Chair Training Workshop

1. Chair Training Workshop For the Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools

3. Essential Questions for Today’s Training • What is the role of the Visiting Team? • What are your responsibilities as the Chair of the Team? • What does the team look for?

4. Goals for Today’s Training You will understand and know how to use available support resources to: • Organize and conduct a successful team visit • Prepare an effective oral report • Prepare a thorough and high quality written report

5. Responsibilities of the Team Chair: TEAM • Ensure effective team operation • Communication • Orientation [Team Orientation Power Point] • Scheduling and logistics of the visit (ensuring team expense reimbursements) • Reach consensus on accreditation recommendations • Prepare a thorough team report

6. Responsibilities of the Team Chair: SCHOOL COMMUNITY Establish constructive professional communications by: • Affirming the findings of the self-study and providing perspective and meaningful feedback • Being a “critical friend” and colleague – not a critic or consultant • Leaving the school in a position to grow • Sending draft report 2-4 weeks after the visit

7. Responsibilities of the Team Chair: MSA Consistently implement the accreditation protocol and to function as MSA’s onsite representative by: • Ensuring the professionalism of the team members • Communicating directly with the MSA staff regarding emerging issues and concerns • Completing and submitting final team report within 4-6 weeks of the visit

8. The Middle States ApproachMSA Protocols One Size Doesn’t Fit All! • Designing Our Future • Excellence by Design • Achieving Excellence System-Wide • Sustaining Excellence

9. What are the Requirements of the Protocol? • The Planning Process • Context of the School • Foundation Documents aligned with Mission Standard • Student Performance aligned with Assessment and Evidence of Student Learning • Plan for Growth and Improvement (Objectives & Action Plans)

10. Variations Among the Protocols Curriculum Review Structure of the Self-Study Team Report Format Size of the Visiting Team

11. How is the Systems Approach Different? • Requires school systems to view themselves as an organic whole that is greater than the sum of its parts • Requires approaches to school improvement that are systemic rather than particularistic • Focus on accountability measures for meeting the requirements for accreditation

12. MSA Programs of DistinctionFull descriptions found at www.msa-cess.org • Early Childhood Education • Global Literacies • Music • School Counseling • Service Learning • STEM • Visual Arts • World Languages

13. Standards and Indicators for Accreditation • Each Standard is a comprehensive statement of the expectations for quality • Each Indicator amplifies the Standard by providing examples of how the Standard can be met Note: See Standards Workbook

14. Assessing Standards for Accreditation • Data collected from surveys • Staff, Parents, Students • Others as determined by the school • Self-study reporting on Standards • Evidence to support the assessment of Standards • Conduct interviews and observations

15. Reaching Consensus on the Standards Does the Standard describe the school at an acceptable level? • Qualitative assessment • No “Silver Bullet” indicators • Not a strict “percentage” approach • Some flexibility in how a standard or indicator may be met • Consensus on whether the Standard is met • Based on evidence, observations, interviews

16. Responding to the Standards • Must include: Observations • May include: • Commendations/Exceeds Expectations • Recommendations • Suggested improvements • Monitoring Issues • Improvements in progress • Stipulations • Glaring Omissions • The team report must indicate which Indicator(s) within the Standard are not met and why (See Standards Workbook)

17. Standards for Accreditation What if a Standard is not met? The accreditation recommendation will be: • Probationary Accreditation (Accredited Schools) • Accreditation Recommendation Postponed (Candidate Schools) Either of these recommendations must be discussed with Accreditation Officer

18. Self-Assessment of Curricular AreasDESIGNING OUR FUTURE • School analyzes all curricular areas • School analyzes Indicators • Curriculum • Instruction • Assessment • Team responds to the school’s analysis of each curricular area

19. Curricular Areas (DOF) can be addressed with: • Observations/Commendations • Recommendations • Monitoring Issues

20. Self-Assessment of Curricular AreasEXCELLENCE BY DESIGN • School analyzes the curricular areas related to the Student Performance Objectives • School analyzes Indicators • Visiting Team does NOT respond to the school’s analysis as part of the Team Report, but looks for connections to action plans aimed at reaching objectives and attaining improved student performance.

