1. Team Member Briefing
The Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools

2. Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools
Team Member Briefing MSA Team Building Staff: Kelly Christian Director of Operations Dave Sisbarro Manager of Volunteer Services
Irene Raatzs
Director of Volunteer Services
Augusto Hernandez
Accreditation Officer, Puerto Rico

3. The focus of today’s briefing is:
Who is Middle States and what is MSA-CESS accreditation?
What are the Middle States Protocols and Standards?
What part does the Visiting Team play?
What are the roles and responsibilities of a team member?

4. The Middle States Region
MSA accredits more than 2700 schools in nearly 100 countries.

5. What is accreditation and why is it important?
Encourages and facilitates school improvement
Provides accountability
Fosters stakeholder involvement and commitment
Focuses on student performance
Builds positive public relations

6. Profile of an Accredited School…
Adheres to the Middle States Standards for Accreditation;
Uses its mission as the basis for daily decision making;
Operates in the public interest;
Accepts responsibility for the performance of its students;
Remains committed to continuous improvement in student learning;
Operates in a collegial and collaborative way with all of its stakeholders.

7. The Cycle of Accreditation
Self-Study
Team Visit
Accreditation Action
Maintenance
Candidacy

8. What are the protocols…
A protocol is a detailed procedure that promotes school improvement.
and why does Middle States have more than one?
Due to the unique character and culture
of schools, one size does not fit all!

9. What are the MSA Protocols?
Designing Our Future
Excellence by Design
Sustaining Excellence
Foundation Documents
MSA Standards
Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
Plan for Growth and Improvement (Objectives and Action Plans)

10. What are the MSA-CESS Standards and Indicators of Quality?
Mission
Educational Program
Governance and Leadership
Assessment and Evidence of Student Learning
School Improvement Planning
Student Services
Finances
Student Life and Student Activities
Facilities
Information Resources
School Staff and Organization
Health and Safety

11. The Role of Indicators Amplify a standard
Provide greater clarify on how a standard is met
Provide multiple ways that a standard can be met
Respect the individual integrity of the school
Do NOT act as a checklist

12. MISSION STANDARD FOR ACCREDITATION The Standard: The school has a clearly written and actively implemented statement of mission that conveys the general and specific purposes of its educational program, expresses expectations for quality, and serves as the basis for daily operational and instructional decision making as well as long-range planning. Stakeholders give input into the development of the school’s mission and understand and accept it. This document is aligned with the community served and is reviewed periodically by stakeholder representatives. Indicators for all schools: 1.1 The school takes steps to ensure that students and their families understand and support the school’s mission. 1.2 The mission is consistent with ethical norms and demonstrates respect for persons of all races, creeds, and cultures. 1.3 The mission is free of contradiction, ambiguity, and excessive abstraction. 1.4 The school implements a system to assess its effectiveness in fulfilling its mission. 1.5 The school’s mission is clearly communicated in its brochures, promotional materials, policy and procedural handbooks, web site, and similar resources.

13. Reliable, Perceptive, Cooperative, Professional
You have been nominated because your school considers you to be someone who is highly respected by your school community and is…
Reliable, Perceptive, Cooperative, Professional

14. The purpose of the Team’s visit is to:
Observe the school’s congruence with its self-study. Validate the school’s adherence with the MSA Standards for Accreditation. Determine the school’s compliance with the requirements of the accreditation protocol. Report to the Commissions on the school’s eligibility for accreditation.

15. What is the team expected to do?
Leave the school in a position to grow.

16. Guidelines for Team Members
Avoid comparison to your school
Avoid expressing personal opinions
Be a critical friend and not a consultant
Be respectful
Trust the protocol

17. As an MSA-CESS team member it is your responsibility to:
BEFORE the visit: review the school’s self-study* and organize travel
DURING the visit: participate fully in all meeting and team activities/events and write your sections of the team report
AFTER the visit: evaluate visit and team leader via survey
*Self-study should be receive 4-6 weeks before visit

18. Typical Visiting Schedule
Each day of the team visit will vary but will typically include opportunities to…
Review documentation
Interview
Observe teaching and learning
Meet with Team Members
Write your portions of the team report
Typical
Visiting
Schedule

19. Reviewing Documentation
Review the documentation referred to in the self-study.
Formulate questions for interviews from the documentation.
Identify any additional individuals you may need to talk with and/or documentation you may need in order to support your decisions.

20. Interviews Prepare thoroughly Don’t reflect personal values
Don’t be distracted by individual agendas
Avoid taking sides on local issues
Keep an open mind
Don’t take opinions as facts
Always seek verification

21. Observing Classrooms
Multiple, brief visits will be made to classrooms to validate the implementation of the programs described in the school’s self-study. Observations should also include lunchtime, recess, and arrival/departure/beyond the bell.

22. Meeting with the Team Team orientation on the first day.
Daily team meetings:
Participate in deliberations
Be prepared and on time
Key task = Reaching consensus on an accreditation recommendation

23. Writing the Report Adhere to the template provided.
Writing done in bullet points.
Refer to the school’s own factual descriptions.
Identify important issues and tie to Standards.
Do not be overly prescriptive.
Commend and praise the school where it is due.
Complete your assignments before the end of the visit.

24. While reviewing, interviewing, observing, meeting, and writing, keep these key questions in mind:
Has the school thoroughly completed the self-study process?
Does the school meet the MSA Standards?
Are the school’s objectives and action plans appropriate?

25. RECOMMENDATION MONITORING ISSUE STIPULATION* MEETS/DOES NOT MEET*
Does the school meet the Standards and the Requirements of the Protocol?
RECOMMENDATION MONITORING ISSUE STIPULATION* MEETS/DOES NOT MEET*

26. Ending the Team Visit…
Oral Report
Surveys

27. The Review Process The Team The Staff Advisory Committee
The Commissions
Final Decision