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Dear Colleagues,
Change seems to define our lives, and AdvancED is certainly no exception. I want to highlight several changes that we are undergoing and will be important for our schools to know:
- Our office will be moving. Johnson & Wales has been a tremendously generous host for the past several years but, due to growth we will be leaving our offices beginning July 1, 2011. We are actively seeking alternatives and will keep you informed when a new site has been identified.
- The newly revised standards will go into effect for the 2012-13 school year. Schools hosting a visit that year will receive training sessions next fall and throughout the year to prepare for the changes to the standards and for upcoming Quality Assurance Review (QAR) visits.
- New tools are being introduced to support improvement planning and accreditation visits. Surveys for parents, staff, and students and an improvement plan builder will be available for use soon and required for schools beginning in the 2012-13 school year.
For the first time in several years, we will be hosting a fall conference for all schools in the AdvancED Colorado network on September 23, 2011. The conference will focus on the changes mentioned above and will provide everyone with the information they will need regarding accreditation and school improvement through AdvancED. Please plan to attend and stay tuned for more details!  As we finish our remaining QAR visits this year, I want to acknowledge and thank the numerous individuals who have served on accreditation teams. Over sixty Colorado educators devoted two days of their time to serve on a QAR team this year. Their expertise, wisdom, and hard work have produced outstanding visiting team reports and built meaningful relationships among stakeholders across the state. While our schools are the ultimate beneficiaries of this work, team members uniformly report that they also learn a great deal in the process. Team members whose schools are hosting a visit in the near future report that this is the best way to prepare for their own visit. It’s a perfect win-win for everyone involved. Again, many thanks for generously giving of your time!
Sincerely,
Russ Ramsey AdvancED Colorado Director
| Russ Ramsey Director AdvancED Colorado Adele Matera Administrative Assistant AdvancED Colorado | Excellence in Education Award |
One of the most rewarding responsibilities of our state council is to nominate a Colorado recipient for the Excellence in Education Award each year. It is a great pleasure to announce that Dr. Elliott Asp is this year's recipient for our state. Dr. Asp is the Assistant Superintendent for Performance Improvement with the Cherry Creek School District. He is a long-time educator, a career spanning more than three decades, committed to improving education enabling students to succeed. Dr. Asp has been a pioneer in standard-based education with a particular strength in performance and formative assessment. His scholarly work has been published in ASCD and Education Week among others. His personal mission is to ensure all young people have options in their lives depending on their interests and abilities. He states " We have to open doors to what's right for them so they can be successful in a global economy and not be pushed out of meaningful participation in a democratic society." Congratulations to Dr. Asp, and thank you for the many years of support for AdvancED and dedication to the schools, families, and children of Colorado! |
Why is the Accreditation Progress Report so Important? |
The Accreditation Progress Report engages schools and districts in focused internal analysis of its actions and progress since their Quality Assurance Review visit. In completing the report, the school/district reviews each recommendation, summarizes actions taken, describes how the actions and results were evaluated to determine success, and references the evidence that the school/district has gathered to support its fulfillment of the recommendation. The Accreditation Progress Report is a required component of the accreditation process and is submitted one or two years following the school/district QAR. Although the report is required, it is a great tool for schools and districts to stay focused on their quest for school improvement. |
AdvancED Communications Kit Available |
AdvancED developed a Communications Kit tailored especially for schools and districts to promote their accreditation in their community. If you haven’t viewed your Communications Kit, what are you waiting for! It’s easy, just click here and viola! Once there, you’ll have access to accredited seals, press release templates, and accreditation brochures. These tools will help you spread the word in your community and beyond about your commitment and dedication to student achievement. Don’t delay. Get started spreading the news today. |
Self-Assessment Resources Available |
AdvancED has developed online resources to assist schools with completing the new Self-Assessment (SA) tool and Executive Institutional Summary (EIS). Schools can access a two part instructional video composed of two elements: Part A, focuses on “Collecting the Data” and Part B, is about “Entering the Information.” Two online guides for accessing and completing the SA and EIS are available as well. Schools will find this learning resource very informative and easy to use. Please contact Adele Matera at amatera@advanc-ed.org to find out how you can begin using these resources today. |
Upcoming AdvancED Colorado events include: Our next webinar, Getting Prepared for Your School's QAR Visit, will be held on April 27, 2011. We are scheduling a face-to-face workshop on this same topic on April 29, 2011. All schools which have a QAR visit scheduled for 2011-2012 would benefit greatly from attending at least one of these workshops. E-mail invitations will be coming to you soon. The next AdvancED Colorado State Council Meeting will be held on June 6, 2011. AdvancED Colorado's Fall Conference will be held on September 23, 2011. Mark your calendars now for this important training conference. Training will focus on the new changes for 2011-2012 and 2012-2013. You will receive registration information via an e-mail invitation soon. |
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AdvancED, the home of NCA CASI and SACS CASI, is dedicated to
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