Herington High School
Oral Exit Report
Quality Assurance Review Team
About AdvancED
The Unification of NCA CASI, SACS CASI, NSSE Creates the World’s
Largest Educational Community
23,000 public and private schools and districts:
• 30 states
– Navajo Nation
– Department of Defense
• 65
countries
– Latin America
• 15 million
students
Advancing Excellence
AdvancED is committed to advancing excellence in education by
providing accreditation and continuous improvement services
that:
• Maximize
student success
• Build school
and system capacity
• Bring together
research, best practices, and resources for student, school, and
system improvement
Accreditation Elements
To earn and maintain accreditation, schools:
- Meet standards for accreditation;
- Engage in continuous improvement; and
- Demonstrate quality assurance through internal and external
review.
Purpose of the
Quality Assurance Review
• Assess the
capacity of the school to meet the standards;
• Assess the
effectiveness and impact of the continuous improvement process;
• Identify
strengths deserving of commendation; and
• Develop
recommendations which are designed to help strengthen the school to
improve student learning.
Procedures Followed
The Quality Assurance Review Team
- Reviewed documentation provided by school
- Developed points of inquiry for on-site review
- Established, in collaboration with school personnel, a schedule
of activities and interactions that would provide significant
stakeholder involvement
- Conducted interviews of a representative set of
stakeholders
- Engaged in professional deliberations to consider the capacity
of the school to meet the requirements for accreditation
Interviews with Stakeholders
During the on-site Quality Assurance Review, team members
interviewed:
- 3 Administrators
- 14 Teachers
- 3 Parents and business partners
- 7 Students
- 1 School Board Member
- TOTAL of stakeholders (28)
Process for Gathering Evidence
In considering the evidence as provided through data,
documentation, observation, and dialogue, the Quality Assurance
Team
- Sought a school perspective;
- Pursued evidence that could be correlated through multiple
sources;
- Examined the context and capacity of the school in relation to
its vision, mission, and beliefs; and
Applied the criteria for accreditation.
Summary of Observations
Contained in Written Report
•
Strengths…recent accomplishments achieved by the school or
conditions which benefit the school
•
Suggestions…opportunities that the school may seek to address to
improve student learning or conditions which are potential barriers
to improvement
Team Decisions Regarding Quality
•
Commendations…recognition of practices and/or conditions that are
exemplary—go beyond what is typically seen in schools
•
Recommendations…professional recommendations by the Quality
Assurance Review Team that must be addressed within two years of
our visit
Commendations
The Quality Assurance Review Team commends the Herington High
School staff for:
Their caring, collegial, and supportive work with students and
staff.
Ø A learning community is enriched by caring behaviors and
mutual respect.
The creation of a positive climate for students.
Ø A positive environment where students respect each other
allows resources and energy to be directed at learning.
Their commitment to student learning.
Ø Providing additional support (e.g., extended school, the
English Lab, and eligibility policies) maintains a clear focus on
expectations for learning.
Recent continuity and direction provided by the formal
leadership.
Ø School leaders play a critical role in establishing an
environment where faculty and students can succeed.
Recommendations
The Quality Assurance Review Team recommends the Herington
Elementary School staff:
Revise the schedule to provide for more collaboration and school
improvement activities.
Ø Protected time for planning and reflection affirms the
importance of the school improvement process, encourages
commitment, and makes use of resources more effectively.
Use the data available more effectively.
Ø Using a range of data (and subscales within each source)
provides more information for adjusting instruction.
Identify and implement additional strategies for developing
reading and writing across the curriculum.
Ø Multiple strategies implemented across the curriculum
have a more powerful effect on student achievement.
Provide sufficient professional development for implementation
of interventions.
Ø Ongoing staff development is needed to ensure consistent
implementation and to determine necessary modifications.
Provide more opportunities to meet the needs of high-achieving
students.
Ø An effective curriculum challenges all students and will
lead to overall increases in school performance.
Next Steps
• A written
report of our findings will be completed and sent to the principal
within 20 business days.
• After
receiving the report, the school is expected to:
1. Review and communicate the findings and
observations contained in the report;
2. Sustain the strengths noted in the commendations;
Next Steps (continued)
3. Initiate steps to address the recommendations in the
report;
4. Continue to implement and monitor the AdvancED
accreditation process and requirements; and
5. In two years, the school submits the Accreditation
Progress Report (APR) outlining the school’s progress in addressing
the team’s recommendations.
Accreditation Recommendation
The Quality Assurance Review Team recommends that Herington High
School be awarded NCA CASI Accreditation.
Once approved by the AdvancED Board of Trustees, the school is
granted a 5-year accreditation term
Final Thoughts
On behalf of the Quality Assurance Team, I extend:
- Our appreciation for your hospitality, support, and
professionalism;
- Our respect and acknowledgement of the quality of your school
and dedication of staff; and
- Our congratulations for successfully completing the Quality
Assurance Review process.
