Critical Issues Process Assessment of SSAC Program Effectiveness Cynthia Kuck, Concordia University Chicago October 2006

Recommendation 2: If the purpose of SSAC is to help a school in crisis (emergent problems or issues), then only those recommendations that are critical to a school’s survival should be noted. Recommendation 3: Diagnostic reports should focus tightly on the critical issues facing a school. Other less critical issues should be left to the NLSA process. Recommendation 9: Diagnostic reports for schools in crisis should be tightly focused on a limited number of issues that may or may not be related to each of the areas typically found in SSAC diagnostic reports …consideration should be given to a different report format.

Identify critical issues targets … not “shotgun approach” From SSAC Study … the most often cited “critical issues” … financial difficulties declining enrollment interpersonal conflicts in church and school unclear mission or vision ineffective (or no) strategic planning ineffective (or no) marketing plan unqualified and/or ineffective leadership declining church support for school

Critical Issues Process Requires changes in … pre-visit during the visit report writing Team D1 and D2 has tried this in four visits, modifying the process in each visit to be more effective. Other teams have tried different aspects of the CI process. Team D Model …

Pre-Visit Try to identify “critical issues” SSAC Narrative Critical Issues Survey (7-13) SSAC contact and “leaders” (application) address, phone 5 most important (or critical) issues return within 3-4 weeks of visit District Executive Survey (7-14) same “issues” rating, comments (7-15) return within 3-4 weeks of visit

Pre-Visit: Identifying CI School Board survey Teachers and staff survey get pre-visit input provides more discussion time during focus groups Online survey Scope of critical issues may dictate some schedule changes personal interviews focus groups Team consensus on “critical issues” send CI survey results to team prior to visit Saturday: identify 2 or 3 targets … less is more be flexible to change focus

Identifying Critical Issues School 4 Declining Enrollment Association Relationships Leadership and Governance School 3 Declining Enrollment Changing Demographics Leadership and Governance School 2 Declining Enrollment Finances Junior High School 1 Declining Enrollment Finances

During the Visit Personal interviews share “critical issues” for input how you determined “critical issues” stay on topic ask for other “issues” at end of discussion

During the Visit: Focus Groups Share “critical issues” for input how you determined “critical issues” give summary overview of each issue stay on topic ask for other “issues” at end of discussion

During the Visit: Focus Groups Gathering input one issue at a time vs. 2-3 issues put up all charts list some items in multiple charts be flexible to change focus Ask leading question for input … Declining Enrollment: What factors contribute to declining enrollment? Finances: What is causing some financial stress or tension? Consensus (group) vote on concerns … not critical issue

Writing the SSAC Report Less is more … quality vs quantity Team members write per “critical issue” may have overlap of relationships, governance, or programs and personnel focused writing

Writing the SSAC Report Monday evening work on one set of charts (critical issue) at a time team consensus on concerns … limit to 3-4 per CI determine who is most comfortable writing the respective CI concerns and recommendations If there are 3 critical issues … each team member writes on one CI group consensus on commendations If there are 2 critical issues … two team members write on the critical issues team member #3 writes commendations and serves as “editor”

Writing the SSAC Report Declining Enrollment No marketing or recruitment plan Poor preschool to kindergarten transition Limited remedial or enrichment programs Association Relationships No shared vision for the school Church ownership and control … who’s in charge? Poor communication between church and school Church and school staff visibility Leadership and Governance Unclear roles and relationships Decision-making and grievance procedures Poor inter-staff and board communication

Writing the SSAC Report Report format: one section for commendations one section for each critical issue + overview paragraphs state case for CI Report summary: major commendations list each critical issue + summary paragraph (condensed overview)

Critical Issues Process Summary Helps keep critical issues focus for school Gives manageable number of recommendations … not too overwhelming More beneficial to school improvement