2. How Does Accreditation Help us Run a Successful American School?

3. What is Accreditation? Accreditation Defined:
A process to evaluate and recognize an institution for meeting peer developed standards established for the purpose of promoting quality education.

4. How does inspection differ from accreditation?
Government inspections (KHDA) measure the school against other schools based on the schools progress and attainment.
NEASC/CIS accreditation inspections measure the school against the school’s own standards and their mission statement.

5. Accreditation Helps Schools Prepare for DSIB
DSIB Inspections
CIS/NEASC Accreditation
Students’ Progress and Attainment in Key Subjects
Personal and social development
Teaching, learning and assessment
Curriculum Support 
School Culture and Partnerships for Learning
Governance and Leadership
Overall Performance
Mission and School Vision Driven
Teaching & Learning
Governance & Leadership
Faculty & Support Staff
Access to Teaching & Learning
School Culture & Partnerships for Learning
Operational Systems

6. Our Mission community service and environmental responsibility.
American Academy in Al Mizhar is committed to meeting the needs of families with an international outlook who have chosen an American education.
By offering a co-educational early childhood program for dual language learners leading to a single gender college preparatory school for girls, our mission is to promote intellectual curiosity, independent and critical thinking, communication and problem solving skills, a lifelong passion for learning, and an exposure to and a respect for cultural diversity. 
By expecting academic excellence, we inspire personal growth and develop intrinsically motivated global citizens who are committed to being leaders in
community service and environmental responsibility.
Spring 2012

7. Accreditation: Purpose and Value
The Value of Accreditation

8. The Purpose of Dual Accreditation:
To be measured against both American and International standards.

9. Accreditation Value Value to the School : Value to the Student:
Access to greater opportunities for higher education
Improved educational quality and consistency
Value of external validation and the need for assessments and improvements
Opportunity to engage with school more directly
The opportunity for self-assessment
Improved intra-school contact and understanding
An evaluation by peers
A plan for the future
Confirmation of the school’s needs
 The award of accreditation itself

10. SELF STUDY
VISITING
COMMITTEE
FOLLOW UP

11. SELF STUDY Is school specific Is staff driven
Requires parental and community input
Requires reflection, discussion, consensus and back-up
Tells the story of how and how well the school meets CIS/NEASC standards for good schooling

12. VISITING COMMITTEE Reads the self study
Spends four days watching the school in action
Meets and discusses the self study with members of the school’s community
Provides objective assessment of the conclusions of the self study
Determines the degree to which the school meets the standards
Develops the final report which includes perceptions, commendations and recommendations
Makes a recommendation about accreditation to CIS/NEASC

13. FOLLOW UP
Prioritize the recommendations found in the Visiting Committee Report
Identify the responsible people and develop action plan
Establish a timeline
Develop strategies, adopt and adapt them, and assess the results
Prepare appropriate reports:
Two Year Report
Special Progress Reports
Five Year Report
Celebrate the accomplishments

14. BENEFITS OF ACCREDITATION
Self Awareness
Self Evaluation
Planning Opportunities
Upholding Standards
Quality Control
Public Accountability
School Approval
School Improvement

15. So…. How did accreditation help us become a better school?

16. AAM – After Accreditation
Links with Parents and the Community
Living the Mission
Empowerment of Staff

17. Empowerment of Staff
Increased staff morale - the accreditation process fostered staff unity, collegiality and rapport, thereby giving all school staff a feeling of ownership in the school’s successes.
Improved instruction - recommendations led to positive changes in areas such as curriculum and assessment.
Greater staff teamwork and collegiality - accreditation led to the formation of “Professional Learning Communities.”

19. The AAM Family – Success with Linking the Community

20. Environmentally Aware
LIVING THE MISSION
Lifelong Learner
Community Leader
Independent and Critical Thinker
Global Citizen
Cultural Diversity
Environmentally Aware