1. AdvancED District Accreditation Standards Assessment Report
February 2 – 5, 2014
FAYETTE COUNTY SCHOOLS
“Every Student a Graduate - Every Graduate Prepared”

2. Fayette County Team Leaders
Executive Summary: Mrs. Julie Chaffin & Mr. Vic Herren
Stakeholder Feedback Diagnostic: Mrs. Mary Raines & Mr. Vic Herren
Student Performance Diagnostic: Mrs. Mary Gravlee
Hospitality: Mrs. Amy Tucker
Standards:
1. Purpose & Direction: Mr. Vic Herren
2. Governance and Leadership: Dr. Rene Nichols & Mr. Wade Shipman
3. Teaching & Assessing for Learning: Dr. Holly Morgan
4. Resources and Support Systems : Mrs. Mary Raines
5. Using Results for Continuous Improvement: Mrs. Mary Gravlee 2

3. Standard 1: Purpose & Direction
Overall Rating: 3.0
The system maintains and communicates at all levels of the organization a purpose and direction for continuous improvement that commit to high expectations for learning as well as shared values and beliefs about teaching and learning.

4. Standard 1 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4
INDICATORS:
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
1.1
The system engages in a systematic, inclusive, and comprehensive process to review, revise, and communicate a system-wide purpose for student success. X
1.2
The system ensures that each school engages in a systematic, inclusive, and comprehensive process to review, revise, and communicate a school purpose for student success.
1.3
The school leadership and staff at all levels of the system commit to a culture that is based on shared values and beliefs about teaching and learning and supports challenging, equitable educational programs and learning experiences for all students that include achievement of learning, thinking, and life skills.
1.4
Leadership at all levels of the system implement a continuous improvement process that provides clear direction for improving conditions that support student learning.

5. Standard 1 Overview 1.1 System-wide purpose
Stakeholder Survey Results
Reviewed previous Motto, Mission, and Belief Statements
Created new Motto – Alabama Plan 2020
Communications - Website
1.2 School-Level Purpose for Student Success
Survey Results
School Purpose Statements

6. Standard 1 Overview 1.3 Culture based on shared values and beliefs
ACIPS
Professional Development
Strategic Plan
1.4 Continuous Improvement Process
Development and Implementation
Review and Reflection

7. Standard 2: Governance & Leadership
Overall Rating: 3.17
The system operates under governance and leadership that promote and support student performance and system effectiveness.

8. Standard 2 INDICATORS: Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 2.1
The governing body establishes policies and supports practices that ensure effective administration of the system and its schools. X
2.2
The governing body operates responsibly and functions effectively.
2.3
The governing body ensures that the leadership at all levels has the autonomy to meet goals for achievement and instruction and to manage day-to-day operations effectively.
2.4
Leadership and staff at all levels of the system foster a culture consistent with the system's purpose and direction.
2.5
Leadership engages stakeholders effectively in support of the system's purpose and direction.
2.6
Leadership and staff supervision and evaluation processes result in improved professional practice in all areas of the system and improved student success.

9. Standard 2 - Overview 2.1 Establishment of Policies and Procedures
Fayette County Board of Education School Board Policies Manual
Student Handbooks (folders)
Staff Handbooks
2.2 Governing Body Operations
Board Member Training (ASBA)
Code of Ethics Training
SDE Compliance Monitoring January 21-24

10. Standard 2 - Overview 2.3 Governing Body Leadership
Strategic Plan – Community Stakeholder Meeting
Roles and Responsibilities – Central Office and Schools
Professional Development Plan – CCRS
2.4 Leaders and Staff – Continuous Improvement
ACIP
Administrative – PLC – Leaders of Learning: How District, School and Classroom Leaders Improve Student Achievement

11. Standard 2 - Overview 2.5 Communication with Stakeholders
School Level - Community and Parent Involvement Meetings – 21st Century, CTE
LEA Level – Community, Advisory, Media (Website), SchoolCast
2.6 Evaluation Processes for Improved Student Success
Administrators – LEAD (Val-Ed Component); EducateAlabama
Teacher – EducateAlabama
Support – Bi-Annual Checklist

12. Standard 3: Teaching & Assessing for Learning
Overall Rating: 2.75 The system's curriculum, instructional design, and assessment practices guide and ensure teacher effectiveness and student learning across all grades and courses.

