AdvancED District Accreditation Standards Assessment Report

1. AdvancEDDistrict Accreditation Standards Assessment Report February 2 – 5, 2014 FAYETTE COUNTY SCHOOLS “Every Student a Graduate - Every Graduate Prepared”

2. Fayette County Team Leaders Executive Summary: Mrs. Julie Chaffin & Mr. Vic Herren Stakeholder Feedback Diagnostic: Mrs. Mary Raines & Mr. Vic Herren Student Performance Diagnostic: Mrs. Mary Gravlee Hospitality: Mrs. Amy Tucker Standards: 1. Purpose & Direction: Mr. Vic Herren 2. Governance and Leadership: Dr. Rene Nichols & Mr. Wade Shipman 3. Teaching & Assessing for Learning: Dr. Holly Morgan 4. Resources and Support Systems : Mrs. Mary Raines 5. Using Results for Continuous Improvement: Mrs. Mary Gravlee

3. Standard 1: Purpose & Direction Overall Rating: 3.0 The system maintains and communicates at all levels of the organization a purpose and direction for continuous improvement that commit to high expectations for learning as well as shared values and beliefs about teaching and learning.

4. Standard 1

5. Standard 1 Overview • 1.1 System-wide purpose • Stakeholder Survey Results • Reviewed previous Motto, Mission, and Belief Statements • Created new Motto – Alabama Plan 2020 • Communications - Website • 1.2 School-Level Purpose for Student Success • Survey Results • School Purpose Statements

6. Standard 1 Overview • 1.3 Culture based on shared values and beliefs • ACIPS • Professional Development • Strategic Plan • 1.4 Continuous Improvement Process • Development and Implementation • Review and Reflection

7. Standard 2: Governance & Leadership Overall Rating: 3.17 The system operates under governance and leadership that promote and support student performance and system effectiveness.

8. Standard 2

9. Standard 2 - Overview • 2.1 Establishment of Policies and Procedures • Fayette County Board of Education School Board Policies Manual • Student Handbooks (folders) • Staff Handbooks • 2.2 Governing Body Operations • Board Member Training (ASBA) • Code of Ethics Training • SDE Compliance Monitoring January 21-24

10. Standard 2 - Overview • 2.3 Governing Body Leadership • Strategic Plan – Community Stakeholder Meeting • Roles and Responsibilities – Central Office and Schools • Professional Development Plan – CCRS • 2.4 Leaders and Staff – Continuous Improvement • ACIP • Administrative – PLC – Leaders of Learning: How District, School and Classroom Leaders Improve Student Achievement

11. Standard 2 - Overview • 2.5 Communication with Stakeholders • School Level - Community and Parent Involvement Meetings – 21st Century, CTE • LEA Level – Community, Advisory, Media (Website), SchoolCast • 2.6 Evaluation Processes for Improved Student Success • Administrators – LEAD (Val-Ed Component); EducateAlabama • Teacher – EducateAlabama • Support – Bi-Annual Checklist

12. Standard 3: Teaching & Assessing for Learning Overall Rating: 2.75 The system's curriculum, instructional design, and assessment practices guide and ensure teacher effectiveness and student learning across all grades and courses.

13. Standard 3

14. Standard 3

15. Standard 3 Overview • 3.1 The system provides equitable and challenging learning experiences. • Lesson plans aligned to current Alabama’s CCRS • Challenging, research-based instructional techniques • 3.2 Curriculum, instruction, and assessment are monitored and adjusted in response to data. • System pacing guides and curriculum maps • Variety of common assessments • Summative and formative • Local, state, national levels

16. Standard 3 Overview • 3.3 Teachers engage students through instructional strategies that ensure achievement. • Teacher and student use of technology SMART boards, LCD projectors, Chrome books, iPads, iPod Touch, Kindle Fire tablets, desktop computers, laptop computers, computer labs • Alabama Reading Initiative (ARI) • Alabama Math, Science, Technology Initiative (AMSTI) • UA/UWA Inservice Center Partnership

17. Standard 3 Overview • 3.4 Leaders monitor and support the improvement of instructional practices. • Fayette County Schools Administrative PLU (Professional Learning Unit) • EDUCATE Alabama/LEAD Alabama • Administrator walk-through tools aligned to specific instructional strategies and/or practices • 3.5 The system operates as a collaborative learning organization. • Agendas, minutes, calendars of learning community meetings • Leaders of Learning: How District, School, and Classroom Leaders Improve Student Achievement

18. Standard 3 Overview • 3.4 Leaders monitor and support the improvement of instructional practices. • Fayette County Schools Administrative PLU (Professional Learning Unit) • EDUCATE Alabama/LEAD Alabama • Administrator walk-through tools aligned to specific instructional strategies and/or practices • 3.5 The system operates as a collaborative learning organization. • Agendas, minutes, calendars of learning community meetings • Leaders of Learning: How District, School, and Classroom Leaders Improve Student Achievement

19. Standard 3 Overview • 3.6 Teachers implement system’s instructional process in support of student learning. • Learning expectations and posted objectives • Benchmark assessments • Rubrics/exemplars to inform student learning • 3.7 Mentoring, coaching and induction programs support instructional improvement. • Instructional coaches serve K-12 teachers in all content areas. • New Personnel Training • Fayette County New Personnel Handbook

20. Standard 3 Overview • 3.8 The system engages families in meaningful ways and keeps them informed of child’s progress. • Parental involvement plans • Volunteer programs • STI’s InformationNow Portal • Parent involvement nights • Parent conferences • 3.9 The system designs and evaluates structures in all schools whereby each student is well known by at least one adult advocate. • Berry High’s Student Advocacy Program • Fayette County High’s FOCUS Program • High Hopes Mentors

