1. Florida Catholic Conference Accreditation Program
Mary Camp, FCC Associate Director for Accreditation

2. Goals for Today
Acquaint or refresh you with the FCC Accreditation Program.
Familiarize you with the National Catholic Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Elementary and Secondary schools
Prepare you for this year’s accreditation activities (many of you are prepping for a visitation either this year or next year and/or preparing to be a team member on a visitation.

3. Florida Catholic Conference Accreditation Program
Brief Background

4. Accreditation = Continuous Improvement In Georgia – Five Year Cycle In Florida – Seven Year Cycle

5. FCCAP – Georgia Year 1 – Implement Action Plans and report to DOSV
Year 3 – Implement Action Plans & Third Year Conference (TYC)
Year 4 – School Improvement Plan process (SIP)
Year 5 – SIP Visitation

6. FCCAP - Florida Year 1 – Implement Action Plans and report to diocese
Year 3 – Implement Action Plans & Third Year Conference (TYC)
Year 4 – Implement Action Plans
Year 5 – Implement Action Plans
Year 6 – School Improvement Plan process (SIP)
Year 7 – SIP Visitation

7. FCCAP Where is your school in the cycle? St. James – Year 1
Blessed Sacrament – Visit
Immaculate Conception - SIP
Notre Dame Academy – SIP
Sacred Heart – SIP
St. Anne Pacelli – Visit
St. Frances Cabrini – TYC
St. Francis Xavier – SIP
St. James – Year 1
St. John the Evangelist – SIP
St. Joseph – Visit
St. Mary on the Hill – Year 1
St. Peter Claver – Visit
St. Peter the Apostle – SIP
St. Teresa – SIP

8. ANNUAL EVENTS

9. FCCAP Annual Events Pay Dues – The Diocese pays these for DOSV schools
Complete Annual Report for Continued Accreditation (ARCA)
Order National Council for Private School Accreditation (NCPSA) Certificate if desired

10. STANDARDS

11. STANDARDS Current FCCAP National Catholic Beliefs & Mission
School & Community
Program of Learning
Personnel
Administration
Learning Media Services
Pupil Services
School Plant & Facilities
Mission & Catholic Identity
Governance & Leadership
Academic Excellence
Operational Vitality

12. Annual Report for Continued Accreditation (ARCA)
Review the standards and report school’s compliance
Request Limited Teaching Endorsement or Waiver, if needed
Institutional Integrity
FCCAC review
Accreditation Status:
Accredited
Accredited Advised
Accredited Warned
Accredited Probation
Accreditation Revoked

13. FCCAP The www.EAS-ed.org Web site is a very valuable resource.
Under Resources you will find:
Policies and Procedures
Principles and Standards
Visitation Manual
News and Links provide information about our program, and connections to various education related Web sites.
Login – Dashboard:
Private Resources – Companion
Payments
ARCA

14. FCCAP Login – Dashboard: Need email address & password
From the Dashboard you can see items in the
EAS-Ed Management Box
E-ARCA
Previous E-ARCAs
Payments
Profile
Private Resources
FCC Companion Manual
SIP Sample Calendar
TYC Report Template
Yearly Report Template

15. CYCLE EVENTS

16. Year 4 or 6 – School Improvement Plan Process
The Companion – Guide for the process
SIP notice from my office
Meetings with DOSV personnel
Form a steering committee and area committees
Collect and analyze data (including student performance and survey results)
Create a SIP Report

17. School Improvement Plan 6 Main Areas
School Profile
Mission and Belief
Desired Results for Student Learning
Analysis of Instructional & Organizational Effectiveness
Action Plan
Accreditation Standards Review

18. Surveying Stakeholders
Currently FCCAP uses online questionnaires from AdvancED.
Available to the Georgia schools through ASSIST.
Login on
Go to ASSIST and start a new survey
Have you been contacted by AdvancED?

19. SIP
First 4 Areas – doing research, collecting and analyzing data to get a complete picture of the school’s history, where it is now, and setting goals for future progress
Action Plans
Make the Goals concrete and measurable (ASSIST)
Analyze the data
Adjust the goals as needed

20. Strengths & Weaknesses
School Profile
Mission & Belief Statements
Desired Results for Student Learning
Analysis of Instructional & Organizational Effectiveness
Plan
Action
Accurate Account
Data Analysis
Student Performance
Perceptions
Strengths & Weaknesses
Specific Measurable Goals to Document