13. Standard 3 INDICATORS: Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 3.1
The system's curriculum provides equitable and challenging learning experiences that ensure all students have sufficient opportunities to develop learning, thinking, and life skills that lead to success at the next level X
3.2
Curriculum, instruction, and assessment throughout the system are monitored and adjusted systematically in response to data from multiple assessments of student learning and an examination of professional practice.
3.3
Teachers throughout the district engage students in their learning through instructional strategies that ensure achievement of earning expectations.
3.4
System and school leaders monitor and support the improvement of instructional practices of teachers to ensure student success.
3.5
The system operates as a collaborative learning organization through structures that support improved instruction and student learning at all levels.
3.6
Teachers implement the system's instructional process in support of student learning.

14. Standard 3 INDICATORS: Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 3.7
Mentoring, coaching, and induction programs support instructional improvement consistent with the system's values and beliefs about teaching and learning. X
3.8
The system and all of its schools engage families in meaningful ways in their children's education and keep them informed of their children's learning progress.
3.9
The system designs and evaluates structures in all schools whereby each student is well known by at least one adult advocate in the student's school who supports that student's educational experience.
3.10
Grading and reporting are based on clearly defined criteria that represent the attainment of content knowledge and skills and are consistent across grade levels and courses.
3.11
All staff members participate in a continuous program of professional learning.
3.12
The system and its schools provide and coordinate learning support services to meet the unique learning needs of students.

15. Standard 3 Overview
3.1 The system provides equitable and challenging learning experiences.
Lesson plans aligned to current Alabama’s CCRS
Challenging, research-based instructional techniques
3.2 Curriculum, instruction, and assessment are monitored and adjusted in response to data.
System pacing guides and curriculum maps
Variety of common assessments
Summative and formative
Local, state, national levels

16. Standard 3 Overview
3.3 Teachers engage students through instructional strategies that ensure achievement.
Teacher and student use of technology
SMART boards, LCD projectors, Chrome books, iPads, iPod Touch, Kindle Fire tablets, desktop computers, laptop computers, computer labs
Alabama Reading Initiative (ARI)
Alabama Math, Science, Technology Initiative (AMSTI)
UA/UWA Inservice Center Partnership

17. Standard 3 Overview
3.4 Leaders monitor and support the improvement of instructional practices.
Fayette County Schools Administrative PLU (Professional Learning Unit)
EDUCATE Alabama/LEAD Alabama
Administrator walk-through tools aligned to specific instructional strategies and/or practices
3.5 The system operates as a collaborative learning organization.
Agendas, minutes, calendars of learning community meetings
Leaders of Learning: How District, School, and Classroom Leaders Improve Student Achievement

18. Standard 3 Overview
3.4 Leaders monitor and support the improvement of instructional practices.
Fayette County Schools Administrative PLU (Professional Learning Unit)
EDUCATE Alabama/LEAD Alabama
Administrator walk-through tools aligned to specific instructional strategies and/or practices
3.5 The system operates as a collaborative learning organization.
Agendas, minutes, calendars of learning community meetings
Leaders of Learning: How District, School, and Classroom Leaders Improve Student Achievement

19. Standard 3 Overview
3.6 Teachers implement system’s instructional process in support of student learning.
Learning expectations and posted objectives
Benchmark assessments
Rubrics/exemplars to inform student learning
3.7 Mentoring, coaching and induction programs support instructional improvement.
Instructional coaches serve K-12 teachers in all content areas.
New Personnel Training
Fayette County New Personnel Handbook

