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THE STANDARDSpring 2013

This is Not Your Father’s Accreditation!

Message from the President Henry G. Cram Ed.D

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:This is Not

Your Father’s Accreditation!

Sustaining Excellence: A New

Protocol

Spring 2013 Accreditation

Actions

Make Data Habit, not a Crisis

John Plesha Moves to the Golf Course!

Although the Middle States Association celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2012, tradition has not kept the organization from keeping pace with changes in education or the accreditation landscape. Responding to the feedback from its members, the emergence of new educational venues and the growing demand for both accountability and improvement MSA’s accreditation protocols, procedures and new services are keeping pace.

Middle States has redesigned its accreditation protocols to reflect a developmental sequence of accreditation processes designed to advance a school’s capacity for strategic planning and continuous school improvement. Believing that the accreditation process should be a professional development experience and improve a schools capacity for self-reflection, planning and improvement, the available protocols are matched to the schools developmental stage.

The recommended protocol for initial accreditation (Designing Our Future) focuses more comprehensively on the traditional aspects of the accreditation process establishing a baseline for the school and Middle States to measure future growth. Subsequent accreditation protocols (Accreditation for Growth and Excellence by Design) are less prescriptive, build on the previous accreditation cycle and are designed to further improve the schools capacity for continuous reflection and growth. The new capstone protocol (Sustaining Excellence-see related article) currently being piloted and scheduled for release in 2014 is an action research project centered on a systemic improvement, the results of which are to be shared with the larger educational community. MSA also offers a systems version of its accreditation process.

Additionally, MSA has a credential program which allows schools with outstanding specialties to apply for recognition by MSA. These specialty credentials are currently available to accredited institutions for International Education, World Languages, Service Learning, Music, Visual Arts, 21st Century Skills, Guidance Services and Early Childhood Education (a STEM credential is being developed). The application process can also serve as an excellent program assessment instrument for schools looking for world class standards in the specialty areas.

Our standards too are being revised (scheduled for release in late 2013) to reflect, within the traditional 12 standards, new and revised indicators for institutions that are proprietary, faith-based, distance learning, career and technical or serving students with special needs.

From the Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools

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Sustaining Excellence: A New Protocol For schools effectively growing, improving, and sustaining high levels of student performance, what is the next step in pursuing continuous improvement?

This was the question buzzing through MSA-CESS Associate Director Art Albrizio’s mind as he was driving back from visiting one of those “high performance” schools. Mr. Albrizio had recently been introduced to a protocol used by the Elementary Commission – “The Project.” He began to think that this protocol – with some modifications and additions – would have merit for all schools.

Consulting with colleagues, Albrizio enlisted their assistance in transforming “The Project” into an action research protocol re-named, “Sustaining Excellence.”

The New ProtocolThe Sustaining Excellence Protocol provides an optional protocol to schools that have consistently demonstrated high levels of student performance or consistent growth in student achievement. MSA-CESS envisions schools qualifying for this protocol as those that are not satisfied with the status quo. Sustaining Excellence helps a school:

Discover how current research informs efforts • to grow and improve an aspect of the school’s educational program, services, and/or learning environment; Develop a proposal for an action research • project to demonstrate application of that research in the living laboratory of the school;Implement the research project and • documenting the results of implementation; and,Share what was learned from the implementation • with the broader education community in the form of a colloquium.

Schools seeking accreditation by using the Sustaining

Excellence Protocol must be committed to establishing and sustaining a planning ethic within the school and that it becomes part of the school’s culture. Additionally, the protocol requires vision-driven processes, continuous clarification of the school’s mission, and long-term strategic action plans that integrate programs, services, facilities, and support to address the school’s growth objectives.

Albrizio and his MSA-CESS colleagues believe this protocol will serve as a catalyst to empower school

communities to dedicate resources to expanding and to raising student achievement.

