HE TANDARD T SFrom the Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools Spring 2013 This is Not Your Father’s Accreditation! Message from the President Henry G. Cram Ed.D

Although the Middle States Association celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2012, tradition has not kept the organization from keeping pace with changes in education or the accreditation landscape. Responding to the feedback from its members, the emergence of new educational venues and the growing demand for both accountability and improvement MSA’s accreditation protocols, procedures and new services are keeping pace. Middle States has redesigned its accreditation protocols to reflect a developmental sequence of accreditation processes designed to advance a school’s capacity for strategic planning and continuous school improvement. Believing that the INSIDE THIS ISSUE: accreditation process should be a professional development experience and improve a schools capacity for self-reflection, planning and improvement, the This is Not available protocols are matched to the schools developmental stage. Your Father’s Accreditation! The recommended protocol for initial accreditation (Designing Our Future) focuses more comprehensively on the traditional aspects of the accreditation Sustaining process establishing a baseline for the school and Middle States to measure Excellence: A New future growth. Subsequent accreditation protocols (Accreditation for Growth and Excellence by Design) are less prescriptive, build on the previous accreditation Protocol cycle and are designed to further improve the schools capacity for continuous reflection and growth. The new capstone protocol (Sustaining Excellence-see Spring 2013 related article) currently being piloted and scheduled for release in 2014 is an Accreditation action research project centered on a systemic improvement, the results of Actions which are to be shared with the larger educational community. MSA also offers a systems version of its accreditation process. Make Data Habit, not a Crisis Additionally, MSA has a credential program which allows schools with outstanding specialties to apply for recognition by MSA. These specialty credentials are John Plesha Moves currently available to accredited institutions for International Education, World Languages, Service Learning, Music, Visual Arts, 21st Century Skills, Guidance to the Golf Course! Services and Early Childhood Education (a STEM credential is being developed). The application process can also serve as an excellent program assessment instrument for schools looking for world class standards in the specialty areas. Our standards too are being revised (scheduled for release in late 2013) to reflect, within the traditional 12 standards, new and revised indicators for institutions that are proprietary, faith-based, distance learning, career and technical or serving students with special needs.

(continued on page 5) 1 Sustaining Excellence: A New Protocol

For schools effectively Excellence Protocol growing, improving, and must be committed to sustaining high levels of establishing and sustaining student performance, what a planning ethic within the is the next step in pursuing school and that it becomes continuous improvement? part of the school’s culture. Additionally, the protocol This was the question requires vision-driven buzzing through MSA- processes, continuous CESS Associate Director clarification of the school’s Art Albrizio’s mind as he mission, and long-term was driving back from strategic action plans visiting one of those “high that integrate programs, performance” schools. Mr. services, facilities, and Albrizio had recently been support to address the introduced to a protocol school’s growth objectives. used by the Elementary What is the next step Commission – “The in pursuing continuous Albrizio and his MSA- Project.” He began to think CESS colleagues believe that this protocol – with improvement? this protocol will serve as a some modifications and catalyst to empower school additions – would have merit for all schools. communities to dedicate resources to expanding and to raising student achievement. Consulting with colleagues, Albrizio enlisted their assistance in transforming “The Project” into an action “This is a more creative way of approaching and extending the concept of continuous improvement,” research protocol re-named, “Sustaining Excellence.” says Albrizio, “it is empowering the schools to engage The New Protocol students, faculty, administration, parents, local leaders in developing an initiative that will lead to quantifiable The Sustaining Excellence Protocol provides an improvement.” optional protocol to schools that have consistently demonstrated high levels of student performance or The Pilot Phase consistent growth in student achievement. MSA-CESS Albrizio says the Commission recruited schools envisions schools qualifying for this protocol as those it thought might be interested in participating in a that are not satisfied with the status quo. Sustaining pilot. MSA-CESS was looking for schools that had Excellence helps a school: a sustained history of accreditation a solid record of • Discover how current research informs efforts growth and performance. The response to the invitation to grow and improve an aspect of the school’s to become involved in the pilot was excellent and CESS educational program, services, and/or learning was able to engage a representative cross-section of environment; public, private, international and faith-based schools to • Develop a proposal for an action research participate in the pilot: project to demonstrate application of that • American Community School, Athens Greece research in the living laboratory of the school; • Central HS, Philadelphia • Implement the research project and • Christian Brothers Academy - NJ documenting the results of implementation; • Colegio de San Ignacio – San Juan, Puerto and, Rico • Share what was learned from the implementation • East Brunswick HS - NJ with the broader education community in the • High Technology HS/Monmouth County form of a colloquium. Vocational Schools-NJ • Holmdel High School - NJ Schools seeking accreditation by using the Sustaining • Julia R Masterman HS, Philadelphia