20. Standard 3 Overview
3.8 The system engages families in meaningful ways and keeps them informed of child’s progress.
Parental involvement plans
Volunteer programs
STI’s InformationNow Portal
Parent involvement nights
Parent conferences
3.9 The system designs and evaluates structures in all schools whereby each student is well known by at least one adult advocate.
Berry High’s Student Advocacy Program
Fayette County High’s FOCUS Program
High Hopes Mentors

21. Standard 3 Overview
3.10 Grading and reporting are based on clearly defined criteria and are consistent across grade levels and courses.
Fayette County Schools’ Board Policy on Grading and Reporting
Standards-based Kindergarten Report Card
3.11 All staff members participate in a continuous program of professional learning.
System Professional Development Plan
CCRS Professional Development/Transition Plan
Targeted K-12 mathematics professional development
Local administrator training aligned with Alabama’s PLAN 2020
The Leader in Me
Continued training in strategic teaching (ARI)
iPad Professional Learning Group
Support Personnel Professional Development

22. Standard 3 Overview
3.12 The system and its schools provide and coordinate learning support services to meet the unique needs of students.
Service for Students with Special Needs
Services for English Language Learners
RTI (Response-to-Instruction)
Comprehensive Guidance and Counseling Services

23. Standard 4: Resources & Support Systems
Overall Rating: 3.0 The system has resources and provides services in all schools that support its purpose and direction to ensure success for all students.

24. Standard 4 X INDICATORS: Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 4.1
The system engages in a systematic process to recruit, employ, and retain a sufficient number of qualified professional and support staff to fulfill their roles and responsibilities and support the purpose and direction of the system, individual schools, and educational programs. X
4.2
Instructional time, material resources, and fiscal resources are sufficient to support the purpose and direction of the system, individual schools,
educational programs, and system operations.
4.3
The system maintains facilities, services, and equipment to provide a safe, clean, and healthy environment for all students and staff
4.4
The system demonstrates strategic resource management that includes long-range planning in support of the purpose and direction of the system.
4.5
The system provides, coordinates, and evaluates the effectiveness of information resources and related personnel to support educational programs throughout the system.
4.6
The system provides a technology infrastructure and equipment to support the system's teaching, learning, and operational needs.
4.7
The system provides, coordinates, and evaluates the effectiveness of support systems to meet the physical, social, and emotional needs of the student population being served.
4.8
The system provides, coordinates, and evaluates the effectiveness of services that support the counseling, assessment, referral, educational, and career planning needs of all students.

25. Standard 4 Overview
4.1 Systematic process to recruit, employ and retain staff
100% of faculty and staff are “Highly Qualified”
Teach in Alabama Website
Training for Administrators
Teacher Recruitment – Interviews at local Universities
4.2 Instructional time, material resources and fiscal resources support purpose and direction
System Strategic Plan
School Calendars
Teacher Schedules – LEAPS
Media Specialist serves as Technology Leaders

26. Standard 4 Overview
4.3 The System Provides a safe, clean and healthy environment
Virtual Alabama Platform / Safety Plans
School Safety Committees and Responsibilities
Maintenance Spreadsheet that track improvements
4.4 Demonstrates strategic resource management
Strategic Plan
Alabama Continuous Improvement Plans (ACIP)
4.5 Provides, coordinates, and evaluates the effectiveness of information resources
Library Media Policy / Procedures Manual
Flexible Schedule for Media Specialist
Atrium Software
State Department Desktop Audit (No Citations)
Integration of Collaboration Document

27. Standard 4 Overview
4.6 The system provides a technology infrastructure and equipment to support the system's teaching, learning, and operational needs.
Technology infrastructure
Transform 2020 Plan
Fiber optic backbone interconnection between all school sites
Wireless Access in all Schools
112 mbps of available bandwidth
STI’s InformationNow Portal
Global Scholar Performance Series & Achievement Series
Graduation Tracking System
Policies relative to technology use at the system
Acceptable Use Policy
Kindle Fire Policy (Berry High School)
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Policy (Fayette County High School, Fayette Middle School, and Hubbertville)

