MNSAA Accreditation January 2014 New School Training The Whole Learning School Sarah W. Mueller Executive Director

Candidate Application The Whole Learning School Provided The Whole Learning School Provided  Statement “Why Seeking Accreditation?”  Statement of governing authority’s support  Projected timeframe (Spring 2015)  Programs seeking accreditation (Grades 3-12)  Signed by school & governing authority  Payment of application fee

Candidate Application Essential Standards Readiness Essential Standards Readiness  Mission & Philosophy statements  Curriculum Standards  Assessment of Student Learning  Health & Safety Requirements  Personnel  Governance  Financial Sustainability

Achieving NEW Accreditation A Model for The Whole Learning School A Model for The Whole Learning School  Year 1 – Develop Self Study Profile & Narrations  Year 2 - SSP and Visit Define visionary plan for future Host onsite visit  Year 3-7 – Implement Plan File Annual Progress Reports Maintain Strategic Plan as living document

Accreditation Status Conditions on Accreditation May Apply Conditions on Accreditation May Apply  Public Statement  Provisional Conditions One or more essential compliance components Additional accountability required Timelines and support provided  Provisional Conditions Deficiency detracts from total Failed to meet requirements Violated policy

Steps to Accreditation Outline to Walk Through Process Outline to Walk Through Process  Set up for Renewing schools  TWLS already completed Steps 1-2  Next Up Develop Self-Study Communicate Plan

Standards & Indicators HANDBOOK – Section B  1: Mission & Philosophy  2: Teaching & Learning  3: Climate for Learning  4: Communications & Relations  5: Personnel  6: Leadership & Governance  7: School Strategic Plan

MNSAA’s Quality Standards Take a LOOK at the Standards  MNSAA has 7 quality standards  Each standard is comprised of several criteria  Each criteria requires a Reflective Narration  Narration supported by Performance Indicators

Essential Performance Indicators Italicized Means Required! Written Mission & Philosophy statements; Written Curriculum Standards; Subject Area Philosophies Written Process of Curriculum Evaluation; Philosophy of Assessment Policy Handbooks; Faculty & Student Handbooks; Annual State-of-the School Report; Etc.  Legal Requirement noted LR

School Self-Study Report HANDBOOK – Section C  The School Profile  Reflective Standard Narrations  The School Strategic Plan

Getting Organized  Understand the Self-Study Requirements (Profile, Standards Narrations, School Strategic Plan)  Establish a Steering Team (See Handbook C-1)  Develop Sub-Committees (See Handbook C-1)  Community-wide Ownership The School Self-Study Report

Part 1: The School Profile

Tells your school’s story (Who you are; Who you serve; What’s been happening?)  Opens self-study report  Summary statement (3-5 pages)  History highlights  Demographic Study Overview of students, families, and community served  Stakeholder perceptions** Survey provides documented evidence  Student enrollment trends

Stakeholder Satisfaction Survey  Consider inexpensive electronic survey  Connect stakeholders to MNSAA standards  Invite honesty, but do not open door to inappropriate responses  Summarize data gathered in The Profile Part 1: The School Profile

School Profile Template  Available under School Resources on website  Template not required, but components are  Consider it an outline for posting your findings  Take a look! Take a look  Download from MNSAA website: Part 1: The School Profile

Part 2: Standard Narrations

Part 2: Standards Narrations Demonstrates readiness for accreditation  The heart of your school’s self-study  Defines what is currently happening at your school  Honesty matters! May find not all criteria are in place at your school  Equally important to find areas not in compliance

Quality of the Reflective Narrations  Do NOT merely restate the standard  Sets the stage for the onsite team  Professional document crafted by well-trained and highly skilled educators  Published!  Quality evaluated by team Part 2: Standards Narrations

Identifying Strengths & Challenges  Use findings to build summary for each standard  Process =  Subcommittee writes draft  Whole group reviews and adds ideas  Identify key strengths & challenges  CHALLENGES – Become the focus of the school improvement plan Part 2: Standards Narrations

Self-Study Narrations Template  MNSAA requires use of template  Personalize the template for your school  Available under School Resources on website Part 2: Standards Narrations

Don’t Forget Standard 7!  Not completed until after strategic plan written  Can be forgotten  Set a reminder to return to this before publishing  Essential component of the Self-Study

Indicators of Compliance  Onsite team looks for supporting evidence for each narration.  Ask the questions: “How do we comply?” “How can we provide evidence?”  MNSAA requirements & ideas  Team observations & interviews

Part 3: School Strategic Plan

Summarizes challenges identified  A roadmap for school improvement  Provide strategic direction + a plan of action  Needs to be a collaborative process  Key component of Annual Progress Report  Maintained as a “Living Document”

MNSAA SSP Quality Expectations  Valid  Valid – Reflective of current needs of school Connected  Connected – To self-study report Supported  Supported – By wide body of stakeholders Visionary  Visionary – Not a checklist Reasonable  Reasonable – Timeline manageable Focused  Focused – On your students! Part 3: School Strategic Plan

Specific Framework Required! Objectives  Objectives – Where the school wants to be Strategies  Strategies – How the school plans to get there Action Steps  Action Steps – What specifically the school is going to do Part 3: School Strategic Plan

SAMPLE Objective: Objective: The school will provide a safe learning facility. Strategy 1 Strategy 1: A crisis management plan will be developed. Action Steps Action Steps: 1.A taskforce will be established. 2.The task force will review state guidelines and resources. 3.The task force will interface with local authorities. 4.Draft a crisis management plan for consideration. 5.Seek approval from board. 6.Implement crisis management plan. 7.Evaluate and adjust as needed. Strategy 2 Strategy 2: Explore extended day program. Action Steps: 1.Survey families for need. 2.Determine space for program. 3.Research state laws. 4.Etc. – Continue to add action steps to reach goal.

MNSAA Template Required!  Complete on electronic template  Download from MNSAA website  Word table - Able to revise  Ability to report progress to MNSAA  Take a look! Take a look Part 3: School Strategic Plan

Samples Available Take a look Take a look at the Sample on the MNSAA Template! Be sure to checkout our website for more resources: Part 3: School Strategic Plan

INVOLVE STAKEHOLDERS!  Communicate Self-Study Findings  Solicit Input  Build Buy-In  Finalize with full school community Part 3: School Strategic Plan

The Onsite Visit HANDBOOK – Section D  Guidelines & Responsibilities  The Onsite Visiting Team  The Team Report Template

The Onsite Visit Purpose of the Onsite Team Visit  To Validate  To Evaluate  Quality Expectations of MNSAA  Provide Objective Outside Feedback  Bottom Line

Thinking Ahead of the Visit  Budget considerations  Facility considerations  Technology considerations  Interview considerations  Team meet and greet  Organize your indicators  Clear your calendar  Advise stakeholders The Onsite Visit

The Team Report  The Team will determine: Sufficient Indication of Compliance Compliance with Concerns Insufficient Indication of Compliance  Recommendations for Improvement  Commendations for Excellence  Take a look!Take a look The Onsite Visit

The School Responds  Visit closure  Communicate findings with stakeholders  Written response to recommendations  Template provided  Submit revised SSP The Onsite Visit

The Appendix HANDBOOK – Section E  Sample Timeline for Process  Curriculum Standards Requirement  SSP Sample  Fee Structure

MNSAA Accreditation January 2014 New School Training The Whole Learning School Sarah W. Mueller Executive Director