“This is a more creative way of approaching and extending the concept of continuous improvement,” says Albrizio, “it is empowering the schools to engage students, faculty, administration, parents, local leaders in developing an initiative that will lead to quantifiable improvement.”

The Pilot PhaseAlbrizio says the Commission recruited schools it thought might be interested in participating in a pilot. MSA-CESS was looking for schools that had a sustained history of accreditation a solid record of growth and performance. The response to the invitation to become involved in the pilot was excellent and CESS was able to engage a representative cross-section of public, private, international and faith-based schools to participate in the pilot:

American Community School, Athens Greece• Central HS, Philadelphia• Christian Brothers Academy - NJ• Colegio de San Ignacio – San Juan, Puerto • RicoEast Brunswick HS - NJ• High Technology HS/Monmouth County • Vocational Schools-NJHolmdel High School - NJ• Julia R Masterman HS, Philadelphia•

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What is the next step in pursuing continuous

improvement?

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Spring 2013 Accreditation ActionsAt their Spring 2013 meetings, the Middle States Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools took the following actions:

Actions Taken by the Commission on Elementary

SchoolsAccreditation Ten Years

Haddonfield Friends School, Haddonfield, NJ

Peck School (The), Morristown, NJ

Accreditation Seven YearsArmenian Sisters Academy, Radnor, PAChildren’s Learning Center at Morningside

Heights (The), New York, NYGood Shepherd Catholic Regional School,

Ardsley, PAHoly Redeemer School, Ellwood City, PAHoly Rosary School, Duryea, PAHoly Sepulcher School, Butler, PAHome Away From Home Academy,

Aberdeen, NJJohn H. Woodson Junior High School,

Kingshill, St. Croix, VILititz Area Mennonite School, Lititz, PANazareth Academy Grade School,

Philadelphia, PANorth American Martyrs School,

Monroeville, PANorthern Cambria Catholic School,

Nicktown, PANorwood-Fontbonne Academy,

Philadelphia, PAOur Lady of Good Counsel School,

Moorestown, NJOur Lady of Good Counsel School,

Southampton, PAPilot School Incorporated (The),

Wilmington, DEProvidence Heights Alpha School, Allison

Park, PAQatar Academy Al-Khor, QatarQueen of Peace Elementary School, North

Arlington, NJRed Balloon Day Care Center, New York,

NYSaint Agnes Cathedral Elementary School,

Rockville Centre, NYSaint Aloysius School, Pottstown, PASaint Anne School, Bethlehem, PASaint Anne’s School, Garden City, NYSaint Anselm School, Philadelphia, PASaint Boniface School, Kersey, PASaint Charles Borromeo School,

Cinnaminson, NJSaint Edmund’s Academy, Pittsburgh, PASaint Irenaeus School, Oakmont, PA

Saint Jane Frances De Chantal School, Easton, PA

Saint John the Evangelist Catholic School, Bellefonte, PA

Saint John Vianney School, Orchard Park, NY

Saint Luke School, Erie, PASaint Malachy School, Coraopolis, PASaint Michael School, Loretto, PASaint Patrick School, Bay Shore, NYSaint Rose of Lima School, Altoona, PASaint Theresa School, New Cumberland,

PASaint Wendelin School, Butler, PASaints Peter and Paul School, Beaver, PASheridan School, Washington, DCTwin Parks Montessori Schools, New York,

NYVilla Maria Academy, Immaculata, PA

Accreditation Six YearsForcey Christian School, Silver Spring, MD

Accreditation Five YearsBethany Christian School, Fort Lauderdale,

FLBlake School, Plantation (The), Plantation,

FLLiberty Christian School, Owings Mills, MDRochester Christian School, Inc.,

Rochester, NY

Accreditation Removal of Stipulations

Chesterbrook Academy Elementary School-West Chester, West Chester, PA

Mount Aetna Adventist Elementary School, Hagerstown, MD

Probationary AccreditationCentreville School, Centreville, DEFar Brook School, Short Hills, NJ