21. Visitation Home diocese verifies school readiness
Chairperson brokered by FCCAC
2-3 Additional Team Members
Three day visit traditionally begins Wednesday afternoon with a school tour and Opening Event that evening. Thursday – meetings and observations. Friday is an early dismissal day and concludes with the Oral Exit Report around 1 pm.
Official Visitation Report approved by FCCAC

22. Visitation Diocese verifies school readiness File Check
SIP Book review
Review of Action Plans
Review of Standards

23. Preliminary Visit – Chair to School
School’s Responsibility
Chair’s Responsibility
Set date with chair (prelim takes place at least 1 month prior to the visitation)
Send SIP book well in advance of preliminary
Make arrangements for staff to be present
File Check Documents
Confirms date with school (prelim takes place at least 1 month prior to the visitation)
Read SIP thoroughly, preparing questions
Prepare schedule for preliminary visit and send to the school well in advance

24. Preliminary Visit Schedule
Arrival at School – around 8:00 a.m.
Meeting with Principal & Steering Committee Chair
Review SIP
Review previous Visitation Report
Review current and previous 2 years of ARCA’s
Prepare Visitation Schedule
Arrange for lodging
Arrange for work area, equipment, supplies, etc.
Obtain school schedule with arrival, dismissal, lunch,
Obtain floor plan of school

25. Preliminary Visit Schedule
Arrange for Voucher Forms for Team
Arrange for times and rooms for interviews and meetings
Review Personnel Credentials - Checklist
Meet with Pastor – procedures and importance of Visit
Tour School Facilities & Grounds
Call Diocesan Office – readiness of school for visit
Meet with Faculty at end of day – information regarding the Visitation: Team, schedule, questions, affirmation of SIP

26. Post Preliminary Visit
School’s Responsibility
Chair’s Responsibility
Send any necessary documents, revisions to the Chairperson as soon as possible
Send SIP to team members
Prepare for the visitation
Follow-up Letter to Principal –verification of schedule, reminder to send SIP to Team Members, copy of materials sent to Team
Letters to Team –schedule, assignments, travel arrangements to be sent to Chair and Principal, read SIP thoroughly and carefully

27. Visitation – Assignment for Team Members
Member 1 Profile & Mission & Beliefs
Standards A, B, H
Interview – Religion Coor, & Pastor
Member 2 Desired Results
Standards C, G
Interview – Guidance & Resource
Chair: Effectiveness / Action Plan
Standards D, E, F
Interview – Technology & Media

28. Pre-Visitation Mailing to Team Members
Visitation Cover: Team Names & Addresses / Hotel
Visitation Schedule
Team Assignments
Schedule for Interviews and Meetings

29. Visitation – Day One – Sample
11-12:00 p.m. Team arrives at Hotel
12:30 p.m. Lunch for Team
1:15 p.m. Team Orientation
3:20 p.m. Meeting at School with Administration and Steering Committee
4:20 p.m. Tour of School Facilities and Campus
5:00 p.m. Dinner for Team and School Officials
7:00 p.m. School Activity: Liturgical Prayer, Brief Introduction to Accreditation Program, School’s Presentation , Reception
Keep dinner and presentation SIMPLE!

30. Visitation – Day One – Details
Orientation of Team
Explain folder
Check names and spelling of Team
Review Schedule
Review Assignments
Standards Checklist / Area Guide Sheets
Classroom Visits
Review of Results of Preliminary Visit

31. Visitation – Day One – Details
Guidelines for Administration / Steering Committee Meeting
Understand process and work on SIP
Clarify and ask questions about SIP
Ask about communication of process
Ask about difficulties / successes
Is school pleased with outcomes? Why? Why not?
Housekeeping / schedule details

32. Visitation – Opening Event
Begin with a Liturgical Prayer
Chairperson explains why the team is at the school
The School presents their executive summary, school profile, and mission and belief statements
PowerPoint presentation could be used
Students could be included
Stakeholders are invited
Short reception
Entire event no longer than one hour

33. Visitation – Day Two – Sample
7:30 a.m. Team Breakfast/Meeting
8:15 a.m. Meeting with Parents / Community Reps.
9:30 a.m. Meeting with Students
10:30 a.m. Classroom Observations / School Personnel Interviews
11:30 a.m. Team Meeting
12:00 p.p. Lunch
1:00 p.m. Classroom Observations/ School Personnel Interviews
2:00 p.m. Team Meeting

34. Visitation – Day Two – Sample
3:25 p.m. Meetings with Area Committees (1-4)
4:25 p.m. Meeting with Action Plan Committee (include administration, Steering Committee)
5:25 p.m. Team Debriefing
6:00 p.m. Adjournment
7:00 p.m. Dinner for Team
Individual Work Sessions

35. Visitation – Day Two – Details
Parent/Student Meetings
Meetings are confidential/ Take notes
10-20 parents / 4th – 8th grade students (about 10-20)
Questions:
What influenced you in choosing this school?
If you could make changes what would they be and why?
What , in your words, is the Mission of the school?
What do you know of the SIP process and the Action Plan

36. Visitation – Day Two – Details
Personnel Interviews
Describe your role and responsibilities.
What was your role in the process of the SIP?
How do you see your role in the implementation of the Action Plan?

