Florida Catholic Conference
Accreditation Program
Mary Camp, FCC Associate Director for Accreditation
Goals for Today
1. Acquaint or refresh you with the FCC Accreditation Program.
2. Familiarize you with the National Catholic Standards and
Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Elementary and Secondary
schools
3. Prepare you for this year’s accreditation activities (many of
you are prepping for a visitation either this year or next year
and/or preparing to be a team member on a visitation.
Florida Catholic Conference
Accreditation Program
Brief Background
Accreditation = Continuous
Improvement
In Georgia – Five Year Cycle
In Florida – Seven Year Cycle
FCCAP – Georgia
•
•
•
•
•
Year 1 – Implement Action Plans and report to DOSV
Year 2 – Implement Action Plans
Year 3 – Implement Action Plans & Third Year Conference (TYC)
Year 4 – School Improvement Plan process (SIP)
Year 5 – SIP Visitation
FCCAP - Florida
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Year 1 – Implement Action Plans and report to diocese
Year 2 – Implement Action Plans
Year 3 – Implement Action Plans & Third Year Conference (TYC)
Year 4 – Implement Action Plans
Year 5 – Implement Action Plans
Year 6 – School Improvement Plan process (SIP)
Year 7 – SIP Visitation
FCCAP
Where is your school in the cycle?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Blessed Sacrament – Visit
Immaculate Conception - SIP
Notre Dame Academy – SIP
Sacred Heart – SIP
St. Anne Pacelli – Visit
St. Frances Cabrini – TYC
St. Francis Xavier – SIP
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
St. James – Year 1
St. John the Evangelist – SIP
St. Joseph – Visit
St. Mary on the Hill – Year 1
St. Peter Claver – Visit
St. Peter the Apostle – SIP
St. Teresa – SIP
ANNUAL EVENTS
FCCAP
• Annual Events
• Pay Dues – The Diocese pays these for DOSV
schools
• Complete Annual Report for Continued
Accreditation (ARCA)
• Order National Council for Private School
Accreditation (NCPSA) Certificate if desired
STANDARDS
STANDARDS
Current FCCAP
National Catholic
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
• Mission & Catholic
Identity
• Governance & Leadership
• Academic Excellence
• Operational Vitality
Beliefs & Mission
School & Community
Program of Learning
Personnel
Administration
Learning Media Services
Pupil Services
School Plant & Facilities
Annual Report for Continued Accreditation
(ARCA)
•
•
•
•
•
Review the standards and report school’s compliance
Request Limited Teaching Endorsement or Waiver, if needed
Institutional Integrity
FCCAC review
Accreditation Status:
•
•
•
•
•
Accredited
Accredited Advised
Accredited Warned
Accredited Probation
Accreditation Revoked
www.EAS-ed.org
FCCAP
The www.EAS-ed.org Web site
is a very valuable resource.
Under Resources you will find:
• Policies and Procedures
• Principles and Standards
• Visitation Manual
News and Links provide
information about our
program, and connections to
various education related Web
sites.
Login – Dashboard:
• Private Resources –
Companion
• Payments
• ARCA
FCCAP
Login – Dashboard:
• Need email address &
password
• From the Dashboard
you can see items in
the
•
EAS-Ed Management Box
•
•
•
•
•
E-ARCA
Previous E-ARCAs
Payments
Profile
Private Resources
•
•
•
•
FCC Companion Manual
SIP Sample Calendar
TYC Report Template
Yearly Report Template
www.EAS-ed.org
CYCLE EVENTS
Year 4 or 6 – School Improvement Plan
Process
•
•
•
•
•
The Companion – Guide for the process
SIP notice from my office
Meetings with DOSV personnel
Form a steering committee and area committees
Collect and analyze data (including student
performance and survey results)
• Create a SIP Report
School Improvement Plan
6 Main Areas
•
•
•
•
•
•
School Profile
Mission and Belief
Desired Results for Student Learning
Analysis of Instructional & Organizational Effectiveness
Action Plan
Accreditation Standards Review
Surveying Stakeholders
• Currently FCCAP uses online questionnaires
from AdvancED.
• Available to the Georgia schools through
ASSIST.
• Login on www.advanc-ed.org
• Go to ASSIST and start a new survey
• Have you been contacted by AdvancED?
SIP
First 4 Areas – doing research, collecting and
analyzing data to get a complete picture of
the school’s history, where it is now, and
setting goals for future progress
Action Plans
• Make the Goals concrete and measurable (ASSIST)
• Analyze the data
• Adjust the goals as needed
School Profile
Mission & Belief Statements
Desired Results for
Student Learning
Data Analysis
Perceptions
Accurate Account
Analysis of
Instructional &
Organizational
Effectiveness
Action
Specific Measurable
Goals to Document
Plan
Student Performance
Strengths &
Weaknesses
Visitation
•
•
•
•
Home diocese verifies school readiness
Chairperson brokered by FCCAC
2-3 Additional Team Members
Three day visit traditionally begins Wednesday
afternoon with a school tour and Opening Event that
evening. Thursday – meetings and observations.