(continued on page 6) 2 Spring 2013 Accreditation Actions

Saint Jane Frances De Chantal School, At their Spring 2013 meetings, Easton, PA Accreditation Ten Years the Middle States Commissions on Saint John the Evangelist Catholic School, Mount Saint Joseph Academy, Flourtown, Elementary and Secondary Schools Bellefonte, PA PA took the following actions: Saint John Vianney School, Orchard Park, Shady Side Academy, , PA* NY Saint Luke School, Erie, PA Accreditation Seven Years Bangor Area High School, Bangor, PA Actions Taken by the Saint Malachy School, Coraopolis, PA Saint Michael School, Loretto, PA Calvert Hall College High School, Commission on Elementary Saint Patrick School, Bay Shore, NY Baltimore, MD Schools Saint Rose of Lima School, Altoona, PA Central Catholic High School, Pittsburgh, Saint Theresa School, New Cumberland, PA Accreditation Ten Years PA Christ the King Preparatory School, Haddonfield Friends School, Haddonfield, Saint Wendelin School, Butler, PA Newark, NJ NJ Saints Peter and Paul School, Beaver, PA Delone Catholic High School, Peck School (The), Morristown, NJ Sheridan School, Washington, DC McSherrystown, PA Emmaus High School, Emmaus, PA Accreditation Seven Years Twin Parks Montessori Schools, New York, NY Frederick Douglass High School, Upper Armenian Sisters Academy, Radnor, PA Villa Maria Academy, Immaculata, PA Marlboro, MD Children’s Learning Center at Morningside Frisch School (The), Paramus, NJ Heights (The), New York, NY Accreditation Six Years Gunston School (The), Centreville, MD Good Shepherd Catholic Regional School, Forcey Christian School, Silver Spring, MD Henry Snyder High School, Jersey City, NJ Ardsley, PA Holy Family Academy of Bayonne, Holy Redeemer School, Ellwood City, PA Accreditation Five Years Bayonne, NJ Holy Rosary School, Duryea, PA Bethany Christian School, Fort Lauderdale, Holy Redeemer High School, Wilkes- Holy Sepulcher School, Butler, PA FL Barre, PA Home Away From Home Academy, Blake School, Plantation (The), Plantation, Liberty High School, Eldersburg, MD Aberdeen, NJ FL Martin Luther School, Maspeth, NY* John H. Woodson Junior High School, Liberty Christian School, Owings Mills, MD MMI Preparatory School, Freeland, PA Kingshill, St. Croix, VI Rochester Christian School, Inc., Monsignor Scanlan High School, Bronx, Lititz Area Mennonite School, Lititz, PA Rochester, NY NY Nazareth Academy Grade School, North Shore Hebrew High School, Great Philadelphia, PA Accreditation Removal of Neck, NY North American Martyrs School, Stipulations Northside Urban Pathways Public Charter Monroeville, PA Chesterbrook Academy Elementary School, Pittsburgh, PA Northern Cambria Catholic School, School-West Chester, West Chester, PA Pinelands Regional High School, Nicktown, PA Mount Aetna Adventist Elementary School, Tuckerton, NJ Norwood-Fontbonne Academy, Hagerstown, MD Pinelands Regional Junior High School, Philadelphia, PA Tuckerton, NJ Our Lady of Good Counsel School, Probationary Accreditation Saint John’s College High School, Moorestown, NJ Centreville School, Centreville, DE Washington, DC Our Lady of Good Counsel School, Far Brook School, Short Hills, NJ Saint Joseph By-the-Sea High School, Southampton, PA Staten Island, NY245 Pilot School Incorporated (The), Recognition of Accreditation by Another Agency Saint Mary of the Assumption High School, Wilmington, DE Elizabeth, NJ Pinewood Christian Academy, Middleburg, Providence Heights Alpha School, Allison Saints Peter and Paul High School, Park, PA FL Easton, MD Qatar Academy Al-Khor, Qatar Additional Grades Salesianum School, Wilmington, DE Queen of Peace Elementary School, North Sleepy Hollow High School, Sleepy Hollow, Arlington, NJ American International School of Libreville, Gabon NY Red Balloon Day Care Center, New York, South Brunswick High School, Monmouth NY American International School of Lome, Togo Junction, NJ Saint Agnes Cathedral Elementary School, Syosset High School, Syosset, NY Rockville Centre, NY Hillcrest Christian Academy, Bethel Park, PA Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy, Saint Aloysius School, Pottstown, PA Elizabeth, NJ Saint Anne School, Bethlehem, PA International Community School, Abuja, Saint Anne’s School, Garden City, NY Nigeria Accreditation Five Years Saint Anselm School, Philadelphia, PA Orchard Friends School, Riverton, NJ Advantage Career Institute, Eatontown, Saint Boniface School, Kersey, PA NJ* Saint Charles Borromeo School, Chapelgate Christian Academy, Cinnaminson, NJ Actions Taken by the Marriottsville, MD Saint Edmund’s Academy, Pittsburgh, PA Commission on Secondary Saint Irenaeus School, Oakmont, PA Schools (continued on page 6) 3 Spring 2013 Accreditation Actions (continued)

