Scottsbluff ESU #13 Oral Exit Report February 1, 2012 Quality Assurance Review Team Education Service Unit Accreditation

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4 Education Service Unit Accreditation A national protocol for Education Service Units committed to systemic, systematic, and sustainable improvement Builds capacity of the Education Service Unit and its districts/schools to increase and sustain student learning Stimulates and improves effectiveness and efficiency throughout the organization

5 Education Service Unit Accreditation Applies a systems approach to improvement – Examines how all elements (people, processes, departments and operations) of the Education Service Unit work in a unified, coordinated and integrated way in pursuit of a shared vision Promotes improvement that is continuous not episodic Strengthens efforts to meet accountability requirements and encourages growth beyond compliance to achieve excellence

6 Cornerstones of Accreditation Meet the AdvancED Accreditation Standards for Quality Education Service Unit Systems Engage in Continuous Improvement Demonstrate Quality Assurance through Internal and External Review To earn and maintain Education Service Unit Accreditation:

7 AdvancED Accreditation Standards for Quality Systems 1.Vision and Purpose 2.Governance and Leadership 3.Teaching and Learning 4.Documenting and Using Results 5.Resources and Support Systems 6.Stakeholder Communications and Relationships 7.Commitment to Continuous Improvement

8 The Education Service Unit is Expected to….  Meet the AdvancED Standards for Quality Systems  Identify and guide the implementation of a systemic continuous improvement process  Monitor all departments/districts and schools through a quality assurance process  Prepare and host a Quality Assurance Review (QAR) every five years  Respond to the required actions from the QAR team

9 Departments/Districts/Schools are Expected to…  Meet the AdvancED Accreditation Standards for Quality Education Service Units and District/Schools  Implement the Education Service Unit’s continuous improvement process  Participate in the Education Service Unit’s quality assurance process

10 Quality Assurance External Review Process Every five years the Education Service Unit hosts a visit by a national team of professional peers The team represents NCA CASI, SACS CASI, and AdvancED The team meets with Education Service Unit stakeholders and visits a representative sample of districts/schools The team presents high quality feedback and makes an accreditation recommendation The Review provides Education Service Unit and community with validation and recognition 10

11 Quality Assurance External Review Process The team examines the effectiveness of the Education Service Unit in meeting the requirements of accreditation Determines the extent to which the Education Service Unit meets the AdvancED quality standards Evaluates the value and impact of the district’s improvement efforts Judges the efficacy of the district’s methods for quality assurance

Activities of the QAR Team Reviewed Standard Assessment Report and District Website Listened to District Presentations Interviewed District Stakeholders Examined Artifacts Visited a Representative Sample of Schools Observed Practices and Learning Environment Collected and Organized Data

13 Data Collection During the on-site Quality Assurance Review, team members visited 8 Departments/ Districts/Schools and Interviewed: 2 Board members 14 Superintendents 18 Directors/Principals 36 Teachers 27 Support staff 29 Parents, community, and business partners 12 Students TOTAL 131 stakeholders

14 Criteria Used to Arrive at the Team’s Findings When reviewing evidence to arrive at its findings, the team: – Sought a Education Service Unit perspective; – Pursued evidence that could be corroborated through multiple sources; – Examined the context and capacity of the Education Service Unit in relation to its vision, mission, and beliefs; and – Applied the criteria for accreditation.

15 The QAR Team Delivers high quality feedback Assesses each standard and writes narratives that describe evidence, highlight strengths and opportunities for improvement Provides commendations that identify and celebrate noteworthy accomplishments Defines required actions to help the Education Service Unit improve Communicates findings in oral and written formats Makes an accreditation recommendation for national review

16 Team’s Findings Commendations – Significant accomplishments in meeting and/or exceeding accreditation standards and requirements Required Actions – Actions that will enhance Education Service Unit effectiveness and improve student learning

17 Commendations The Quality Assurance Review Team commends Educational Service Unit 13 for: The Continuous Improvement Planning Process that creates a system of planning that aligns the organizational goals to department goals to employees goals. The process is systematic and creates a unity of purpose for ESU 13 to pursue its mission and vision. The leadership of the Unit Administrator and commitment of the administrative staff to quality service and equity in meeting the needs of all constituents. Stakeholder and constituent satisfaction is high indicating a strong degree of trust.

18 Commendations The Quality Assurance Review Team commends Educational Service Unit 13 for: Agency leaders employ a wide variety of methods to facilitate internal communication with all staff, keeping collaboration and quality information at the core of its purpose. Distance Learning provides expanded learning opportunities for students and staff in constituent districts while creating enormous savings in time and fiscal resources. The allocation of resources provided to constituents is equitable and promotes great opportunity for all learners.

19 Required Actions The Quality Assurance Review Team recommends that : Develop a systemic and comprehensive approach for reviewing unit effectiveness based on an analysis of performance data in all areas of operation including student achievement. Utilize correlational and impact data to make decisions regarding department and program effectiveness. Conduct an environmental scan including a review of best practice research to assist in reviewing the current vision and mission of the unit.

Standards Rubrics Highly Functional © 2010 AdvancED The agency is exceptional in its demonstration of the standard and exhibits practices not commonly found in other schools. A small percentage of districts have standards ratings at this level. The agency is demonstrating the standard and using practices commonly found in other schools. Many districts have standards ratings at this level. Operational Emerging Not Evident The agency is beginning to put in place the practices necessary to meet the standard but is not meeting it. Many districts have standards ratings at this level. The agency has not put practices in place or beginning efforts to meet the standard. Some districts have standards ratings at this level.

Ratings by Standard © 2010 AdvancED StandardRating Vision and PurposeHighly Functional Governance and LeadershipHighly Functional Teaching and LearningOperational Documenting and Using ResultsOperational Resources and Support SystemsOperational Stakeholder Communications and Relationships Operational Commitment to Continuous Improvement Operational

Standards Evaluation © 2010 AdvancED Standard RatingNumber Highly Functional2 Operational5 Emerging Not Evident

Evidence-Based Accreditation  Accredited X Accredited  On Advisement  Warned  Probation © 2010 AdvancED  Deny or Drop Accreditation X Based on the evidence, the QAR Team is recommending the following Accreditation Status to the Accreditation Commission

24 Next Steps A written report of the findings will be submitted within 30 business days After receipt of the report, the Education Service Unit is expected to: – Review and communicate the findings – Address the required actions – Monitor Education Service Unit system accreditation standards and improvement efforts on an ongoing basis – Submit the Accreditation Progress Report. After the next meeting of the AdvancED Accreditation Commission (January and June) reports will be available for public access

25 Accreditation Recommendation The Quality Assurance Review Team recommends to the AdvancED Accreditation Commission that the Educational Service Unit 13 be awarded Education Service Unit Accreditation as a quality system. Once reviewed and approved by the AdvancED Accreditation Commission, the Education Service Unit is granted a 5-year term accreditation.

26 Final Thoughts On behalf of the Quality Assurance Team, I extend: – Our appreciation for your hospitality, support, and professionalism; – Our respect and acknowledgement of the quality of the Education Service Unit; and – Our congratulations for your progress toward achieving Education Service Unit Accreditation as a quality system.

…helping Education Service Units, school systems and schools improve student learning AdvancED Education Service Unit Accreditation for Quality Systems