2. OUTLINE  Accreditation  Initial / Preparatory Steps  Roles and Responsibilities  Preliminary Visit  Visit  Written Report

3. Accreditation Can be exceptional reform / renewal process Involves constant updating It is an ACTIVITY – not a STATUS Schools are accredited because of the way they MOVE – not how they STAND Accreditation concentrates on what schools are DOING –not on what they have DONE.

4. Catholic School Accreditation Seeks to Evaluate: Academic excellence Rooted in Viable Catholic Identity And Strong Christian Values and Ideas

5. SIP Report Executive Summary -- Performance and Progress Report School Profile Beliefs and Mission Statement STUDENT PERFORMANCE School Performance ACTION PLAN

6. Reference Materials FCC Companion for NSSE SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT: Focusing on Student Performance. 3 rd ed. 2010. FCC Visitation Manual for School Improvement Process. 2 nd ed. 2010. FCC Standards Checklist. 4 th ed. 2010 NSSE Visiting Team Handbook

7. Role of Chairperson Must be an administrator /serve on 3 teams/ be trained Official representative of FCC Accreditation Committee Verifies readiness of school to be visited. Contact person with (Arch)diocesan Education Office Visiting Team Leader Professional Evaluator Public Relations Person Catalyst

8. Visiting Team Responsibilities Read School Improvement Report Actively engage in consensus decision-making Complete assigned Standards Review & Area of Report Complete assigned Interviews & Meetings Observe assigned classrooms Complete working draft of assigned standards and Area to be shared with Team. (At least 1-2 commendations and recommendations for assigned Area) All observations/ insights/ reports shared with entire team

9. Preliminary Visit - Preparations Letter of Acceptance – confirm dates of Preliminary Visit and Visitation Read SIP thoroughly – questions & clarifications Prepare Schedule for Preliminary Visit (p. 26) & Review Chairperson’s Checklist (p. 25) Forms: Visitation Readiness & Review of Personnel Files

10. 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 yrs. of ARCA’s --prepare Visitation Schedule (p. 31) --arrange for lodging --arrange for work area, equipment, supplies, etc. --obtain school schedule with arrival, dismissal, lunch, --obtain floor plan of school

11. Preliminary Visit - Continued --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 & Plant  Call Diocesan Office – readiness of school for visit  Meet with Faculty at end of day –information re Visit: Team, schedule, questions, affirmation of SIP

12. Preliminary Visit – Post Prep. 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

13. Visitation –Assignments for Team Members(p. 38) Member 1Profile & Mission & Beliefs Standards A, B, H Inter. -- Religion Coor, & Pastor Member 2Desired Results Standards C, G Inter.—Guidance & Resource Chair:Effectiveness / Action Plan Standards D, E, F Inter. – Technology/; Media

14. Pre-Visitation Mailing to Team Members 1. Visitation Cover: Team Names & Addresses / Hotel 2. Visitation Schedule 3. Team Assignments 4. Schedule for Interviews and Meetings

15. Visitation – Day One 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 Comm. 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!

16. Visitation – Day One - Continued 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

17. Visitation – Day One - Continued Guidelines for Administration/ Steering Committee Mtg. -- 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

18. Visitation – Day Two 7:30 a.m.Team Breakfast/Meeting 8:15 a.m.Meeting with Parents / Comm. 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 noon Lunch 1:00 p.m. Classroom Observations/ School Personnel Interviews 2:00 p.m. Team Meeting

19. Visitation – Day Two - Continued 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

20. Visitation – Day Two - Continued Parent/Student Meetings -- Meetings are confidential/ Take notes -- 10-20 parents / 4 th – 8 th grade students (about 20-30) -- Questions: 1. What influenced you in choosing this school? 2. If you could make changes what would they be and why? 3. What, in your words, is the Mission of the school? 4. What do you know of the SIP process and the Action Plan

21. Visitation – Day Two - Continued 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?

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

23. Visitation – Day Three 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 noon 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

24. Visitation – Day Three - Continued Meeting with Administration and Steering Comm. -- 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

25. Visitation – Day Three - Continued 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 --Preparation for Oral Report – “Talk it – not Read it”!

26. Visitation – Day Three - Continued 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 from FCC Committee

27. Written Report Outline in Visitation Manual (pp. 48-56) “Introduction” – include objectives of Visit, brief demographics, brief description of Visitation process, comments from Interview and Meetings, as well as uniqueness of school program.

28. Written Report - Continued 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.

29. Written Report - Continued Area Reports– brief paragraph, 1-2 commendations and recommendations (Refer only to areas – not standards) Use information from NSSE Team Handbook and Assessment Worksheets)

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

31. Written Report - Continued 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: “continue to, enhance, more thoroughly, consider, etc.”

32. Written Report - Recommendations Recommendations: D-15 “The school needs to 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.”

33. Written Report-Continued Evaluation and Summary -- 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

34. Written Report - Continued Certificate -- Use Worksheets and Assessments to fill this out -- Indicate Standards Deficiency; indicate other recommendations are within the body of the Report. -- Obtain signatures of Team Members

35. Written Report - Continued Chairperson’s Last Duties -- Receive from each Member: 1. Assessment Tool for Specific Area 2. Area Work (Comments, Commendations, Recommendations) 3. Standards Recommendations -- Obtain signatures on Certificate -- Review Chairperson’s Checklist -- *Write and edit Report

36. Written Report – Chairperson Cont. -- Send report “first” to local Accreditation Member for review. -- Send final report, electronically, to Mary Camp at FCC Office and to Team Members. (Remember, FCC will send copies to school.)

37. HAPPY ACCREDITATION VISIT! You’ve helped another Catholic School to greatness!

38. E-Mail Sister Joan’s e-mail address: sisterjoand@gmail.com