organizing for self-study nesa version 2015...hankcram,ed.d . president [email protected] !!!...

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Organizing for Self-‐Study

Hank Cram, Ed.D. President hcram@msa-‐cess.org

Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools

(MSA-‐‑CESS)

Ge6ing Started

October, 2015 NESA Conference

Priscilla Feir, Ph.D. Accredita4on Officer pfeir@msa-‐cess.org

Copyright Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools

The Middle States Region

MSA-‐CESS accredits over 2700 schools in nearly 100 countries


The Value of Accreditation •  Organizes your school for con4nuous improvement

•  Provides direc4on for those ongoing improvements

•  Increases accountability for student performance and organiza4onal capacity

•  Fosters stakeholder involvement and commitment for the school improvement efforts

•  Creates a culture for con4nuous and sustainable school improvement


•  Focusing on student performance and organiza4onal capacity

•  Emphasizing con4nuous improvement •  Using data to make decisions • Monitoring frequently to assess progress •  Involving representa4ve stakeholders •  Sustained implementa4on of the plan for improvement

Accreditation is about Efficacy and Commitment…

…the belief that we can make a difference


Accreditation Starts with the End in Mind

What is the school’s preferred future? How does it compare with the school’s current reality?

What does the school need to do to close the gap between the current reality and the preferred future?

Future -‐ Present = School Improvement Plan


MSA’s protocols are designed to be developmental….. •  Designing Our Future •  Excellence by Design •  Sustaining Excellence

One size doesn’t fit all!

The Middle States Membership

Excellence by Design

What are the Protocol Options for Schools?

Sustaining Excellence Designing our Future

Many schools begin their school improvement process with this protocol.

Our most popular protocol for schools seeking re-‐accreditation.

Reserved for schools electing to pursue accreditation through action research.


Elements of the Self-‐‑Study Protocols at a Glance

•  Founda4on Documents •  Descrip4ve Summaries •  Adherence to the Standards •  Self Assessment of the Curricular Areas •  Development of a Plan for Improvement •  Content and Implementa4on of the Plan


Self-‐‑Study Timeline

12-18 months

before visit

• School/Board Confirms Foundation Documents

• School/Board Communicates purpose of Accreditation to stakeholders

• Internal Coordinators and administration form Planning Team

7-12 months before visit

• Completion of: • Standards

Surveys • Descriptive

Summaries


• Attend “Developing the Plan” workshop


• Seven year Action Plan completed

• Technical Review of objectives completed

1 month before visit

• Submit completed Self-Study to MSA and to visiting team

• Pre-Visit of Visiting Team Chairperson

After visit

• Celebrate! • Maintain

Accreditation Requirements

• Implement Action Plans

• Complete Annual Reviews

• Revise Plans as Needed

• Complete Mid-term Report


The Principal/Head of School guides the selec4on of:

–  Internal Coordinators –  Planning Team –  External Facilitator (if used)

Ge6ing Started What Roles Should the Stakeholders Play?


Internal Coordinators Sample Job Description can be found in “Accreditation Resources” on MSA website

•  Coordinate the Self-‐Study process which includes the iden4fica4on of measurable objec4ves, and the development of the Plan for Growth and Improvement

•  Oversee planning and prepara4on for the Visi4ng Team visit

•  Prepare for the Mid-‐Term Report (aber 3rd year of accredita4on term)

•  Provide the energy, enthusiasm, and exper4se to move the process forward


Planning Team Sample Planning Team Compositions can be found in “Accreditation Resources” on MSA website

•  Assists in gathering informa4on about the school’s context and current student performance.

•  Contributes to developing/reviewing/revising the school’s Founda4on Documents.

•  Assists with the development of objec4ves and the school improvement plan

•  Communicates with stakeholders and solicits input •  Oversees implementa4on of Improvement Plan


Defining the School’s Preferred Future Samples can be found in “Accreditation Resources” on MSA website

Revisi&ng or crea&ng Founda&on Documents that answer the ques&ons….

•  What is our mission or vision for our preferred future?

•  What beliefs or core values guide our daily opera4ons and decision-‐making?

•  What will our students know and be able to do, believe and how will they behave if we achieve our mission?


Mission/Vision Sample documents can be found on the MSA website

A Mission should both inspire the school’s stakeholders to achieve a beder future and communicate in brief terms what the school aspires to become. The Mission statement should represent a collabora4ve effort of all stakeholders.


Beliefs/Core Values Sample Documents can be found on the MSA website

Outline of what the school’s community of stakeholders are willing to “go to the mat” defending. Because beliefs iden4fy a “line in the sand,” they can be used as a lens for examining the worthiness of the school’s poten4al decisions or future ac4ons. Beliefs act as a moral compass for the school.


