Council on Accreditation and School ImprovementCouncil on Accreditation and School Improvement© 2005 Southern Association of Colleges and Schools© 2005 Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

Oral Exit ReportQuality Assurance

Review TeamDistrict District

AccreditationAccreditation

Abbeville, South Abbeville, South CarolinaCarolina

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District AccreditationDistrict Accreditation

22What does district accreditation involve?What does district accreditation involve?

• The capacity of a school system to The capacity of a school system to address three major elements. As such, a address three major elements. As such, a school system must:school system must:– Meet standards for accreditation;Meet standards for accreditation;– Demonstrate a systemic and continuous process Demonstrate a systemic and continuous process

of improvement; andof improvement; and– Implement methods that provide for quality Implement methods that provide for quality

assurance.assurance.

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33Role and ResponsibilitiesRole and ResponsibilitiesQuality Assurance ReviewQuality Assurance Review

• Assess the capacity of the system to meet the Assess the capacity of the system to meet the standards;standards;

• Assess the efficacy and impact of the improvement Assess the efficacy and impact of the improvement process;process;

• Assess the effectiveness of the system’s methods Assess the effectiveness of the system’s methods for quality assurance;for quality assurance;

• Identify strengths of the system deserving of Identify strengths of the system deserving of commendation; andcommendation; and

• Develop recommendations which are designed to Develop recommendations which are designed to help strengthen the school system.help strengthen the school system.

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44Procedures FollowedProcedures FollowedQuality Assurance ReviewQuality Assurance Review

• The Quality Assurance Review TeamThe Quality Assurance Review Team– Reviewed documentation provided by the school Reviewed documentation provided by the school

system;system;– Developed points of inquiry for the on-site review;Developed points of inquiry for the on-site review;– Established, in collaboration with district personnel, a Established, in collaboration with district personnel, a

schedule of activities and interactions that would schedule of activities and interactions that would provide for significant stakeholder involvement;provide for significant stakeholder involvement;

– Conducted interviews of a representative set of Conducted interviews of a representative set of stakeholders throughout the district; andstakeholders throughout the district; and

– Engaged in professional deliberations as a team to Engaged in professional deliberations as a team to consider the capacity of the school system to meet consider the capacity of the school system to meet the requirements for district accreditation.the requirements for district accreditation.

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55Interviews with StakeholdersInterviews with Stakeholders

• During the on-site Quality Assurance Review, During the on-site Quality Assurance Review, team members interviewed:team members interviewed:– The Superintendent of SchoolsThe Superintendent of Schools– 7 members of the Board of Education7 members of the Board of Education– The 7 members of central office staffThe 7 members of central office staff– 29 School-level administrators29 School-level administrators– 59 Teachers, Counselors, Media staff59 Teachers, Counselors, Media staff– 28 Students28 Students– 23 Parents 23 Parents – 17 Business partners/ Community members17 Business partners/ Community members– 6 Others (SRO, Caf. Mgr.,Secretary, Teacher assistants)6 Others (SRO, Caf. Mgr.,Secretary, Teacher assistants)

177177 TOTAL TOTAL

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66Evidential ProcessEvidential Process

• In considering the evidence as provided In considering the evidence as provided through data, documentation, observation, through data, documentation, observation, and dialogue, the Quality Assurance Teamand dialogue, the Quality Assurance Team– Sought a district perspective;Sought a district perspective;– Pursued evidence that could be correlated through Pursued evidence that could be correlated through

multiple sources;multiple sources;– Examined the context and capacity of the school Examined the context and capacity of the school

system in relation to its vision, mission, and beliefs; system in relation to its vision, mission, and beliefs; andand

– Applied the criteria for accreditation.Applied the criteria for accreditation.

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77Summary of our ObservationsSummary of our Observations

• AchievementsAchievements…recent accomplishments achieved …recent accomplishments achieved by the school district.by the school district.

• StrengthsStrengths…conditions that exist which benefit the …conditions that exist which benefit the school district.school district.

• CommendationsCommendations…professional commendations by …professional commendations by the Quality Assurance Review Team.the Quality Assurance Review Team.

• LimitationsLimitations…conditions that exist which are …conditions that exist which are potential barriers.potential barriers.

• ChallengesChallenges…opportunities that the district may seek …opportunities that the district may seek to address for further improvement.to address for further improvement.

• RecommendationsRecommendations…professional recommendations …professional recommendations by the Quality Assurance Review Team.by the Quality Assurance Review Team.

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88AccomplishmentsAccomplishments

• Development of Data TeamsDevelopment of Data Teams• Introducing MAP TestingIntroducing MAP Testing• Realignment of ResourcesRealignment of Resources• Strong Community SupportStrong Community Support• No Schools in School ImprovementNo Schools in School Improvement• 100% Highly Qualified Teachers100% Highly Qualified Teachers• SC 5SC 5thth Best Completion Rate in Adult Education Best Completion Rate in Adult Education• 95.5% Attendance Rate95.5% Attendance Rate• Pursuing Participation in High Schools That WorkPursuing Participation in High Schools That Work• Increase in Palmetto Gold and Silver AwardsIncrease in Palmetto Gold and Silver Awards

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99CommendationsCommendations

The Quality Assurance Review Team commends Abbeville County The Quality Assurance Review Team commends Abbeville County School District for: School District for:

• Leadership with a VisionLeadership with a Vision

• Initiation of Systemic Change for ImprovementInitiation of Systemic Change for Improvement

• Using MAP Testing to Improve InstructionUsing MAP Testing to Improve Instruction

• Establishing Data Teams to Drive InstructionEstablishing Data Teams to Drive Instruction

• A Positive Relationship between Central Office and the Board of A Positive Relationship between Central Office and the Board of Trustees Trustees

• Maintaining a Focus on Instruction with Reduced ResourcesMaintaining a Focus on Instruction with Reduced Resources

• Effective and Timely Communication Between, and Among allEffective and Timely Communication Between, and Among all

StakeholdersStakeholders

•

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1010Commendations (cont.)Commendations (cont.)