Recognition of Accreditation by Another Agency

Pinewood Christian Academy, Middleburg, FL

Additional GradesAmerican International School of Libreville,

GabonAmerican International School of Lome,

TogoHillcrest Christian Academy, Bethel Park,

PAInternational Community School, Abuja,

NigeriaOrchard Friends School, Riverton, NJ

Actions Taken by the Commission on Secondary

Schools

Accreditation Ten YearsMount Saint Joseph Academy, Flourtown,

PAShady Side Academy, Pittsburgh, PA*

Accreditation Seven YearsBangor Area High School, Bangor, PACalvert Hall College High School,

Baltimore, MDCentral Catholic High School, Pittsburgh,

PAChrist the King Preparatory School,

Newark, NJDelone Catholic High School,

McSherrystown, PAEmmaus High School, Emmaus, PAFrederick Douglass High School, Upper

Marlboro, MDFrisch School (The), Paramus, NJGunston School (The), Centreville, MDHenry Snyder High School, Jersey City, NJHoly Family Academy of Bayonne,

Bayonne, NJHoly Redeemer High School, Wilkes-

Barre, PALiberty High School, Eldersburg, MDMartin Luther School, Maspeth, NY*MMI Preparatory School, Freeland, PAMonsignor Scanlan High School, Bronx,

NYNorth Shore Hebrew High School, Great

Neck, NYNorthside Urban Pathways Public Charter

School, Pittsburgh, PAPinelands Regional High School,

Tuckerton, NJPinelands Regional Junior High School,

Tuckerton, NJSaint John’s College High School,

Washington, DCSaint Joseph By-the-Sea High School,

Staten Island, NY245Saint Mary of the Assumption High School,

Elizabeth, NJSaints Peter and Paul High School,

Easton, MDSalesianum School, Wilmington, DESleepy Hollow High School, Sleepy Hollow,

NYSouth Brunswick High School, Monmouth

Junction, NJSyosset High School, Syosset, NYThomas Jefferson Arts Academy,

Elizabeth, NJ

Accreditation Five YearsAdvantage Career Institute, Eatontown,

NJ*Chapelgate Christian Academy,

Marriottsville, MD

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Accreditation Remainder of TermBoonton High School, Boonton, NJCardinal Spellman High School, Bronx, NYColegio San Jose Superior, Caguas, PRElizabeth Seton High School, Bladensburg,

MDFairmont Heights High School, Capitol

Heights, MDSaint Andrew’s School, Middletown, DEUnited States Senate Page School,

Washington, DC

Accreditation Removal of Stipulations

Carson Long Military Academy, New Bloomfield, PA

Gonzaga College High School, Washington, DC

Irvington High School, Frank H. Morrell Campus, Irvington, NJ

Our Saviour Lutheran School, Bronx, NYWindsor School (The), Flushing, NY

Award of Credentials-MusicCalvert Hall College High School,

Baltimore, MD

Probationary AccreditationASaint Joseph High School, Frederiksted,

VI

Removal of AccreditationCape Henlopen High School, Lewes, DEDelcastle Technical High School,

Wilmington, DEDr. Charles E. Brimm Medical Arts High

School, Camden, NJGreenburgh-North Castle Union Free

School District, Dobbs Ferry, NYMiddletown High School – South,

Middletown, NJMontgomery High School, Skillman, NJSpringfield Township High School,

Erdenheim, PAWyomissing Area Junior - Senior High

School, Wyomissing, PA

Recognition of AccreditationBass Memorial Academy, Lumberton, MSCustomized Education Design, Yakima,

WAIbero High School, San Nicolas, Aruba

Actions Taken by the Commissions on Elementary

and Secondary SchoolsAccreditation Ten Years

American Creativity Academy, KuwaitLoudonville Christian School, Loudonville,

NY

Rye Country Day School, Rye, NY

Accreditation Seven YearsAmerican School of Kuwait, KuwaitAmerican School of Valencia, SpainAntilles School, Saint Thomas, VIBaldwin School of Puerto Rico, Bayamon,