Friday is an early dismissal day and concludes with the
Oral Exit Report around 1 pm.
• Official Visitation Report approved by FCCAC
Visitation
• Diocese verifies school readiness
• File Check
• SIP Book review
• Review of Action Plans
• Review of Standards
Preliminary Visit – Chair to School
School’s Responsibility
Chair’s Responsibility
• Set date with chair (prelim
takes place at least 1 month
prior to the visitation)
• Send SIP book well in
advance of preliminary
• Make arrangements for
staff to be present
• File Check Documents
• Confirms date with school
(prelim takes place at least
1 month prior to the
visitation)
• Read SIP thoroughly,
preparing questions
• Prepare schedule for
preliminary visit and send
to the school well in
advance
Preliminary Visit Schedule
• Arrival at School – around 8:00 a.m.
• Meeting with Principal & Steering Committee Chair
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Review SIP
Review previous Visitation Report
Review current and previous 2 years of ARCA’s
Prepare Visitation Schedule
Arrange for lodging
Arrange for work area, equipment, supplies, etc.
Obtain school schedule with arrival, dismissal, lunch,
Obtain floor plan of school
Preliminary Visit Schedule
• Arrange for Voucher Forms for Team
• Arrange for times and rooms for interviews and meetings
•
•
•
•
•
Review Personnel Credentials - Checklist
Meet with Pastor – procedures and importance of Visit
Tour School Facilities & Grounds
Call Diocesan Office – readiness of school for visit
Meet with Faculty at end of day – information regarding the
Visitation: Team, schedule, questions, affirmation of SIP
Post Preliminary Visit
School’s Responsibility
Chair’s Responsibility
• Send any necessary
documents, revisions to the
Chairperson as soon as
possible
• Send SIP to team members
• Prepare for the visitation
• Follow-up Letter to Principal –
verification of schedule,
reminder to send SIP to Team
Members, copy of materials
sent to Team
• Letters to Team –schedule,
assignments, travel
arrangements to be sent to
Chair and Principal, read SIP
thoroughly and carefully
Visitation – Assignment for Team
Members
Member 1
Profile & Mission & Beliefs
Standards A, B, H
Interview – Religion Coor, & Pastor
Member 2
Desired Results
Standards C, G
Interview – Guidance & Resource
Chair:
Effectiveness / Action Plan
Standards D, E, F
Interview – Technology & Media
Pre-Visitation Mailing to Team
Members
• Visitation Cover: Team Names & Addresses /
Hotel
• Visitation Schedule
• Team Assignments
• Schedule for Interviews and Meetings
Visitation – Day One – Sample
•
•
•
•
11-12:00 p.m.
12:30 p.m.
1:15 p.m.
3:20 p.m.
Team arrives at Hotel
Lunch for Team
Team Orientation
Meeting at School with
Administration and Steering Committee
• 4:20 p.m.
Tour of School Facilities and Campus
• 5:00 p.m.
Dinner for Team and School Officials
• 7:00 p.m.
School Activity: Liturgical Prayer, Brief
Introduction to Accreditation Program,
School’s Presentation , Reception
Keep dinner and presentation SIMPLE!
Visitation – Day One – Details
Orientation of Team
• Explain folder
• Check names and spelling of Team
• Review Schedule
• Review Assignments
• Standards Checklist / Area Guide Sheets
• Classroom Visits
• Review of Results of Preliminary Visit
Visitation – Day One – Details
Guidelines for Administration / Steering Committee
Meeting
• Understand process and work on SIP
• Clarify and ask questions about SIP
• Ask about communication of process
• Ask about difficulties / successes
• Is school pleased with outcomes? Why? Why not?
• Housekeeping / schedule details
Visitation – Opening Event
• Begin with a Liturgical Prayer
• Chairperson explains why the team is at the school
• The School presents their executive summary, school
profile, and mission and belief statements
• PowerPoint presentation could be used
• Students could be included
• Stakeholders are invited
• Short reception
• Entire event no longer than one hour
Visitation – Day Two – Sample
7:30 a.m.
8:15 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m.
11:30 a.m.
12:00 p.p.
1:00 p.m.
2:00 p.m.
Team Breakfast/Meeting
Meeting with Parents / Community Reps.
Meeting with Students
Classroom Observations / School
Personnel Interviews
Team Meeting
Lunch
Classroom Observations/ School
Personnel Interviews
Team Meeting
Visitation – Day Two – Sample
3:25 p.m.
4:25 p.m.
5:25 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
7:00 p.m.
