1. Comes to Floral Park Memorial High School Middle States Association for Accreditation

2. What is the Middle States Association? The Middle States Association (MSA) is a non-profit, peer-administered association. The MSA promotes educational growth and improvement in member schools around the world. Membership in the MSA is voluntary.

3. How does the accreditation process work? Over the course of one to two years, schools prepare a self- evaluation and improvement plan that is aligned to the twelve standards of the MSA. Philosophy/Mission Governance and Leadership School Improvement Planning Finances Facilities School Climate and Organization Health and Safety Educational Program Assessment and Evidence of Student Learning Student Services Student Life and Student Activities Information Resources and Technology The culmination of this process occurs with the visit of a Middle States accreditation team.

4. What are the benefits of accreditation? Accreditation encourages and facilitates educational growth and improvement….. Accreditation provides a means for public accountability….. Accreditation fosters stakeholder involvement and commitment….. Accreditation builds positive public relations….. “Accredited schools can be trusted by the public to be what they claim they are and to do what they claim they do.” Accreditation for Growth Planning Guide (Ed. 4B) Section 1: MSA and Accreditation  2007 Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools

5. When will Floral Park Memorial High School undergo accreditation? During the 2009-2010 school year, Floral Park Memorial High School’s planning team will prepare the self-evaluation with input from stakeholders. Prior to the end of the school year, an action plan will be created and submitted, along with the self-evaluation, to the MSA for review. An accreditation team from the MSA will visit Floral Park Memorial High School during the 2010-2011 school year for one week and provide an analysis and feedback of both the self-evaluation and improvement plan.

6. MISSION STATEMENT Floral Park Memorial High School, in unison with our community, provides a safe and nurturing environment conducive to learning where students are continuously challenged to reach higher standards and their full potential. Our mission is to inspire all students to develop and broaden their creativity and critical thinking skills while taking part in the diverse academic and extra curricular programs our school provides. We aim to educate our students to grow to be caring and responsible citizens in our multicultural society.