(continued from page 5) Rye Country , Rye, NY Stipulations Colegio Evangelico Capitan Correa, Accreditation Remainder of Term Accreditation Seven Years Arecibo, PR , Boonton, NJ American School of Kuwait, Kuwait International School of Athens, Greece Cardinal Spellman High School, Bronx, NY American School of Valencia, Spain Lab School of Washington (The), Colegio San Jose Superior, Caguas, PR Antilles School, Saint Thomas, VI Washington, DC Elizabeth Seton High School, Bladensburg, Baldwin School of Puerto Rico, Bayamon, MD PR Accreditation Removal of Fairmont Heights High School, Capitol Benjamin Franklin International School, Probation Heights, MD Spain Huntingdon Valley Christian Academy, Saint Andrew’s School, Middletown, DE Chapel Hill Academy, Lincoln Park, NJ Huntingdon Valley, PA Page School, Colegio Calasanz, San Juan, PR Washington, DC Colegio San Conrado, Ponce, PR* Probationary Accreditation Commonwealth-Parkville School, San New International School, Japan Accreditation Removal of Juan, PR Stipulations Country Day School, Costa Rica Recognition of Accreditation Carson Long Military Academy, New Cupey Maria Montessori, San Juan, PR Alamance Christian School, Graham NC Bloomfield, PA Dostyk American International School, Evangelical Christian Academy, Madrid, Gonzaga College High School, Kazakhstan Spain Washington, DC Dupont Park Adventist School, International School of Choueifat-Doha Irvington High School, Frank H. Morrell Washington, DC (The), Doha, Qatar Campus, Irvington, NJ Hillcrest School, Nigeria Schaumburg Christian School, Our Saviour Lutheran School, Bronx, NY Kimberton Waldorf School, Kimberton, PA* Schaumburg IL Windsor School (The), Flushing, NY Lahore American School, Pakistan Wake Christian Academy, Raleigh NC Modern English School, Cairo, Egypt Award of Credentials-Music Removal of Accreditation Nardin Academy, Buffalo, NY Calvert Hall College High School, Clinton Christian School, Upper Marlboro Quakerbridge Computer Learning Service, Baltimore, MD E. T. Richardson Middle School, Lawrence, NJ Springfield, PA Saudi Aramco Schools, Saudi Arabia Probationary Accreditation Grant C. Madill Elementary School, SciCore Academy for Science and the ASaint Joseph High School, Frederiksted, Ogdensburg, NY Humanities, Hightstown, NJ VI Harvey C. Sabold Elementary School, Tatnall School (The), Wilmington, DE Springfield, PA Removal of Accreditation Villa Victoria Academy, Ewing, NJ John F. Kennedy Elementary School, Cape Henlopen High School, Lewes, DE West-Mont Christian Academy, Pottstown, Ogdensburg, NY Delcastle Technical High School, PA Lincoln School, Ogdensburg, NY Wilmington, DE Wilson Christian Academy, West Mifflin, PA Ogdensburg Free Academy, Ogdensburg, Dr. Charles E. Brimm Medical Arts High NY School, Camden, NJ Accreditation Six Years Scenic Hills Elementary School, Greenburgh-North Castle Union Free Huntington Learning Center DP0, Springfield, PA School District, Dobbs Ferry, NY Dunwoody, GA Sherman School, Ogdensburg, NY Middletown High School – South, Huntington Learning Center LZ0, Springfield High School, Springfield, PA Middletown, NJ Peachtree City, GA Huntington Learning Center PA1, Montgomery High School, Skillman, NJ *Accredited with Stipulations Springfield Township High School, Huntersville, NC Erdenheim, PA Huntington Learning Center VZ0, Wyomissing Area Junior - Senior High Wyomissing (Reading), PA Huntington Learning Center XR0, Tampa, School, Wyomissing, PA FL Recognition of Accreditation Kendall Park Learning Center, Kendall Bass Memorial Academy, Lumberton, MS Park, NJ Customized Education Design, Yakima, New Hope Christian Academy, Inc., WA Thomasville, NC Ibero High School, San Nicolas, Aruba Accreditation Five Years Calvary Christian Academy, Philadelphia, PA Actions Taken by the Commissions on Elementary Accreditation Remainder of Term and Secondary Schools American School of Barcelona, Spain Colegio Nuestra Senora de la Providencia, Accreditation Ten Years San Juan, PR American Creativity Academy, Kuwait Ursuline Academy, Wilmington, DE Loudonville Christian School, Loudonville, NY Accreditation Removal of 4 Make Data a Habit, not a Crisis

By Brian Bedrick Many schools spend a lot of time and effort gathering and reporting data to prepare for accreditation or re- accreditation. During the self-study period, schools compile data to demonstrate how well they are performing and the progress they are making towards their strategic objectives. For many schools, tracking down and compiling this data is a stressful event that requires a lot of energy. But there is a relatively simple way to significantly reduce that stress. Make data collection, reporting and analysis a part of your routine operations rather than a once every few years crisis.