21. Standard 3 Overview • 3.10 Grading and reporting are based on clearly defined criteria and are consistent across grade levels and courses. • Fayette County Schools’ Board Policy on Grading and Reporting • Standards-based Kindergarten Report Card • 3.11 All staff members participate in a continuous program of professional learning. • System Professional Development Plan • CCRS Professional Development/Transition Plan • Targeted K-12 mathematics professional development • Local administrator training aligned with Alabama’s PLAN 2020 • The Leader in Me • Continued training in strategic teaching (ARI) • iPad Professional Learning Group • Support Personnel Professional Development

22. Standard 3 Overview • 3.12 The system and its schools provide and coordinate learning support services to meet the unique needs of students. • Service for Students with Special Needs • Services for English Language Learners • RTI (Response-to-Instruction) • Comprehensive Guidance and Counseling Services

23. Standard 4: Resources & Support Systems Overall Rating: 3.0 The system has resources and provides services in all schools that support its purpose and direction to ensure success for all students.

24. Standard 4

25. Standard 4 Overview • 4.1 Systematic process to recruit, employ and retain staff • 100% of faculty and staff are “Highly Qualified” • Teach in Alabama Website • Training for Administrators • Teacher Recruitment – Interviews at local Universities • 4.2 Instructional time, material resources and fiscal resources support purpose and direction • System Strategic Plan • School Calendars • Teacher Schedules – LEAPS • Media Specialist serves as Technology Leaders

26. Standard 4 Overview • 4.3 The System Provides a safe, clean and healthy environment • Virtual Alabama Platform / Safety Plans • School Safety Committees and Responsibilities • Maintenance Spreadsheet that track improvements • 4.4 Demonstrates strategic resource management • Strategic Plan • Alabama Continuous Improvement Plans (ACIP) • 4.5 Provides, coordinates, and evaluates the effectiveness of information resources • Library Media Policy / Procedures Manual • Flexible Schedule for Media Specialist • Atrium Software • State Department Desktop Audit (No Citations) • Integration of Collaboration Document

27. Standard 4 Overview • 4.6 The system provides a technology infrastructure and equipment to support the system's teaching, learning, and operational needs. • Technology infrastructure • Transform 2020 Plan • Fiber optic backbone interconnection between all school sites • Wireless Access in all Schools • 112 mbps of available bandwidth • STI’s InformationNow Portal • Global Scholar Performance Series & Achievement Series • Graduation Tracking System • Policies relative to technology use at the system • Acceptable Use Policy • Kindle Fire Policy (Berry High School) • Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Policy (Fayette County High School, Fayette Middle School, and Hubbertville)

28. Standard 4 Overview • 4.7 Provides, coordinates, and evaluates the effectiveness of support systems to meet the physical, social, and emotional needs of the student population being served • Individualized Education Plan for Students with Disabilities • Gifted Plan • ESL Plan • Anti-Harassment Policy • Report Bullying Logo on School Websites • Counseling and Guidance Plan • Financial AidNights at the High Schools • Auburn University Extension Service • FAWN, PROSPER, 4-H

29. Standard 4 Overview • 4.8 Provides, coordinates, and evaluates the effectiveness of services that support the counseling, assessment, referral, educational, and career planning needs of all students. • LEA Response-to-Instruction Plan (RTI) • Individualized Education Plan for Students with Disabilities • Gifted Plan • Character Education • Health Services • ESL Plan • LEA Credit Recovery Plan • Career Preparedness Course (KUDER) • Career Technical Education Programs • College Admissions Made Possible Partnership (CAMP) • Bevill State Community College Partnership (Upward Bound, Educational Talent Search, Upward Bound Math & Science, TORCH Competition)

30. Standard 5: Using Results for Continuous Improvement Overall Rating: 2.8 The system implements a comprehensive assessment system that generates a range of data about student learning and system effectiveness and uses the results to guide continuous improvement.

31. Standard 5

32. Standard 5 Overview • 5.1 The system establishes and maintains a clearly defined and comprehensive student assessment system. • All students participate in the state mandated assessment program • DIBELS/Programmatic Assessments – Grades K-2 • Global Scholar Performance Series – Grades 3-8 • Global Scholar Achievement Series – Grades 9-12 • Assessments 3 times annually • Students with severe cognitive delays participate in the Alabama Alternate Assessment • 5.2 Professional and support staff continuously collect, analyze and apply learning from a range of data sources • Central office personnel review scores, trend data, comparisons to similar systems, and disaggregated data. • School Leadership Teams review school data

33. Standard 5 Overview • 5.3 Throughout the system professional and support staff are trained in the interpretation and use of data • Year of transition—new assessments in grades 3-8, new end of course assessments for various high school courses, all 11th graders will take ACT Plus Writing • Professional Development has been provided for Global Scholar • Professional Development will be offered regarding new assessments as information is made available

34. Standard 5 Overview • 5.4 The school system engages in a continuous process to determine verifiable improvement in student learning, including readiness for and success at the next level. • ACIPs developed for all schools • Benchmark Testing • ACT Quality Core End of Course Assessments for selected High School core subjects • Midterm & Final exams in grades 7-12 in all other subjects • Regular data meetings • Response-to-Instruction • Intervention classes

35. Standard 5 Overview • 5.5 System and school leaders monitor and communicate comprehensive information about student learning, school performance, and the achievement of system and school improvement goals to stakeholders • Report of assessment results to board • Parent Conferences • School Marquees • Newspaper articles • Posting Honor Rolls • Parent/Community Meeting

36. Even in the face of limited financial resources, Fayette County School System’s motto remains in the forefront: “Every Student a Graduate – Every Graduate Prepared”