboration with internal & external

stakeholders• Beliefs, vision, & purpose drive decision-

making through a continuous & systemic cycle Opportunities for Improvement

• Research, develop, & implement procedures To address the collection of curriculum &

demographic info To communicate the vision & purpose of the district

Finding – Highly Functional

Strengths• Interactive teams to respond to student &

district concerns• Systems approach to provide direction,

assistance & resources to align, support, & enhance all parts of the district

• Efforts made by district & various funding sources to provide necessary resources & support to meet GCS needs

Opportunities for Improvement• Increase collaboration, especially with

community groups Finding – Highly Functional

Strengths• Well-funded & well-utilized technology program

integrated into instructional program• Well-rounded curriculum• Quality intervention programs

Opportunities for Improvement• Target research-based teaching & learning

strategies to promote increase of Sub-group achievement scores & Grades six – eight science & social studies scores

Finding – Operational

Strengths• Communication system that uses a variety

of methods to report student performance & district effectiveness to all stakeholders

• Analysis of comparison & trend data Opportunities for Improvement

• Implement assessment practices that provide evidence of higher level thinking skills & application of those skills

Finding – Highly Functional

Strengths• Long range, comprehensive budget

planning which addresses needs of district • Student support services coordinated with

school, home, & community Opportunities for Improvement

• Replace outdated hardware & software• Revise & implement security & crisis

management plans with appropriate follow-up training

Finding – Highly Functional

Strengths• Sense of open communication with school &

district leaders• Communication of student expectations &

improvement goals to stakeholders using variety of media

Opportunities for Improvement• Develop complaint management system to

more effectively & respectfully respond to concerns

Finding – Highly Functional

Strengths• District direction & assistance to schools’ improvement

efforts• Demonstration of planning time as a priority by providing

opportunities for collaboration• Provision of common planning time for all grade level

teachers to meet during school day Opportunities for Improvement

• Include consistent, comprehensive cross-section of all stakeholder groups in improvement processes

• Align & prioritize research-based professional development with school improvement goals

• Evaluate implementation & effectiveness of professional development at classroom level

Finding – Operational

Strengths• District requires data analysis at every

school & targets specific areas for focused intervention

Opportunities for Improvement• Expand & evaluate effectiveness of

professional development activities• Facilitate stakeholders’ understanding of

results of school improvement efforts

Review & discuss findings with stakeholders

Embed & sustain strengths & commendations

Develop action plans to address recommendations & include monitoring methods

Use report to guide & strengthen improvement efforts

Submit Progress Report in two years Continue to meet standards, submit

reports, engage in continuous improvement & document results