When I help schools create online data dashboards, my first step is to walk the school through a process that helps them identify what data they should be collecting, how it can be regularly monitored, and how it can inform decision-making. The core elements of this process are: • Clarity - Align your data with your mission, vision and strategic goals. Review these guiding documents and determine what data will help you track how well you are doing. • Context - Display your data so that it ‘tells a story’. Establish a baseline and show trends over time. Compare yourself to world averages, peer schools or internal targets. Add a narrative that interprets and explains the raw data. • Consistency - Don’t design your metrics and reports and then forget about them. Use them in your staff and Board meetings. Keep constant metrics and formats so that people are instantly familiar with what they see. Review and analyze the data regularly so that it becomes a habit.

You don’t need a dashboard or other specialized tools to follow the basic principles described above, so anybody can do it. And these actions are closely aligned with the self-study process so if you do it now and practice it consistently, a major part of your self-study will already be done!

MSA-CESS realizes the value of this kind of thinking and is ‘walking the walk’ by using an online dashboard to track their own internal goals and objectives. The dashboard is reviewed regularly and is a valuable tool for monitoring progress, communicating results, and guiding decisions. So when MSA-CESS encourages you to use data as an integral part of your self-study and ongoing action plans, keep in mind they are following that same advice as well.;

Brian Bedrick is the Managing Director of Interactive Data Partners, a company dedicated to helping schools make more effective use of their data using dashboards and other data visualizations tools. Interactive Data Partners is an Associate Business Member of the Middle States Association.

This is Not Your Father’s Accreditation! (continued)

(continued from page 1) Regardless of how education is changing, we know that quality will continue to count and MSA is committed to be there to help schools grow, improve and change, and to recognize through our accreditation services educational quality wherever it exists. We are not your father’s accreditation! For more information about MSA services visit www.msa-cess.org and follow us on Facebook or on our blog ED CRED.; 5 John Plesha Moves to the Golf Course!

Dr. John Plesha, former MSA-CESS Associate Director, is still focused on education, despite his recent retirement – but now it’s his education and it’s related to his golf swing! Life’s a lot different for John now that he has retired to a golf course community in South Carolina after his 10 years at Middle States and his time before that as a high school principal. And, although he’s excited about the opportunity to “take the time to do things I never had time to do and relax for awhile,” John will miss Middle States. “Middle States is a group of very dedicated and determined professionals,” says John. “They are very interested in their jobs. They are self-motivated and determined to do the best they can for our members. They are friends as well as colleagues,” John explains, “and I’ll miss them.” while the other only completes18 of those 32 chapters!” John will be missed, too, by his colleagues and the He says that Middle States Accreditation makes a member schools with whom he worked for more than a school “constantly look at itself and get better. They’ll decade. As Rebecca Cunningham, Assistant Principal grow. They’ll ask themselves, ‘what kind of quality for Grades 9 and 10 at the Fox Chapel Area High programs are we offering, should we be offering?’ and School notes, “Having Dr. Plesha as a guide for the they will improve.” Middle States Accreditation process was extremely But John notes that much is dependent on the leadership valuable – his knowledge, expertise, and experience at the school in question. “Are they willing to do more on everything from the beginning orientation to the final than just sit on their past laurels and reputation at the recognition was treasured and respected by everyone school? They can’t be just a ‘maintainer’, they must on our team.” change and grow!” Despite retirement, John still strongly believes in Middle What’s next for this dedicated man? He says he’s ready States Accreditation. “Middle States brings credibility – for the next phase of his life, but he acknowledges that whether it’s a public or private school, it doesn’t matter. he “can’t golf all of the time”, and he has to be careful Your child takes Algebra II and gets all As at XYZ School to “not get on my wife’s nerves!” – is it the same as taking Algebra II and getting all As at ABC school? One school completes 28 of 32 chapters, Enjoy John!;

Sustaining Excellence: A New Protocol (continued)

(continued from page 2) • Magnet High School/Union County Vocational • North Hunterdon Regional HS - NJ Technical School – NJ • Rumson Country Day School - NJ • Marine Academy of Science and Technology/ • Saint Dominick’s Elementary School - PA Monmouth County Vocational Schools - NJ • Visitation Elementary School - PA • Marine Academy of Technology and Albrizio stresses that although the protocol is being Environmental Science/Ocean County piloted and not yet “public”, “early results have exceeded Vocational Schools - NJ our expectations.”;

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