21. Visiting Team “Look For’s” THE PLANNING PROCESS Membership & Operation of the Planning Team • Diversity of membership • Role and responsibilities • Meeting schedules, agendas and notes • Plan for renewal of team membership over time

22. Visiting Team “Look For’s” THE PLANNING PROCESS Role of Key Players Administration • One voice among equals • Set positive tone of leadership for process • Communication with Internal Coordinators • Resources for Planning Team

23. Visiting Team “Look For’s” THE PLANNING PROCESS Role of Key Players Governance • Awareness and support for process • May have direct involvement with Planning Team

24. Visiting Team “Look For’s” THE PLANNING PROCESS Role of Key Players Internal Coordinator(s) • Awareness and support for process • May have direct involvement with Planning Team External Facilitator (if used) • How and why selected • Role

25. Visiting Team “Look For’s” THE PLANNING PROCESS Evidence of Planning for Implementing the Plan for Growth and Improvement • Periodic Review and Revision • Maintaining the Momentum • Communications and awareness activities

26. Visiting Team “Look For’s” THE PLANNING PROCESS Action/Implementation Team (if used) • Role and relationship to Planning Team

27. Visiting Team “Look For’s” THE PLANNING PROCESS What if the school has not followed the requirements of the planning process? • A Monitoring Issue or Stipulation may be recommended even if all Standards have been met • The Team Report should clearly indicate which requirements of the protocol are partially met or not met *See definitions in Glossary of Team Report Terms

28. Visiting Team “Look For’s”FOUNDATION DOCUMENTS • Foundation documents • Mission Statement • Belief Statements • Profile of the Graduate • Who did them? • When were they done? • How are they used to influence the day to day decision-making of the organization?

29. Visiting Team “Look For’s” PLAN FOR GROWTH AND IMPROVEMENT Objectives • 1st Level Technical Review and Approval by Accreditation Officer prior to visit • Focus • Measurability and Assessments • Clarity

30. Visiting Team “Look For’s” PLAN FOR GROWTH AND IMPROVEMENT Objectives • 2nd Level Assessment by Visiting Team • Do objectives relate to school’s mission? • Appropriateness • Achievability • School community awareness and support

31. Visiting Team “Look For’s” PLAN FOR GROWTH AND IMPROVEMENT Action Plans • Includes elements and characteristics of an effective action plan • May be somewhat flexible depending on local school improvement requirements • Displays awareness of need for planning beyond the first year • Leads to the attainment of the objectives

32. Visiting Team “Look For’s” PLAN FOR GROWTH AND IMPROVEMENT What if the school has not followed the requirements of the Plan for Growth and Improvement? • A Monitoring Issue or Stipulation may be recommended even if all Standards have been met • The Team Report should clearly indicate which requirements of the protocol are partially met or not met *See definitions in Glossary of Team Report Terms

33. A Team’s Accreditation Recommendation is based on: • Meeting the 12 MSA Standards for Accreditation • Following all aspects of Planning Process • Developing a Plan for Growth and Improvement

34. Accreditation Rubric

35. A Team May Recommend Previously Accredited Schools: • Accreditation • Accreditation with Stipulations (if Stipulations were recommended) • Probationary Accreditation Note: Removal of Accreditation is by Commission Action only after a Period of Probationary Accreditation

36. A Team May Recommend Candidate Schools: • Accreditation • Accreditation with Stipulation(s) (if Stipulations were recommended) • Accreditation Decision Postponed

37. Let’s Practice* • Glossary of Terms • Sample Team Reports • Writing Sample Monitoring Issue • MSA 12 Standards • Requirements of Protocol • Your turn practice • Draft Oral Report Outline

