The Road to Continuous Improvement

1
The Road to Continuous Improvement

• A Review of the District Accreditation Process
  through AdvancED

2
What is District Accreditation?

• A national protocol for school systems
  committed to systemic, systematic, and
  sustainable continuous improvement
• Builds the capacity of the system and its schools
  to increase and sustain student learning
• Stimulates and supports improvement and
  effectiveness throughout the system

3
District Accreditation, cont.

• Ensures all people, processes, departments, and
  operations of the system work in concert
• Strengthens efforts to meet accountability
  requirements
• Encourages growth beyond compliance to achieve
  excellence
• Promotes continuous, not episodic, improvement

4
Pillars of Accreditation

• Districts must
• Meet Quality Standards
• Engage in Continuous Improvement
• Demonstrate Quality Assurance

5
AdvancED Accreditation Standards

• The district provides evidence of meeting the
  Standards for Quality Systems
• 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

6
AdvancED Accreditation Process
Phase 1
Phase 2
Phase 3

• Submit Letter of Interest
• Host Readiness Visit
• Submit Letter of Commitment

• Complete and submit Standard Assessment Report
• Prepare artifacts for review
• Prepare for interviews

Host Quality Assurance Review
7
Accreditation Process

• Districts will be accredited for a five-year term
• Internal Review
• District conducts an internal review of its
  current capacity in meeting accreditation
  standards
• External Review
• District hosts an external review conducted by
  professional peers
• Continuous Improvement
• District continues to monitor, document, and
  evaluate its improvement efforts

8
Continuous Improvement

• The district has the responsibility and
  flexibility to identify and implement systemic
  processes of continuous improvement
• One process is used by the system and schools
• Promotes continuity, coherence, alignment, and
  collaborative planning
• All schools and departments work to achieve
  district vision and goals
• Encourages customized planning at the school level

9
Benefits of District Accreditation
1. Mark of Quality
2. Meet and exceed local, state, national
requirements
3. Coherence and continuity
4. Resources and peer support
5. Professional opportunities
6. Benefits for students
10
EBR Accreditation Timeline
March 13, 2008 AdvancED acknowledged receipt of Superintendents letter to pursue Accreditation
May 13, 2008 AdvancED presentation to the EBRPSS Board Board consensus to pursue
September 19, 2008 Submitted Self-Assessment of Readiness Report
October 1, 2008 Hosted Readiness Review Visit
October 12-15, 2008 AdvancED Quality Assurance Review Visit to Calcasieu Parish
October 28, 2008 Received Results of District Accreditation Readiness Visit
October 30. 2008 Submitted Letter of Commitment
November 5, 2008 Submitted Visit Date Request Form
11
Our Next Steps

• Monthly discussion of one of the seven standards
• Prepare teachers, students, parents, and
  community supporters for the visit
• Requested visit dates
• April 19-22, 2009
• April 26-29, 2009
• May 3-6, 2009

12
Quality begins on the inside. . . and then works
its way out. Bob Moawad, Chairman
CEO, Edge Learning Institute