California Association of Independent Schools

Self-Study Committee Training

Jim McManus, Executive Director, CAISMonique DeVane, HOS, The College Preparatory School

Mariana Robles, Director of Accreditation, CAIS

October 2017

Introduction

What is the role of the self-study committee?

Accreditation Manual Organization

Section One: Institutional Purposes and Core Values

Standard 1. Mission

Section Two: Teaching and LearningStandard 2. Educational Program Standard 3. Student Learning ExperienceStandard 4. Faculty and PedagogyStandard 5. Climate and CommunityStandard 6. Residential Life (if applicable]Standard 7. Preschool (if applicable)

Section Three: Financial SustainabilityStandard 8. Admissions and EnrollmentStandard 9. Finance Standard 10. Advancement

OperationsStandard 11. Human ResourcesStandard 12. Facilities: Buildings and

GroundsStandard 13. Health, Safety, and Wellness

Institutional Stewardship and LeadershipStandard 14. GovernanceStandard 15. Administration

Institutional Improvement and SustainabilityStandard 16. Self-Assessment and Decision-

Making

Independent School Dashboard and Supporting Documents

Self-Study Chapter Format

Each self-study chapter has the following components:

Standard and Context Statement

How to Use Indicators

Why are Indicators Included? How should they be used?

Sample Baseline Requirements

What happens if a school answers “No” to Baseline Requirements?

Climate and Community

The school has clearly stated policies and expectations regarding behavior of members of the school community, which are well publicized in handbooks, on websites, or by other means.

Yes □ No □

Health, Safety, and Wellness

The school is in full compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal safety and health codes and regulations.

Yes □ No □

Faculty and Pedagogy

A process of faculty evaluation is regularly undertaken and documented.

Yes □ No □

Sample Questions

How do we answer questions? How long should the answers be? How do we know we are on track?

Teaching and Learning

❖ Taking into account the future world in which the school anticipates its students will be living, describe how the curriculum is [and might be] informed by that vision.

Sample Questions

Institutional Stewardship and Leadership

❖What are the most significant dilemmas that the Head and administration face that do not have easily identifiable solutions?

Institutional Improvement and Sustainability

❖How does the school simultaneously encourage innovation and manage risk as it plans for the future or contemplates change?

The Accreditation Process

❖ Chairs are selected and team members are recruited based on the needs of the school.

❖ Chairs and teams have access to the self study as soon as it is submitted to our online Portal (December 1, 2018).

❖ The Chair assigns team members to various chapters in the self study prior to the visit.

The Accreditation Process

❖ During the visit, the team members interview members of the school community, meet individually with school leadership, write the visiting team report, rate each standard and provide a recommendation to the Board of Standards.

❖ The Board of Standards reads the report, deliberates, and provides a recommendation to the Board of Trustees.

❖ The Board of Trustees votes on the Status of Accreditation.

The Accreditation Timeline

❖ Fall 2017 Self-Study training❖ 2017-2018 Self-Study process takes place❖ Summer/Fall 2018 Visiting Chair and team selected❖ December 1, 2018 Self-Study submission deadline❖ December 2018 Visiting team has access to self-study❖ January - March 2019 Window for four-day visit❖ April 2019 Board of Standards meets❖ June 2019 Board of Standards vote on Status ❖ June/July 2019 Head receives status letter

The Visiting Committee Report

Confirmation of Adherence to CAIS PoliciesI. Introduction II. Assessment of Progress ReportIII. Comments on Self-Study ProcessIV. Assessment of School’s Performance based on the 16 accreditation standardsV. Summary Listing of Major Recommendations

The Visiting Committee Report (VCR) includes these components:

Recommendation for a Statusof Accreditation

❖This is the only part of the document that is confidential and does not go to the school.

❖Recommendation to Board of Standards regarding status of accreditation.

❖Thorough statement of rationale aligned with content and ratings of section reports.

Recommendation to CAIS Board of Standards& WASC Commission

Formerly: ❖Terms of 6, 6R, 3, 2, 1

Currently:❖ 7-year cycle❖Accreditation “Status”

7 years, with❖ mid-term progress report❖ mid-term progress report and visit❖ mid-term progress report, visit, and additional requirements❖ 2 years: urgent attention & action required❖ 1 year: immediate change & action required

Organizing the School’s Work

❖Head appoints Steering Committee Chair and committee members

❖Establish access to self-study template via Accreditation Portal

❖Compile data for CAIS Independent School Dashboard (preferably this is done by one person)

Self-Study Process

❖Steering Committee decides how to structure the process

❖Educate school community

❖Divide questions among school members

❖Set timelines, work assignments for writing and editing

❖Identify plan to “finalize” document(Who will make final edits? When will this occur? Who will review all edits?)

Self-Study Process

❖Submit document through Accreditation Portal by December 1, 2018

❖Arrange visit schedule and logistics for Visiting Committee

❖Visiting Committee report submitted to CAIS Board of Standards for status recommendation, to be ultimately determined by the CAIS Board of Directors by June 2019

Self-Study Training for Schools

Given the design of the accreditation process, what initial thoughts or questions do you have about

involving and engaging members of the school community in the self-study work (e.g., possible committee

structure, in-service day activities, cross-constituent interactions)?

Questions and Discussion

Additional questions or observations?