38. A Team’s Accreditation Recommendation is confirmed through: • Staff analysis of the team report • Advisory Committee review of the team report and staff analysis • Commission Committee review of the team report, staff analysis and Advisory Committee recommendations • MSA Commission on Secondary Schools and/or Commission on Elementary Schools action

39. The Team Visit ORGANIZATION TIME MANAGEMENT COMMUNICATION

40. Resources www.msa-cess.org Navigation Bar: click Volunteer, then… • Team Chair Resources • 2018-2019 Chair Welcome and Pre-Visit Materials • Letters to Team, Questionnaire, Sample Schedules and Writing Assignments • Team Information and Orientation • Emergency, Reimbursement, and PD Forms for Team Members • Concluding the Visit • Team Volunteer Resources • Standards Workbook and Interview Guide • Team Member Guide

41. Resources & Maintaining Confidentiality • MSA Office Contacts • Domestic Visits: David Sisbarro and Jeremy Basescu • International Visits: Kelly Christian and David Sisbarro • Caribbean Visits: Augusto Hernandez • All Other inquiries • Accreditation Officer responsible for the school

42. Resources & Maintaining Confidentiality • Emergency situations after normal business hours that would jeopardize the Team’s ability to complete the visit, please reach out to your MSA contact • Maintain confidentiality

43. Before the Visit(Getting Started) • The Chair Invitation • The Chair’s Response • Chair Confirmation Letter • Dates of Team Visit • School Contact Information • Chair Checklist of Activities (Getting Started)

44. Before the Visit • Contact with Team Members • Your Team Roster • Team Member Questionnaire (Getting Started) • Do not wait until all team members are confirmed to make a contact • Contact with the School • Pre Visit either personally or electronically • Verifies school’s readiness to host the visit • Any concerns contact MSA immediately

45. Before the Visit Develop a Team Visit schedule (Getting Started) • Draft schedule prior to pre-visit (sample in Chair Materials) • Ask the school to revise, as needed, to be responsive to the school’s schedule • Insert Team Member assignments when schedule is finalized

46. Before the Visit Team Writing Assignments (Getting Started) • Use results of team member questionnaires • Sample assignments in Chair Materials • Notify team members of assignments prior to first day of visit

47. Before the Visit Team Writing Assignments Chair is generally responsible for: • Context of the School • Review of Foundation Documents • Mission Standard • Oral Report • Final Written Report

48. Summary of Resourceswww.msa-cess.org Volunteer Organization Materials Chair Welcome and Pre-Visit Materials • Chair Materials Guide • Information on Report Template Choice • Pre-Visit Checklist for Chair of Visiting Team • Documents and Evidence Regarding the Standards Letters to Team, Questionnaire, Sample Schedules and Writing Assignments • First Letter to Team • Second Letter to Team • Team Questionnaire • Sample Visit Schedule #1 • Sample Visit Schedule #2 • Sample DOF Team Writing Assignments • Sample ExBD Team Writing Assignments Team Information and Orientation • Agenda for Orientation and Training • Team Member Orientation • For Reference Only – Chair Training • Glossary of Terms for Decision Making • Team Member Guide • Standards Workbook and Interview Guide • Decision Makers Handbook Emergency, Reimbursement, and PD Forms for Team Members • Professional Development Forms • Emergency Form • Expense Reimbursement Form Concluding the Visit • Sample Oral Report • Instructions for Sending Draft Team Report • Team Report Templates (this should match protocol selected by the school for self-study) See Member Resources • Team Report Templates • Team Report Template (segmented and single document format) • Example of Completed Team Report • For Reference Only – Self-Study Template • Self-Study Template

49. During the Visit Orienting the Team Members • Introductions • Focus of Team Visit • Arrival at accreditation recommendation • Generating a completed Team Report • Schedule • Writing Assignments

50. During the Visit Meeting Schedule • Follow schedule throughout visit/revise in consultation with school • Classroom visits are informal • Maintain positive professional demeanor • Resist the temptation to give “consult”