Meetings with Area Committees (1-4)
Meeting with Action Plan Committee
(include administration, Steering
Committee)
Team Debriefing
Adjournment
Dinner for Team
Individual Work Sessions
Visitation – Day Two – Details
Parent/Student Meetings
• Meetings are confidential/ Take notes
• 10-20 parents / 4th – 8th grade students (about 10-20)
• Questions:
•
•
•
•
What influenced you in choosing this school?
If you could make changes what would they be and why?
What , in your words, is the Mission of the school?
What do you know of the SIP process and the Action Plan
Visitation – Day Two – Details
Personnel Interviews
• Describe your role and responsibilities.
• What was your role in the process of the SIP?
• How do you see your role in the implementation
of the Action Plan?
Visitation – Day Two – Details
Area Section Committee Meetings
• Questions of clarification
• Questions concerning process
• Possible Focus Questions from NSSE Visiting
Team Handbook
• Suggestions for possible recommendations
and why
Visitation – Day Three – Sample
7:30 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
10:00 a.m.
12:00 p.m.
12:30p.m.
1:30 p.m.
2:30 p.m.
Visiting Team Breakfast & Meeting
Meeting with Administration and
Steering Committee
Team Work Session
Early Dismissal Bell for School
Lunch for Visiting Team and Faculty
Oral Exit Report
Adjournment
Visitation – Day Three – Details
Meeting with Administration / Steering Committee
• Review Standards Checklist – ask questions about
items not observed
• Review Recommendations to SIP Process and
Action Plan
• Share comments from Parent and Student
Meetings check for any clarifications
Visitation – Day Three – Details
Team Work Sessions
• Share consensually the Area Recommendations
• Share consensually Standards Recommendations
• Each Member hands in at least 1-2 commendations and
recommendations for Areas and possible recommendations for
Standards
• Each Member signs the certificate page of the report
• Preparation for Oral Report –
“Talk it – do NOT Read it”!
Visitation – Day Three – Details
Oral Exit Report
•
•
•
•
Gratitude for hospitality
Affirmation of work done on SIP
Brief update on importance of FCC Accreditation
Chairperson gives brief summary of comments from
Parent and Student Meetings
• Each Team Member gives a brief description of area,
commendations and recommendations.
• Chairperson summarizes work and implications for
future -- re-accreditation comes from FCC Committee
Written Report
• Outline in Visitation Manual
• Introduction – include objectives of
Visit, brief demographics, brief
description of Visitation process,
comments from Interview and Meetings,
as well as uniqueness of school program.
Written Report
• Executive Summary—comment,
commendation, and recommendation on
implementation of Recommendations to
Standards and Process.
• Performance and Progress Report—comment,
commendation, and recommendation on
implementation of Action Plan goals.
Written Report
Area Reports– brief paragraph, 1-3
commendations and recommendations
(Refer only to areas – not standards)
Written Report
Area Recommendations must be specifically addressed
to the process
Ex. “The school profile should be updated
annually.”
“The priorities for improvement in
student learning should be restated in
clear, concise, measurable goals.”
Written Report
Recommendations to Standards
• Must relate specifically to standards
• Standard deficiencies are listed first; the
remainder are listed in order (A-3, F-2. etc.)
• Use appropriate language, remembering that
these are suggestions
Written Report
Recommendations:
D-15 The school should implement a written,
school-based program of professional
development.
G-1
The school should continue to enhance and
delineate more clearly its written plan for
counseling services.
Written Report
Evaluation and Summary
• Overall impression of the school
• Intent to implement Action Plan
• Written Report will be sent to FCC
Accreditation Committee for review and
granting of status
• Statement of appreciation for hospitality
Written Report
Certificate
• Use Worksheets and Assessments to complete
• Indicate Standards Deficiency
• Obtain signatures of Team Members
Written Report
Chairperson’s Last Duties
• Receive from each Member:
• Assessment Tool for Specific Area
• Area Work (Comments, Commendations,
Recommendations)
• Standards Recommendations
• Obtain signatures on Certificate
• Write and edit Report
• Review Chairperson’s Checklist
Written Report
• Send report to team members for review
• Send report to FCCAC representative.
• Send final report, electronically, to ADA.
(Remember, FCC will send copies to school.)
Third Year Conference
Third Year Conference
• Formal Mid-Cycle Progress Check
• Analyze data and create a mini-report focusing on:
•
•
•
•
•
Recommendations from the visitation team
Action Plan progress in terms of student performance
Standards Compliance
Reflection of what has been learned in the process
General plans for the remainder of the cycle
• Implementation team (or representatives) meet with DOSV
representative and ADA
• Team presents, dialogue, and follow up letter from ADA
Questions
I am only a phone call or
email away
Mary Camp
Associate Director for Accreditation
Office: 850-224-7906
Cell: 850-728-4272
mcamp@flacathconf.org