37. Visitation – Day Two – Details
Area Section Committee Meetings
Questions of clarification
Questions concerning process
Possible Focus Questions from NSSE Visiting Team Handbook
Suggestions for possible recommendations and why

38. Visitation – Day Three – Sample
7:30 a.m. Visiting Team Breakfast & Meeting
9:30 a.m. Meeting with Administration and Steering Committee
10:00 a.m. Team Work Session
12:00 p.m. Early Dismissal Bell for School
12:30p.m. Lunch for Visiting Team and Faculty
1:30 p.m. Oral Exit Report
2:30 p.m. Adjournment

39. Visitation – Day Three – Details
Meeting with Administration / Steering Committee
Review Standards Checklist – ask questions about items not observed
Review Recommendations to SIP Process and Action Plan
Share comments from Parent and Student Meetings check for any clarifications

40. Visitation – Day Three – Details
Team Work Sessions
Share consensually the Area Recommendations
Share consensually Standards Recommendations
Each Member hands in at least 1-2 commendations and recommendations for Areas and possible recommendations for Standards
Each Member signs the certificate page of the report
Preparation for Oral Report –
“Talk it – do NOT Read it”!

41. Visitation – Day Three – Details
Oral Exit Report
Gratitude for hospitality
Affirmation of work done on SIP
Brief update on importance of FCC Accreditation
Chairperson gives brief summary of comments from Parent and Student Meetings
Each Team Member gives a brief description of area, commendations and recommendations.
Chairperson summarizes work and implications for future -- re-accreditation comes from FCC Committee

42. Written Report Outline in Visitation Manual
Introduction – include objectives of Visit, brief demographics, brief description of Visitation process, comments from Interview and Meetings, as well as uniqueness of school program.

43. Written Report
Executive Summary—comment, commendation, and recommendation on implementation of Recommendations to Standards and Process.
Performance and Progress Report—comment, commendation, and recommendation on implementation of Action Plan goals.

44. Written Report
Area Reports– brief paragraph, 1-3 commendations and recommendations (Refer only to areas – not standards)

45. Written Report
Area Recommendations must be specifically addressed to the process
Ex. “The school profile should be updated annually.”
“The priorities for improvement in student learning should be restated in clear, concise, measurable goals.”

46. Written Report Recommendations to Standards
Must relate specifically to standards
Standard deficiencies are listed first; the remainder are listed in order (A-3, F-2. etc.)
Use appropriate language, remembering that these are suggestions

47. Written Report Recommendations:
D-15 The school should implement a written, school-based program of professional development.
G-1 The school should continue to enhance and delineate more clearly its written plan for counseling services.

48. Written Report Evaluation and Summary Intent to implement Action Plan
Overall impression of the school
Intent to implement Action Plan
Written Report will be sent to FCC Accreditation Committee for review and granting of status
Statement of appreciation for hospitality

49. Written Report Certificate Use Worksheets and Assessments to complete
Indicate Standards Deficiency
Obtain signatures of Team Members

50. Written Report Chairperson’s Last Duties Receive from each Member:
Assessment Tool for Specific Area
Area Work (Comments, Commendations, Recommendations)
Standards Recommendations
Obtain signatures on Certificate
Write and edit Report
Review Chairperson’s Checklist

51. Written Report Send report to team members for review
Send report to FCCAC representative.
Send final report, electronically, to ADA.
(Remember, FCC will send copies to school.)

52. Third Year Conference

53. Third Year Conference Formal Mid-Cycle Progress Check
Analyze data and create a mini-report focusing on:
Recommendations from the visitation team
Action Plan progress in terms of student performance
Standards Compliance
Reflection of what has been learned in the process
General plans for the remainder of the cycle
Implementation team (or representatives) meet with DOSV representative and ADA
Team presents, dialogue, and follow up letter from ADA

54. Questions

55. I am only a phone call or email away
Mary Camp
Associate Director for Accreditation
Office:
Cell: