Council on Accreditation and School ImprovementCouncil on Accreditation and School Improvement© 2007 Southern Association of Colleges and Schools© 2007 Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

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Forsyth County Forsyth County SchoolsSchools

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22What does district accreditation involve?What does district accreditation involve?

• The capacity of a school system to The capacity of a school system to address three major elements. As such, a address three major elements. As such, a school system must:school system must:– Meet standards for accreditation;Meet standards for accreditation;– Demonstrate a systemic and continuous process Demonstrate a systemic and continuous process

of improvement; andof improvement; and– Implement methods that provide for quality Implement methods that provide for quality

assurance.assurance.

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33Role and ResponsibilitiesRole and ResponsibilitiesQuality Assurance ReviewQuality Assurance Review

• Assess the capacity of the system to meet the Assess the capacity of the system to meet the standards;standards;

• Assess the efficacy and impact of the improvement Assess the efficacy and impact of the improvement process;process;

• Assess the effectiveness of the system’s methods Assess the effectiveness of the system’s methods for quality assurance;for quality assurance;

• Identify strengths of the system deserving of Identify strengths of the system deserving of commendation; andcommendation; and

• Develop recommendations which are designed to Develop recommendations which are designed to help strengthen the school system.help strengthen the school system.

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44Procedures FollowedProcedures FollowedQuality Assurance ReviewQuality Assurance Review

• The Quality Assurance Review TeamThe Quality Assurance Review Team– Reviewed documentation provided by the school Reviewed documentation provided by the school

system;system;– Developed points of inquiry for the on-site review;Developed points of inquiry for the on-site review;– Established, in collaboration with district personnel, a Established, in collaboration with district personnel, a

schedule of activities and interactions that would schedule of activities and interactions that would provide for significant stakeholder involvement;provide for significant stakeholder involvement;

– Conducted interviews of a representative set of Conducted interviews of a representative set of stakeholders throughout the district; andstakeholders throughout the district; and

– Engaged in professional deliberations as a team to Engaged in professional deliberations as a team to consider the capacity of the school system to meet consider the capacity of the school system to meet the requirements for district accreditation.the requirements for district accreditation.

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55Interviews with StakeholdersInterviews with Stakeholders

• During the on-site Quality Assurance Review, team During the on-site Quality Assurance Review, team members interviewed:members interviewed:

11 Superintendent of SchoolsSuperintendent of Schools

55 Members of the Board of EducationMembers of the Board of Education

1818 Administrators (district-level)Administrators (district-level)

5858 Administrators (school-level)Administrators (school-level)

123123 Parents and business partnersParents and business partners

143143 TeachersTeachers

5353 StudentsStudents

401401 TotalTotal

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66Evidential ProcessEvidential Process

• In considering the evidence as provided In considering the evidence as provided through data, documentation, observation, through data, documentation, observation, and dialogue, the Quality Assurance Teamand dialogue, the Quality Assurance Team– Sought a district perspective;Sought a district perspective;– Pursued evidence that could be correlated through Pursued evidence that could be correlated through

multiple sources;multiple sources;– Examined the context and capacity of the school Examined the context and capacity of the school

system in relation to its vision, mission, and beliefs; system in relation to its vision, mission, and beliefs; andand

– Applied the criteria for accreditation.Applied the criteria for accreditation.

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77Summary of our ObservationsSummary of our Observations

• StrengthsStrengths…conditions that exist which benefit the …conditions that exist which benefit the school district.school district.

• AchievementsAchievements…recent accomplishments achieved …recent accomplishments achieved by the school district.by the school district.

• CommendationsCommendations…professional commendations by …professional commendations by the Quality Assurance Review Team.the Quality Assurance Review Team.

• LimitationsLimitations…conditions that exist which are …conditions that exist which are potential barriers.potential barriers.

• ChallengesChallenges…opportunities that the district may seek …opportunities that the district may seek to address for further improvement.to address for further improvement.

• RecommendationsRecommendations…professional recommendations …professional recommendations by the Quality Assurance Review Team.by the Quality Assurance Review Team.

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88StrengthsStrengths

• Committed Board of Education members understand Committed Board of Education members understand roles and responsibilitiesroles and responsibilities

• High degree of confidence in the visionary High degree of confidence in the visionary leadership of the Superintendentleadership of the Superintendent

• Quality of administrators, faculty, and staffQuality of administrators, faculty, and staff• Positive rapport between students and teachers Positive rapport between students and teachers • Belief is fostered that change creates opportunities Belief is fostered that change creates opportunities • Clear roadmap for the future – Vision 2010Clear roadmap for the future – Vision 2010• Data-driven decision-makingData-driven decision-making• TechnologyTechnology

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99StrengthsStrengths

• Transparency of decisions and processesTransparency of decisions and processes• Multiple opportunities for stakeholder inputMultiple opportunities for stakeholder input• Central office existing to support families and Central office existing to support families and

teaching and learningteaching and learning• Curriculum maps to guide instructional decision-Curriculum maps to guide instructional decision-

makingmaking• Accessibility of data and information to teachers and Accessibility of data and information to teachers and

familiesfamilies• Strong partnership with the Chamber of CommerceStrong partnership with the Chamber of Commerce• High level of trust, collaboration, and pride at all High level of trust, collaboration, and pride at all

levels and among all stakeholderslevels and among all stakeholders

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1010AccomplishmentsAccomplishments

• PaceSetter Awards for 2 years for students PaceSetter Awards for 2 years for students with disabilitieswith disabilities

• 16 Office of Student Achievement Medal 16 Office of Student Achievement Medal awardsawards

• GSBA Board of Distinction AwardGSBA Board of Distinction Award• Board of Education recognized as the Most Board of Education recognized as the Most

