Glossary
Accreditation- Accreditation is a voluntary process whereby
a school commits to continuous school improvement and evaluation by peers.
Accredited status indicates that a school has clearly defined appropriate
objectives, has established conditions under which they can be achieved,
is working toward achieving the objectives now, and should be able to
continue to do so for the foreseeable future.
Action Plans- A detailed set of methods, in specific detail, on how
the school will achieve its objectives and realize its mission. Effective action
plans include specific activities to be implemented, each with a timeline,
a responsible person/group, resources (time, money, staff, etc.) needed, and
evaluation/indicators of success. They describe the means to reach the ends—the
objectives.
Action Planning Team- One or two committees of school and community
stakeholders charged with the responsibility for designing complete and effective
action plans with all key components. Action Planning Teams usually present
their recommended action plans to the Planning Team for approval. Often, there
is an Action Planning Team for each Accreditation for Growth objective.
Accreditation for Growth Self-Study Document- The document that is
prepared in advance of the Validation Team visit and is forwarded to the Chair,
all team members and the Middle States office. Includes information on A: Context
of the Institution, B: Self-Assessment of the MSA Standards for Accreditation,
C: The Planning Process, and D: The Content of the Plan. Also includes the
Validation Team visit schedule and school floor plan.
Annual Review Process- A process used to evaluate the progress made
during the past year in implementing action plans and in meeting the student
performance objectives and mission. The review of progress leads to the school
making adjustments to the plan to increase success during the next year.
Beliefs- Belief statements are the formal expression of a school’s
fundamental values and serve as its ethical code. Beliefs describe the moral
and ethical character of a school, the compass that guides all activities of
the organization. They express the school’s overriding convictions, its
inviolate commitments. They are statements of convictions, not statements of
fact. They outline what members of the school community are willing to “go
to the mat” defending. Beliefs are the ultimate “why” behind
every action.
Implementation Team- One or two committees of school and community
stakeholders charged with the responsibility of coordinating the implementation
of the action plans, monitoring progress, and providing progress reports to
the Planning Team and to the institution and community on a periodic basis.
Internal Coordinator(s)- An individual or individuals chosen from the school staff to coordinate all activities associated with the Accreditation for Growth process. This includes assisting the principal/school head in selecting Planning Team members, organizing and carrying out the planning process, and working with the Implementation Team(s) in carrying out action plans. The internal coordinators at Cairo American College are Peter Duckett and Kay El Samahy.
Mid-Point Review- The on-site visit that takes
place at the mid-point of the seven-year accreditation
term. The purpose of the mid-point review is to assess
the progress made by the school in achieving its student
performance objectives.
Mission- The mission is a clear concise statement identifying the
school’s audience, its action, its aim, and its unique identity. The
mission defines why the school exists and describes both what the school
is and is striving to become. The mission is the foundation of the entire
plan and the primary focus of the organization. While the mission acknowledges
reality, it must aspire to the ideal and reflect the vision of the Planning
Team and school community the Planning Team represents.
Objectives- Objectives are the desired,
measurable, end results in student performance that the school is striving
to reach. They state the Planning Team’s commitment to achieve specific,
measurable end results for students. Objectives must include measures of
time, quantity, and/or quality. They spring from and define the mission in
specific detail. Cairo American College has identified three measurable student
objectives.
Planning Team- The Planning Team is a group of
stakeholders representing a cross section of the entire school and community.
They are responsible for developing the school’s mission, beliefs,
objectives and action plans. The Planning Team sets the direction of the
plan and establishes priorities.
Protocol- A detailed plan of a procedure. Cairo American College
has chosen the AFG protocol for accreditation.
Standards- The Middle States Association standards
(total of 12) are based on research and reflect best practices. They serve
as a qualitative guide of what should be in place in an accredited school.
In the traditional accreditation protocol (plan) that has been done at Cairo
American College in the past, standards review was the main part of the process.
With AFG, there is a general assumption that overall the standards are in
place, so the focus shifts to improving student performance. The standards
provide the foundation for student performance objectives and specific action
plan strategies that will be developed next school year. Therefore, it is
essential to know to what degree the standards are met before the objectives
and actions plans are established.
Standards Review- Middle States Association (MSA) highly recommends
that a standards review takes place early in the AFG process. Through the
use of surveys, information will be gathered regarding our school’s
strengths and areas for growth. This can provide helpful background information
as the school will be identifying student performance objectives and designing
action plans to address these objectives. A wide variety of stakeholders
(teachers, staff, parents, students, etc.) will be asked for their input.
Schools using the AFG protocol are accredited on the basis of their growth
in student performance, in addition to meeting MSA’s 12 accreditation
standards.
Stakeholders- Stakeholders are those individuals who have a stake
in the success of the school and, therefore, have a need to participate in
charting the direction of the school. Stakeholder groups include: support
staff, administration, board members, parents, students, community members,
alumni, and others interested in the growth and progress of the school.
Validation Team- The Validation Team is a team of professional educators
appointed by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. The Validation
Team visits the school to evaluate the planning process and the content of
the plan and to determine whether the school meets and is maintaining Middle
States standards.
Website: The website for Middle States Association of Colleges
and Schools is: http://www.css-msa.org/
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