Johnston County Schools to Host External Quality Assurance Review Team from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools SMITHFIELD-- Johnston County Public Schools will host a Quality Assurance Review conducted by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI) on October 8-11, 2006. The Quality Assurance Review is a required component of the SACS District Accreditation process. The Quality Assurance Review Team will be led by Tom Jones, Executive Director of SACS CASI for the state of Kentucky. The fifteen-person team is composed of educational leaders from North Carolina and other states. "This process is of extreme importance to Johnston County Schools. We are committed to continuous improvement and are confident that the Quality Assurance Team will find evidence of a dynamic organization founded on the principles of sound, quality education," said Dr. Anthony Parker, Superintendent. What is SACS CASI District Accreditation? District Accreditation is a powerful systems' approach that reflects the 'next generation' definition of accreditation; it gives school districts the flexibility and responsibility to identify and implement their desired process of continuous improvement focusing on increasing student performance. Because District Accreditation addresses issues systemically and uses quality tools, it strengthens the effectiveness and capacity of districts and their schools to flexibly adjust, and therefore, sustain learning gains. It is a process that examines how all the processes and functions of a district work in concert to the benefit of student learning. School systems pursuit of District Accreditation is voluntary. It is a process implemented and supported by SACS CASI, a non-governmental organization. District Accreditation was developed by SACS CASI as a response to requests from superintendents whose systems were already engaged in quality strategic planning and who wanted to align more meaningfully their efforts, state and federal accountability requirements, and SACS accreditation. Effective or best practices' research recognizes that quality schools continuously improve, are dynamic, adapt to changing conditions and adjust to meet student needs. They are evolving learning communities that use research-based advances and as a basis for strategically pursuing improvement goals. District Accreditation has been derived from these findings, and the work of the National Study of School Evaluation (NSSE) and other regional accrediting bodies with whom SACS CASI is allied. Such research indicates that leaders in quality, high performing school districts develop, maintain, and sustain improvement in student learning and school capacity by providing 1) direction, 2) assistance, and 3) resources and they create a culture that honors such endeavors. In addition, the research indicates that high performing school districts demonstrate a systemic approach to teaching and learning; a commitment to communication and the use of stakeholder perspectives to inform improvement efforts related to the quality of the work of the student and the work of the school; focused central leadership that strongly supports all schools; system-wide deployment of school improvement processes; and continuous monitoring of effectiveness and use of results in planning. SACS CASI District Accreditation is a national protocol that is being emulated by other accreditors and is of great interest by several state departments of education. As of January 1, 2006 there are approximately 150 districts that have been approved to pursue District Accreditation. What benefits accrue as a result of pursuing SACS District Accreditation? District Accreditation is not a stand-alone process or something 'extra' that a district must do; rather it serves as an umbrella or framework that supports systemic, substantive continuous improvement focused directly on improving learning for all students. Already, districts find it provides a cost effective methods for meeting federal No Child Left Behind and state accountability laws. In addition, District Accreditation: Supports and enhances a common language of school improvement across content areas and grade levels, as well as across individual schools, feeder schools, and district lines of responsibility. Ensures continuity and collaboration in planning for improvement, anchored in a common vision for education among all its schools; ensures that each school's improvement goals complement those of the district. Is cost effective for districts and schools. Provides the district and community with validation and recognition for improvement efforts as well as recommendations from external professionals that are designed to further the district's improvement efforts. Supports a system-wide approach to achieving results. Is an integrated process that supports other accountability requirements such as those mandated by the state and federal educational agencies, and strengthens efforts to meet such requirements. Provides recognition for the district and its schools, students, teachers, and the community. How does a district achieve SACS CASI District Accreditation? SACS CASI District Accreditation requires commitment from the district's leadership and Board of Education. In order for a district to be eligible to apply, every school in the district must be individually accredited. Additionally, building upon that foundation of successful accreditation experience, the district must have in place or in development a quality strategic planning process focused on improving student learning, and commit to achieving and maintaining three SACS CASI requirements, including: Meeting (by documenting and validating compliance with) 10 Accreditation Standards for Quality Systems. Pursuing and demonstrating the foundations of continuous improvement Providing methods for quality assurance whereby it demonstrates institutional integrity and trustworthiness, delivers on its promises to stakeholders, and hosts an external review by trained professionals who assess and provide recommendations to strengthen the quality of the work of the district. An external quality assurance review team trained by SACS CASI makes a three-and-half-day visit to the school system. The role and responsibilities of the team are to: Assess the capacity of the system to meet the 10 District Accreditation standards; Assess the efficacy and impact of the district's improvement process; Assess the effectiveness of the system's methods for quality assurance; Identify strengths of the system deserving of commendation; and Develop recommendations that are designed to help strengthen the school system. The Quality Assurance Team gathers data and evidence during the visit by interviewing a wide range of system and school level stakeholders. In considering the evidence as provided through data, documentation, observation, and dialogue, the Team seeks a district perspective; pursues evidence that can be correlated through multiple sources; examines the context and capacity of the school system in relation to its vision, mission, and beliefs; and applies the Standards for accreditation. "The capacity of any organization to improve is directly related to its ability to recognize, acknowledge, and act on its strengths and limitations. The SACS CASI District Accreditation process provides a vehicle for assisting school districts to effectively identify its strengths and areas needing improvement, as well as for providing external experienced professionals who through a structured onsite visit assess the capacity of the district to meet the criteria for accreditation, commend worthy accomplishments, and recommend strategies that hold the promise of important systemic improvements," said Dr. Mark A. Elgart, Chief Executive Officer of SACS CASI. -end- Founded in 1895 and headquartered in Decatur, Georgia, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accredits over 14,000 public and non-public institutions throughout the world.