Digitally Advanced in the Nation Digitally Advanced in the Nation • Outstanding Archives Award 2006Outstanding Archives Award 2006

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1111AccomplishmentsAccomplishments

• Passing SPLOST and bondPassing SPLOST and bond• 3 Georgia Schools of Excellence (2005-2006)3 Georgia Schools of Excellence (2005-2006)• 2 National Blue Ribbon Schools2 National Blue Ribbon Schools• 62 National Board Certified Teachers62 National Board Certified Teachers• Largest installation of whiteboards in the Largest installation of whiteboards in the

nationnation• Numerous other achievementsNumerous other achievements

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1212CommendationsCommendations

• The Quality Assurance Review Team The Quality Assurance Review Team commends the Forsyth County Schools for:commends the Forsyth County Schools for:– Updating current facilities and planning for future Updating current facilities and planning for future

needsneeds– Utilizing a strategic planning process for over ten Utilizing a strategic planning process for over ten

yearsyears– Providing consistent, equitable resources for students Providing consistent, equitable resources for students

across schoolsacross schools– Offering schools flexibility in budgeting and Offering schools flexibility in budgeting and

managementmanagement– Focusing on the design of engaging work for studentsFocusing on the design of engaging work for students

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1313CommendationsCommendations

• The Quality Assurance Review Team The Quality Assurance Review Team commends the Forsyth County Schools for:commends the Forsyth County Schools for:– Creating a centralized registration processCreating a centralized registration process– Using technology as a tool to access, teach, and Using technology as a tool to access, teach, and

demonstrate the curriculumdemonstrate the curriculum– Committing to an informative and timely websiteCommitting to an informative and timely website– Building capacity and teacher leadership through Building capacity and teacher leadership through

explicit modelingexplicit modeling– Encouraging differentiated professional learning Encouraging differentiated professional learning

(Focused Choice)(Focused Choice)

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1414LimitationsLimitations

• GrowthGrowth • County infrastructure (e.g., roads, traffic)County infrastructure (e.g., roads, traffic)• GrowthGrowth

• State legislation (e.g., class size)State legislation (e.g., class size)• GrowthGrowth• Impending changes in state fundingImpending changes in state funding

• GrowthGrowth• Increasing diversityIncreasing diversity

• GrowthGrowth• Price and availability of landPrice and availability of land

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1515ChallengesChallenges

• High School ImprovementHigh School Improvement• Transportation planningTransportation planning• Desire to remain fiscally accountable Desire to remain fiscally accountable

regarding the millage rateregarding the millage rate• Quantity of professional learning required for Quantity of professional learning required for

recently-hired faculty in Forsyth County recently-hired faculty in Forsyth County SchoolsSchools

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1616ChallengesChallenges

• Responding to changing demographics and Responding to changing demographics and diverse needs of studentsdiverse needs of students

• Impact of frequent redistricting Impact of frequent redistricting • Multiple avenues available to graduate Multiple avenues available to graduate • Growth presents communication challenges Growth presents communication challenges

for all stakeholdersfor all stakeholders

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1717RecommendationsRecommendations

• The Quality Assurance Review Team recommends The Quality Assurance Review Team recommends that Forsyth County Schools:that Forsyth County Schools:– Devise a transition plan for the Superintendency to maintain Devise a transition plan for the Superintendency to maintain

quality learning and superior performance for all (Standards 2, 6)quality learning and superior performance for all (Standards 2, 6)– Implement High School Improvement Plan (Standard 4)Implement High School Improvement Plan (Standard 4)– Explore more strategies to support diverse groups of students Explore more strategies to support diverse groups of students

(Standard 7)(Standard 7)– Assess avenues for parent and community input on school Assess avenues for parent and community input on school

improvement plans that will allow stakeholders to more readily improvement plans that will allow stakeholders to more readily understand and articulate the school goals (Standards 8, 10)understand and articulate the school goals (Standards 8, 10)

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1818Next StepsNext Steps

• A written report of our findings and observations will A written report of our findings and observations will be drafted and sent to the Superintendent of Schools be drafted and sent to the Superintendent of Schools within 30 days.within 30 days.

• After receipt of the report, the district is expected to After receipt of the report, the district is expected to – Review and communicate the findings and observations Review and communicate the findings and observations

contained in the report;contained in the report;– Initiate steps to address the recommendations in the report;Initiate steps to address the recommendations in the report;– Continue to monitor accreditation requirements for the system Continue to monitor accreditation requirements for the system

and its schools;and its schools;– Monitor the execution and impact of strategies for improvement; Monitor the execution and impact of strategies for improvement;

andand– Continue to engage methods that provide for quality assurance.Continue to engage methods that provide for quality assurance.

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1919Final RecommendationFinal Recommendation

• The Quality Assurance Review Team The Quality Assurance Review Team recommends, without reservation, to the recommends, without reservation, to the SACS CASI Board of Directors that Forsyth SACS CASI Board of Directors that Forsyth County Schools be awarded district County Schools be awarded district accreditation as a quality school system.accreditation as a quality school system.

• Once approved, the district and all its Once approved, the district and all its schools are thereby accredited.schools are thereby accredited.

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2020Final ThoughtsFinal Thoughts

• On behalf of the Quality Assurance Team, I On behalf of the Quality Assurance Team, I extend:extend:– Our appreciation for your hospitality, support, and Our appreciation for your hospitality, support, and

professionalism;professionalism;– Our respect and acknowledgement of the quality of Our respect and acknowledgement of the quality of

the school district; andthe school district; and– Our congratulations for achieving district accreditation Our congratulations for achieving district accreditation

as a quality system.as a quality system.

……helping schools helping schools and school systems and school systems

improve student improve student learning through learning through

accreditationaccreditation