Texas School for the DeafCEASD Exit ConferenceNovember 2, 2011

CEASD Team Members• Ed Bosso, Chair• Clark Brooke• Joseph P. Finnegan, Jr.• Joan Forney• David Geeslin

Accreditation Process• Voluntary planning process of self-evaluation• Internal and external scan of the school

environment• Analysis of critical issues impacting the school• Analysis of strengths and areas of need• Development of action plans to achieve school

improvement

What did the CEASD team do?• Reviewed the self-study prior to the visit• Analyzed the 12 standards in the self-study• Reviewed the action plans and a variety of

evidence• Interviewed staff• Conducted meetings with students, parents

and community• Observed classrooms and programs at TSD

Kudos to TSD Staff!• Superintendent: Claire Bugen• Internal Coordinators: Twyla Heslop Russell O. West• Committee Chairs and Members• TSD Staff

CEASD Report• Concluding the visit with an exit report today

providing commendations and recommendations for the 12 standards

• A final written report will be sent to the Superintendent within the next 4 weeks for review of facts.

• A final written report will be sent to TSD and CEASD within approximately 6-8 weeks

• A recommendation will be made to the CEASD Board regarding the accreditation of TSD.

Standard 1: Philosophy and Mission

Commendations:• Inclusive and collaborative process engaging a

diverse and representative stakeholder group• Vision, mission and beliefs are prominently

displayed throughout campus• Ongoing communication and engagement

with the TSD community promoting the mission.

Standard 1: Philosophy and Mission

Recommendations:• Prominently display their Vision, Mission and

Beliefs on the TSD website.

Standard 2: Governance and Leadership

Commendations:• Committed, supportive and involved Board• Dedicated, committed and caring Superintendent

who demonstrates outstanding and progressive leadership and fully engages in the community.

• Inclusive process for the establishment of an interim organizational structure in the absence of two key positions in which all leaders have assumed additional responsibilities.

Standard 2: Governance and Leadership

Recommendations:• CEASD visiting team commends the TSD Governing

Board for working to establish an appropriate salary range for the Superintendent position and recommends that the Governing Board establishes a strong implementation plan, particularly when searching for the next superintendent

• The Superintendent should continue to engage leadership team and appropriate stakeholders in a structured dialogue about organizational structure and succession planning.

Standard 3: School Improvement

Commendations:• The SGT reported that they were given full equity and

access in decision making with regard to the Strategic Plan development. The use of a facilitator also allowed the Superintendent to fully participate as part of the team.

• Integration of Strategic Goal items into the professional evaluation/appraisal process.

• There is transparency with budget decisions. Department heads are encouraged to submit a new budget form consisting of unique needs within their department that would need funding to achieve strategic goals.

Standard 3: School Improvement

Recommendations:• Revisit and consider reducing the scope of the

24 objectives to a manageable number• Revisit the structure and organization of all

leadership clusters (SGT, ELT, ILT, LPA, and so forth) to avoid duplicity and maximize efficiency.

Standard 4: Finances

Commendations:• TSD is aggressive in the pursuit of "other"

funding sources, such as grants, and the expansion of the TSD Foundation will greatly assist with this strategy

• TSD successfully invests time and energy in maintaining positive relationships with the individuals and governmental entities that can impact its state budget allocation.

Standard 4: Finances

Recommendations:• Explore multi-year resource allocation

planning• Pursue a closer relationship between the

Strategic Plan and resource planning

Standard 5: Facilities

Commendations:• TSD maintenance and facilities department is

commended for a beautiful campus and well-maintained facilities

• TSD utilized the comprehensive condition study (2006) to guide budget development

Standard 5: Facilities

Recommendations:• Continue to optimize opportunities for

campus usage by the community while balancing this with indirect costs

• Update the facilities condition study and continue to use as a source document for budget development

Standard 6: School Climate and Organization

Commendations:• TSD’s dedication to provide a school climate that promotes

high expectations for student achievement.• TSD makes communication a priority with parents and other

stakeholders regarding results of the strategic plan.• TSD provides sign language classes for staff who have not

met their prescribed level and developing a Sign Language Activity Plan to assist staff in developing their skills.

• The TSD HR department is commended for establishing a HR Facebook Page and for offering its employees a quarterly HR newsletter and “Legal Ramblings” on legal topics.