28. Standard 4 Overview
4.7 Provides, coordinates, and evaluates the effectiveness of support systems to meet the physical, social, and emotional needs of the student population being served
Individualized Education Plan for Students with Disabilities
Gifted Plan
ESL Plan
Anti-Harassment Policy
Report Bullying Logo on School Websites
Counseling and Guidance Plan
Financial Aid Nights at the High Schools
Auburn University Extension Service
FAWN, PROSPER, 4-H

29. Standard 4 Overview
4.8 Provides, coordinates, and evaluates the effectiveness of services that support the counseling, assessment, referral, educational, and career planning needs of all students.
LEA Response-to-Instruction Plan (RTI)
Individualized Education Plan for Students with Disabilities
Gifted Plan
Character Education
Health Services
ESL Plan
LEA Credit Recovery Plan
Career Preparedness Course (KUDER)
Career Technical Education Programs
College Admissions Made Possible Partnership (CAMP)
Bevill State Community College Partnership (Upward Bound, Educational Talent Search, Upward Bound Math & Science, TORCH Competition)

30. Standard 5: Using Results for Continuous Improvement
Overall Rating: 2.8
The system implements a comprehensive assessment system that generates a range of data about student learning and system effectiveness and uses the results to guide continuous improvement.

31. Standard 5
Indicators
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
5.1
The system establishes and maintains a clearly defined and comprehensive student assessment system. X
5.2
Professional and support staff continuously collect, analyze and apply learning from a range of data sources, including comparison and trend data about student learning, instruction, program evaluation, and organizational conditions that support learning.
5.3
Throughout the system professional and support staff are trained in the interpretation and use of data
5.4
The school system engages in a continuous process to determine verifiable improvement in student learning, including readiness for and success at the next level.
5.5
System and school leaders monitor and communicate
comprehensive information about student learning, school performance, and the achievement of system and school improvement goals to stakeholders.

32. Standard 5 Overview
5.1 The system establishes and maintains a clearly defined and comprehensive student assessment system.
All students participate in the state mandated assessment program
DIBELS/Programmatic Assessments – Grades K-2
Global Scholar Performance Series – Grades 3-8
Global Scholar Achievement Series – Grades 9-12
Assessments 3 times annually
Students with severe cognitive delays participate in the Alabama Alternate Assessment
5.2 Professional and support staff continuously collect, analyze and apply learning from a range of data sources
Central office personnel review scores, trend data, comparisons to similar systems, and disaggregated data.
School Leadership Teams review school data

33. Standard 5 Overview
5.3 Throughout the system professional and support staff are trained in the interpretation and use of data
Year of transition—new assessments in grades 3-8, new end of course assessments for various high school courses, all 11th graders will take ACT Plus Writing
Professional Development has been provided for Global Scholar
Professional Development will be offered regarding new assessments as information is made available

34. Standard 5 Overview
5.4 The school system engages in a continuous process to determine verifiable improvement in student learning, including readiness for and success at the next level.
ACIPs developed for all schools
Benchmark Testing
ACT Quality Core End of Course Assessments for selected High School core subjects
Midterm & Final exams in grades 7-12 in all other subjects
Regular data meetings
Response-to-Instruction
Intervention classes

35. Standard 5 Overview Report of assessment results to board
5.5 System and school leaders monitor and communicate comprehensive information about student learning, school performance, and the achievement of system and school improvement goals to stakeholders
Report of assessment results to board
Parent Conferences
School Marquees
Newspaper articles
Posting Honor Rolls
Parent/Community Meeting

36. “Every Student a Graduate – Every Graduate Prepared”
Even in the face of limited financial
resources, Fayette County
School System’s motto remains
in the forefront:
“Every Student a Graduate – Every Graduate Prepared”