Service Agency Accreditation

Recognizing Quality Educational Service Agencies

Mike Bugenskibugenski@ncamichigan.org

866-642-4622

2© 2007 AdvancED

Topics

• AdvancED Accreditation Process

• Opportunities and Potential for ISD’s

• Pillars of Accreditation Standards, Continuous

Improvement, Quality Assurance• Essentials for Success• Steps to Accreditation• Questions and Issues

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A Picture of AdvancEDUnification of

NCA CASI, SACS CASI, NSSE World’s Largest Educational

Community• 23 thousand public and private schools• 30 states and Navajo Nation• Department of Defense Schools• 65 countries (including Latin America) • 15 million students• 16 thousand volunteers• 3 million plus teachers

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Accreditation

Purpose: Improve Organizational Effectiveness

to Benefit Students•Schools•Districts•Service Agencies

Same ProcessAligned Expectations and

Requirements

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Educational Service Agencies

Promise and Potential• Operate in 39 States• Pilot with Michigan ISD’s • Accredit Quality of Services

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Intermediate School Districts

• Meet requirements of accreditation

• Ensure schools they operate are meeting standards, achieving goals, using results, etc.

• Provide relevant, high quality services across multiple jurisdictions direction, assistance and

resources

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Accreditation Process

ESA’s will be accredited for a five year term

• Internal Review ESA conducts an internal review of its

current capacity in meeting accreditation standards

• External Review ESA hosts an external review conducted

by professional peers

• Continuous Improvement ESA continues to monitor, document,

and evaluate its improvement efforts

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Accreditation Products

• Internal Review Standard Assessment Report

(SAR)

• External Review Quality Assurance Review (QAR) Oral and Written Reports Accreditation Recommendation

• Continuous Improvement Progress Report(s) (APR)

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Accreditation ProcessAccreditation and Continuous ImprovementOn a continuous basis ESA’s will

Meet AdvancED high quality standards

Conduct periodic self-assessments Engage in a continuous

improvement process Implement internal quality

assurance methods

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5-Year Accreditation Term

Constantly

AssessLearn

Improve Host a Quality Assurance Review Team

Submit Progress Report Two Years After the Visit

Submit Standards Assessment Report

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Pillars of Accreditation

Service Agencies Must

Meet Quality StandardsEngage in Continuous

ImprovementDemonstrate Quality

Assurance

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AdvancED Accreditation Standards

The agency provides evidence of meeting the Standards for Quality

1. Vision and Purpose2. Governance and Leadership3. Teaching and Learning4. Documenting and Using Results5. Resources and Support Systems6. Stakeholder Communications and

Relationships7. Commitment to Continuous

Improvement

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AdvancED Accreditation Standards Quality Agencies

Standard: comprehensive statement of quality practices and conditions

Indicators: operational definitions or descriptions of practices and processes

Impact Statement: characteristics, processes, and actions that would be observable and verifiable in a district that effectively implements the standard

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AdvancED Accreditation Standards

Standards For Quality Service Agencies

Are Aligned with Standards for Quality Schools and Systems

Are Based on Research (Basis of Readiness Instrument)

Are Inter-Related and Systemically Connected

Focus on Factors that Contribute to Student Learning

Address Variables Schools/Districts ESAs Can Impact

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Standards Assessment Report

• Use to periodically perform an internal assessment of the standards Rubric and focus questions

• Submit on-line prior to QAR 6 weeks to 6 months prior Helps ISD and team prepare Rubrics, focus questions, peer-

to-peer practice

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SARComponents

Executive Summary Standards Section (for each standard)

• Narrative describing evidence −Guided by focus questions

• Assessment of indicators and over-all standard−Rubrics

Identification of Peer-to-Peer Practice Conclusion: Strengths and opportunities

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Continuous Improvement

The agency has the responsibility andflexibility to identify and implement a

systemicprocess of continuous improvement

one process is use by agency and its schools

promotes continuity, coherence, alignment and collaborative planning

all schools and departments work to achieve vision and goals

encourages customized planning at all levels

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Improvement Process Elements

Plan andImplementation

What future are you

pursuing ?Vision

Profile

What is your current reality?What actions

will you take to improve?

What have you accomplished?

Results

Monitoring

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Continuous Improvement

The agency is responsible for providing quality leadership to maximize effectiveness and learning

The agency establishes practices to support districts, schools, and departments with their improvement initiatives Direction: sets expectations and

guidelines Assistance: builds understanding and

skill Resources: provides people,

materials, time

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Quality Assurance

Internal and OngoingInternal and Ongoing• The agency demonstrates

organizational integrity• The agency designs and implements

a program of assessment practices and methods• monitor and document

improvement• provide meaningful feedback and

support• ensure standards are met and

strengthened • The agency collects, uses, and

communicates results

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Quality Assurance Review Process

External – Every Five Years• Agency hosts a visit by a

national team of professional peers • assess effectiveness of system in

meeting the requirements of Accreditation

• visits schools operated by the agency • meets with staff and stakeholders

and visits a representative sample of districts served

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Quality Assurance Review Process

• Agency receives commendations and recommendations

• An accreditation recommendation is determinedReview provides agency and

community with validation and recognition

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Visit Schedule

• Team Orientation• Day 1 Agency

Presentation and Interviews with Representatives of Key Stakeholder Groups

• Day 2 County Visits to Schools, Districts,

etc. Served by the Agency

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Visit Schedule

• Day 3 Agency Final Data Collection and

Verification Team Deliberations Oral Exit Report

Schedule will be customized

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Agency Reports

Two years after the visit, the district will submit an Accreditation Progress Report (APR) that responds (actions and results) to the QAR team’s recommendations Districts are required to act on

the recommendations!

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Steps to Accreditation

Applicant• Submit a Letter of Interest• Complete the Self-

Assessment of Readiness • Host a Readiness Visit • Submit a Letter of

Commitment

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Steps to Accreditation

Candidate• Ensure all schools operated by the

agency are accredited or candidates for accreditation

• Submit preferred dates for the QAR• Prepare for the visit• Complete the Standards Assessment

Report• Host the Quality Assurance Review Team• Communicate findings to the community

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Steps to Accreditation

Accredited • Act on the Findings from the Review

Team • Continue to Implement the

Accreditation Protocol Adhere to the AdvancED Standards Engage in Continuous Improvement Monitor for Quality Assurance

• Complete and Submit the Two-Year Progress Report

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Dues and Fees

• Base dues$1500.00

• Application fee (one time) $350.00

• Dues per district $30.00

• QAR Fee (every five years) $1500.00

For more information go towww.advanc-ed.org

Thank You for Your Interest in AdvancED Accreditation