PRBenjamin Franklin International School,

SpainChapel Hill Academy, Lincoln Park, NJColegio Calasanz, San Juan, PRColegio San Conrado, Ponce, PR*Commonwealth-Parkville School, San

Juan, PRCountry Day School, Costa RicaCupey Maria Montessori, San Juan, PRDostyk American International School,

KazakhstanDupont Park Adventist School,

Washington, DCHillcrest School, NigeriaKimberton Waldorf School, Kimberton, PA*Lahore American School, PakistanModern English School, Cairo, EgyptNardin Academy, Buffalo, NYQuakerbridge Computer Learning Service,

Lawrence, NJSaudi Aramco Schools, Saudi ArabiaSciCore Academy for Science and the

Humanities, Hightstown, NJTatnall School (The), Wilmington, DEVilla Victoria Academy, Ewing, NJWest-Mont Christian Academy, Pottstown,

PAWilson Christian Academy, West Mifflin, PA

Accreditation Six YearsHuntington Learning Center DP0,

Dunwoody, GAHuntington Learning Center LZ0,

Peachtree City, GAHuntington Learning Center PA1,

Huntersville, NCHuntington Learning Center VZ0,

Wyomissing (Reading), PAHuntington Learning Center XR0, Tampa,

FLKendall Park Learning Center, Kendall

Park, NJNew Hope Christian Academy, Inc.,

Thomasville, NC

Accreditation Five YearsCalvary Christian Academy, Philadelphia,

PA

Accreditation Remainder of TermAmerican School of Barcelona, SpainColegio Nuestra Senora de la Providencia,

San Juan, PRUrsuline Academy, Wilmington, DE

Accreditation Removal of

StipulationsColegio Evangelico Capitan Correa,

Arecibo, PRInternational School of Athens, GreeceLab School of Washington (The),

Washington, DC

Accreditation Removal of Probation

Huntingdon Valley Christian Academy, Huntingdon Valley, PA

Probationary AccreditationNew International School, Japan

Recognition of AccreditationAlamance Christian School, Graham NCEvangelical Christian Academy, Madrid,

SpainInternational School of Choueifat-Doha

(The), Doha, QatarSchaumburg Christian School,

Schaumburg ILWake Christian Academy, Raleigh NC

Removal of AccreditationClinton Christian School, Upper MarlboroE. T. Richardson Middle School,

Springfield, PAGrant C. Madill Elementary School,

Ogdensburg, NYHarvey C. Sabold Elementary School,

Springfield, PAJohn F. Kennedy Elementary School,

Ogdensburg, NYLincoln School, Ogdensburg, NYOgdensburg Free Academy, Ogdensburg,

NYScenic Hills Elementary School,

Springfield, PA Sherman School, Ogdensburg, NYSpringfield High School, Springfield, PA

*Accredited with Stipulations

Spring 2013 Accreditation Actions (continued)

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By Brian Bedrick

Many schools spend a lot of time and effort gathering and reporting data to prepare for accreditation or re-accreditation. During the self-study period, schools compile data to demonstrate how well they are performing and the progress they are making towards their strategic objectives. For many schools, tracking down and compiling this data is a stressful event that requires a lot of energy. But there is a relatively simple way to significantly reduce that stress. Make data collection, reporting and analysis a part of your routine operations rather than a once every few years crisis.

When I help schools create online data dashboards, my first step is to walk the school through a process that helps them identify what data they should be collecting, how it can be regularly monitored, and how it can inform decision-making. The core elements of this process are:

Clarity - Align your data with your mission, vision and strategic goals. Review these guiding documents • and determine what data will help you track how well you are doing.Context - Display your data so that it ‘tells a story’. Establish a baseline and show trends over time. • Compare yourself to world averages, peer schools or internal targets. Add a narrative that interprets and explains the raw data.Consistency - Don’t design your metrics and reports and then forget about them. Use them in your staff • and Board meetings. Keep constant metrics and formats so that people are instantly familiar with what they see. Review and analyze the data regularly so that it becomes a habit.