Profile of Graduates Sample documents can be found on the MSA website

•  When students have successfully completed our educa4onal program…

• What will they know? • What will they be able to do with what they know?

• What quali4es or characteris4cs will they demonstrate?


Describing the School’s Current Reality

The school’s current reality is determined by using mul&ple data points including… •  Current student performance data •  Documenta4on gathered to assess the school’s adherence to the Middle States Standards

•  Stakeholder’s opinions expressed in the surveys related to each of the standards

•  The school’s self-‐assessment of each of the standards and the iden4fica4on of areas poten4ally in need of improvement.


Middle States Standards •  Mission •  Governance & Leadership •  School Improvement Planning •  Finances •  Facili4es •  School Organiza4on & Staff •  Health and Safety •  Educa4onal Program •  Assessment & Evidence of Student Learning •  Student Services •  Student Life and Ac4vi4es •  Informa4on Resources


Each Standard includes • A comprehensive global statement of describing the ideal •  Indicators as to what implementa4on of the standard should look like

And is compared with •  Examples of ar4facts presented as evidence of the implementa4on of the standard

•  Stakeholder feedback provided as an addi4onal assessment of the school’s adherence to each standard

Standards for Accreditation


Sections for each Standard

A.  Issues related to Standard B.  Self Assessment of the Indicators; need comments

from Surveys C.  Confirma4on of mee4ng the Standard D.  Implica4ons for Planning E.  Evidence Checklist


Surveying Stakeholders Examples of surveys and instructions can be found at the MSA website

•  MSA Standards Surveys are designed for staff, parents, and students – available in English and Spanish

•  Surveys are fully customizable by the school once placed in the account

•  See Survey Monkey Instruc4ons for online administra4on of surveys -‐ contact amoyer@cess-‐msa.org

•  Administer surveys early in the Self-‐study process and plan for 4me to complete and analyze results


Meeting the MSA Standards

All standards must be met for a school to be “Accredited”


Founda>on Documents

Standards Surveys Student Performance Data

Organiza>onal Capacity Goals*

Student Achievement Goals*

Planning Team/Steering CommiIee Sets Priori>es

Improvement Objec>ves

Ac>on Planning*

Sustainability Ac>vi>es

*Self Assessment of Curricular Areas may also inform goals and/or ac4on planning


Self-‐‑Assessment of the Indicators of Quality for Curriculum, Instruction,

and Assessment

The purpose of the self-‐assessment is to iden4fy any aspects of the school’s Curriculum, Instruc4on, and Assessments that need to be developed or improved to increase student performance


Determining Improvement Priorities Aber conduc4ng gap analysis of the self-‐study data gathered to compare your founda4on documents and the MSA Standards with the evidence defining your current reality AND Determine those areas of student performance and organiza4onal that are in need of improvement and for which you will conduct a root cause analysis and develop hypotheses as to what you will need to do differently to improve school performance.


The results of your analysis will be…

•  Three to Five School Improvement Objec4ves – Student Achievement/Performance (at least 2)

– Organiza4onal Capacity (1 or more) Spanning the seven year term of accredita&on

•  Measured using mul4ple assessments •  Reflec4ng expected growth and improvement over 4me and supported by detailed ac4on plans.


Next Steps: Workshop #2

–  Developing the Plan – Schools who have completed:

» Surveys » Profiles of Student Performance » Profile of Organizational Capacity » Assessment of curricular areas

Should join us for a workshop to assist in the development of Objec4ves and Ac4on Plans

Online Modules are Now Available •  Check the MSA website for online modules for this presenta4on

and addi4onal topics as needed.


Questions/Work Session

•  Do you know your User ID and Password for the MSA website? •  What can you do on the website?

• Accredita4on Resources • Update School Profile • Manage volunteers • Register for Workshops

•  Have you been introduced to your MSA staff liaison?


Questions/Work Session

Let’s look at: •  The MSA Website for Resources/Guides/Templates •  Forming a Planning Team •  Sample Planning Team Structures •  Surveying Stakeholders •  Templates for Self-‐Study


MSA Programs of Distinction Full descriptions are available on the MSA website •  21st Century Skills •  Early Childhood Educa4on •  Global Literacies •  Music •  School Counseling •  Service Learning •  STEM • World Languages •  Visual Arts


•  What are MSA resources for Self-‐Study and how do you access them?

•  How well prepared are you to organize for success? •  What is your level of confidence in knowing how to complete a meaningful self study?

Closure


Volunteer Today

The best way to COMPLETE today’s training and give your school an

ADVANTAGE is by serving on a Visi4ng Team.

Send your request to iraatzs@msa-‐cess.org today and we’ll work

to find the perfect team for you! It will make a difference!