Standard 6: School Climate and Organization

Recommendations:• Re-index/title TSD policies to make it easier for

staff to locate them.• Expand employee recognition program.• Aggressively explore ways to raise the pay of

non-certified staff.

Standard 7: Health and Safety

Commendations:• TSD devotes significant resources to insure

that a safe environment is provided for students and staff

Standard 7: Health and Safety

Recommendations:• Continue with efforts to integrate the

extensive resources of the Student Health Center with educational and residential programs.

Standard 8: Educational Programs

Commendations:• TSD employs a comprehensive strategic planning

process in terms of school wide curriculum development.

• TSD adopted the CSCOPE curriculum that will provide a rigorous curriculum for the core academic subjects.

• TSD provides a wide range of state of the art technology for its classrooms.

• TSD has developed an extensive array of outreach services and programs

Standard 8: Educational Programs

Recommendations:• Curriculum Specialists continue to provide on-going support to

teachers as they implement the CSCOPE curriculum in all core academic subjects.

• Curriculum Specialists and principals provide coaching to teachers to ensure they are comfortable using a team teaching approach in the Elementary School.

• Explore options for serving students with additional disabilities that would provide these students with a more inclusive environment.

• The outreach team continues to seek unique funding streams, however, at some point TSD will need to allocate additional state funds for this department if there is a serious commitment to outreach

Standard 9: Assessment and Evidence of Student Learning

Commendations:• TSD is to be recognized for their effort in centralizing academic

performance data by creating and purchasing data systems (Eduphoria) that will be used in the near future.

• In addition to CSCOPE, TSD is using two widely used assessment tools in their academic programs. The Developmental Writing Assessment and Developmental Reading Assessment are being used to evaluate student present performance levels.

• Teachers at TSD are constantly preparing students for the state-wide assessment system by exposing them to the format of the assessments throughout all content areas.

Standard 9: Assessment and Evidence of Student Learning

Recommendations:• Create opportunities for teachers to analyze,

interpret academic data that are collected from local academic assessment tools.

• Utilize school-based assessment data to inform decisions and change practice.

Standard 10: Student Services

Commendations:• The ongoing and extensive training offered to the

Student Support Services Team is impressive. • The annual New Student Family Orientation

program (NSFO) provided each August is an excellent activity with a high percentage of new families and students participating.

• TSD is committed to the development of a strong transition program and has an excellent cadre of staff.

Standard 10: Student Services

Recommendations:• Establish a second NSFO program during the

school year to include all the new families and students who enroll after the beginning of the school year.

• Continue to expand transition services with increased ownership in the high school program and continued engagement of students in the development of plans.

Standard 11: Student Life, Student Activities, Residential Programs

Commendations:• Quality after school programs for elementary and

high school• Implementation of incentive programs for

residential students, SPICE curriculum, and SPARK program

• The new residential operations manual.• Successful creating more competitive salaries for

residential educators leading to a reduction in staff turnover.

Standard 11: Student Life, Student Activities, Residential Programs

Recommendations:• Review after school programs for special needs

and middle school students incorporating the concepts of SPICE from elementary to high school.

• Consider opportunities to make the SPARK program inclusive of special needs students.

• Create the opportunities for residential advisors to access their students’ data via PowerSchool to assist with their IEP academic goals.

Standard 12: Information Resources and Technology

Commendations:• Implementation plan for Winter 2012 for installing new

network equipment including cabling, VOIP phone system, wireless environment and distance learning equipment.

• Plan for adoption of new technology such as Apple iPad for classroom use through a pilot program.

• Classroom standards for technology are made possible through planned budgeting with involvement of teachers and staff who are primary users.

• Technology mentors in departments are a great support to teachers.

Standard 12: Information Resources and Technology

Recommendations:• Develop guidelines to ensure that hardware

acquired through grants is compatible with the current infrastructure of technology at school.

• Consider centralizing the budget allocation for each educational department to maximize the opportunity to address needs in priority order.

Accreditation Recommendation

• At the next CEASD Board of Directors meeting, our team will make the following recommendation for TSD:

Accreditation Recommendation

FULL ACCREDITATION

Note: The Certificate for Accreditation will be awarded at the Annual CEASD Conference in April 2012

Thank you!