• 5K-Grade 8 Uniform Defined Curriculum5K-Grade 8 Uniform Defined Curriculum

• A Commitment to 21A Commitment to 21stst Century Technology Century Technology

• Centralized Purchasing SystemCentralized Purchasing System

• Meeting Perkins’ Goals for 5 years at Career CenterMeeting Perkins’ Goals for 5 years at Career Center

• Alignment of School Calendar with WPECAlignment of School Calendar with WPEC

• Teacher Assistant-to-Teacher ProgramTeacher Assistant-to-Teacher Program

• Maintenance and Cleanliness of Facilities and CampusesMaintenance and Cleanliness of Facilities and Campuses

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1111Challenges/LimitationsChallenges/Limitations

• Dealing with Declining EnrollmentDealing with Declining Enrollment• Involving all Stakeholders in the School Involving all Stakeholders in the School

Improvement ProcessImprovement Process• Safeguarding Necessary Services and Programs Safeguarding Necessary Services and Programs

Impacted Due to Declining Enrollment and the Impacted Due to Declining Enrollment and the Loss of FundsLoss of Funds

• Using Analysis of Assessment Results EffectivelyUsing Analysis of Assessment Results Effectively• Providing Equitable Course/Program Offerings at Providing Equitable Course/Program Offerings at

all Schools Throughout the Districtall Schools Throughout the District• Closing the Achievement Gap Between Sub-Closing the Achievement Gap Between Sub-

groupsgroups

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1212Challenges/Limitations (Cont.)Challenges/Limitations (Cont.)

• Working with a Limited Data HistoryWorking with a Limited Data History• Expanding Community/School/Business Expanding Community/School/Business

Partnerships in a Small, Rural CommunityPartnerships in a Small, Rural Community• Attracting and Retaining Diverse and Highly Attracting and Retaining Diverse and Highly

Qualified Personnel Throughout the DistrictQualified Personnel Throughout the District• Increasing Parental Involvement at all LevelsIncreasing Parental Involvement at all Levels

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1313RecommendationsRecommendations

• Provide Comprehensive Professional Development Provide Comprehensive Professional Development in the School Improvement Planning Processin the School Improvement Planning Process

• Implement Written Measurable Strategies at the Implement Written Measurable Strategies at the School Level to Monitor Effectiveness of School Level to Monitor Effectiveness of Improvement Plans as They Impact Student Improvement Plans as They Impact Student AchievementAchievement

• Expand Defined Curriculum to Include Subject Areas Expand Defined Curriculum to Include Subject Areas Taught in Grades 9-12Taught in Grades 9-12

• Develop Plans to Address Issues of Declining Develop Plans to Address Issues of Declining Enrollment and Equity in Course Offering and Enrollment and Equity in Course Offering and ProgramsPrograms

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1414Next StepsNext Steps

• A written report of our findings and observations will A written report of our findings and observations will be drafted and sent to the Superintendent of Schools be drafted and sent to the Superintendent of Schools within 30 days.within 30 days.

• After receipt of the report, the district is expected to After receipt of the report, the district is expected to – Review and communicate the findings and observations Review and communicate the findings and observations

contained in the report;contained in the report;– Initiate steps to address the recommendations in the report;Initiate steps to address the recommendations in the report;– Continue to monitor accreditation requirements for the system Continue to monitor accreditation requirements for the system

and its schools;and its schools;– Monitor the execution and impact of strategies for improvement; Monitor the execution and impact of strategies for improvement;

andand– Continue to engage methods that provide for quality assurance.Continue to engage methods that provide for quality assurance.

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1515Final RecommendationFinal Recommendation

• The Quality Assurance Review Team The Quality Assurance Review Team recommends, to the SACS CASI Board of recommends, to the SACS CASI Board of Directors that the Abbeville County Schools Directors that the Abbeville County Schools be awarded district accreditation as a quality be awarded district accreditation as a quality school system.school system.

• Once approved, the district and all its Once approved, the district and all its schools are thereby accredited.schools are thereby accredited.

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1616Final ThoughtsFinal Thoughts

• On behalf of the Quality Assurance Team, I On behalf of the Quality Assurance Team, I extend:extend:– Our appreciation for your hospitality, support, and Our appreciation for your hospitality, support, and

professionalism;professionalism;– Our respect and acknowledgement of the quality of Our respect and acknowledgement of the quality of

the school district; andthe school district; and– Our congratulations for achieving district accreditation Our congratulations for achieving district accreditation

as a quality system.as a quality system.

Council on Accreditation and School ImprovementCouncil on Accreditation and School Improvement© 2005 Southern Association of Colleges and Schools© 2005 Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

……helping schools and helping schools and school systems improve school systems improve

student learning through student learning through accreditationaccreditation