You don’t need a dashboard or other specialized tools to follow the basic principles described above, so anybody can do it. And these actions are closely aligned with the self-study process so if you do it now and practice it consistently, a major part of your self-study will already be done!

MSA-CESS realizes the value of this kind of thinking and is ‘walking the walk’ by using an online dashboard to track their own internal goals and objectives. The dashboard is reviewed regularly and is a valuable tool for monitoring progress, communicating results, and guiding decisions. So when MSA-CESS encourages you to use data as an integral part of your self-study and ongoing action plans, keep in mind they are following that same advice as well.;

Brian Bedrick is the Managing Director of Interactive Data Partners, a company dedicated to helping schools make more effective use of their data using dashboards and other data visualizations tools. Interactive Data Partners is an Associate Business Member of the Middle States Association.

Make Data a Habit, not a Crisis

This is Not Your Father’s Accreditation! (continued)

Regardless of how education is changing, we know that quality will continue to count and MSA is committed to be there to help schools grow, improve and change, and to recognize through our accreditation services educational quality wherever it exists.

We are not your father’s accreditation!

For more information about MSA services visit www.msa-cess.org and follow us on Facebook or on our blog ED CRED.;

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Magnet High School/Union County Vocational • Technical School – NJMarine Academy of Science and Technology/• Monmouth County Vocational Schools - NJMarine Academy of Technology and • Environmental Science/Ocean County Vocational Schools - NJ

North Hunterdon Regional HS - NJ• Rumson Country Day School - NJ• Saint Dominick’s Elementary School - PA• Visitation Elementary School - PA•

Albrizio stresses that although the protocol is being piloted and not yet “public”, “early results have exceeded our expectations.”;

Dr. John Plesha, former MSA-CESS Associate Director, is still focused on education, despite his recent retirement – but now it’s his education and it’s related to his golf swing!

Life’s a lot different for John now that he has retired to a golf course community in South Carolina after his 10 years at Middle States and his time before that as a high school principal. And, although he’s excited about the opportunity to “take the time to do things I never had time to do and relax for awhile,” John will miss Middle States.

“Middle States is a group of very dedicated and determined professionals,” says John. “They are very interested in their jobs. They are self-motivated and determined to do the best they can for our members. They are friends as well as colleagues,” John explains, “and I’ll miss them.”

John will be missed, too, by his colleagues and the member schools with whom he worked for more than a decade. As Rebecca Cunningham, Assistant Principal for Grades 9 and 10 at the Fox Chapel Area High School notes, “Having Dr. Plesha as a guide for the Middle States Accreditation process was extremely valuable – his knowledge, expertise, and experience on everything from the beginning orientation to the final recognition was treasured and respected by everyone on our team.”

Despite retirement, John still strongly believes in Middle States Accreditation. “Middle States brings credibility – whether it’s a public or private school, it doesn’t matter. Your child takes Algebra II and gets all As at XYZ School – is it the same as taking Algebra II and getting all As at ABC school? One school completes 28 of 32 chapters,

while the other only completes18 of those 32 chapters!” He says that Middle States Accreditation makes a school “constantly look at itself and get better. They’ll grow. They’ll ask themselves, ‘what kind of quality programs are we offering, should we be offering?’ and they will improve.”

But John notes that much is dependent on the leadership at the school in question. “Are they willing to do more than just sit on their past laurels and reputation at the school? They can’t be just a ‘maintainer’, they must change and grow!”

What’s next for this dedicated man? He says he’s ready for the next phase of his life, but he acknowledges that he “can’t golf all of the time”, and he has to be careful to “not get on my wife’s nerves!”

Enjoy John!;

John Plesha Moves to the Golf Course!

Sustaining Excellence: A New Protocol (continued)(continued from page 2)