Protocol for Public School Districts in the US
District accreditation indicates that a public school district has worked to align its practices within the district and with the NEASC Standards for Accreditation, which are used for are used for all three levels of public schools accredited by NEASC: elementary, middle, and high schools. District accreditation results in greater alignment and coherence across the district, including common goals, language, and a district-wide growth plan.
NEASC District Accreditation:
encourages greater K-12 alignment, including common goals, language, and strategic planning
promotes cohesiveness across the district
supports vertical articulation of curriculum for grades K-12 and targeted professional development
supports district initiatives and priorities
provides an understanding of and commitment to equity across schools and the district
reduces the time and the cost of accreditation
Process
Districts pursuing accreditation will use the same protocol developed for public schools, but the planning is personalized for each school district in order to facilitate a streamlined process and to accommodate the different sizes of districts and varying number of schools within them.
Regardless of size, the schools in a district work together on
- a single Self-Reflection completed by a committee drawn from each school and the central office
- a single Collaborative Conference held with a team of peer educators
- the development and implementation of a district-wide growth plan
- a reflective summary report
- a combined Decennial Accreditation Visit for all of the schools
This combined, collaborative approach eliminates the need for multiple separate visits and reports makes the district approach a much more viable option for many school systems.
We choose to enter into the accreditation process as a district because it strengthens the experience for students — there’s an alignment in their learning. Going through the process as a district helped all of us in the district see students’ learning journey as a trajectory from kindergarten through graduation: a common path through all their years with us.
- Gretchen McNulty, Former Superintendent of Schools, Falmouth Public Schools, ME
The award of District Accreditation signifies that the schools in the district have met the Standards for Accreditation at an acceptable level and are committed to maintain those Standards. Continued Accreditation is dependent upon the schools and the district demonstrating ongoing, reflective progress to improve teaching and learning and the support of teaching and learning within their schools throughout the K-12 continuum.