WASC The Five W’s and more…. What’s WASC? WASC Western Association of Schools and Colleges One of six private, non-profit, regional accrediting associations

WASCWASC

The Five W’s and more…

The Five W’s and more…

What’s WASC?What’s WASC?

WASCWestern Association of Schools and Colleges

WASCWestern Association of Schools and Colleges

One of six private, non-profit, regional accrediting associations in the United States

Provides assistance to schools located in California, Hawaii, Pacific Islands, and East Asia

Recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education Comprised of three commissions

Colleges and Universities Junior Colleges K-12 Schools

Works directly with the California Department of Education (CDE)

One of six private, non-profit, regional accrediting associations in the United States

Provides assistance to schools located in California, Hawaii, Pacific Islands, and East Asia

Recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education Comprised of three commissions

Colleges and Universities Junior Colleges K-12 Schools

Works directly with the California Department of Education (CDE)

What’s WASC Accreditation?What’s WASC Accreditation?

SIX YEARS: Six years with a written midterm Progress Report

SIX YEARS WITH A REVIEW: Six years with a complete midterm Progress Report and a one-day, on-site review by a two-member committee to be completed no later than the third year of the six year term

THREE YEARS: Three years with a Progress Report and a two-day visit as a requisite to continued accreditation

ONE OR TWO YEARS: One or two years with a complete Progress Report and revisit to serve as a warning that unless prompt attention is given to the critical areas or major recommendations, accreditation may be denied

DENIAL OF ACCREDITATION: Denial of accreditation is based on conditions detailed in the Visiting Committee Report

SIX YEARS: Six years with a written midterm Progress Report

SIX YEARS WITH A REVIEW: Six years with a complete midterm Progress Report and a one-day, on-site review by a two-member committee to be completed no later than the third year of the six year term

THREE YEARS: Three years with a Progress Report and a two-day visit as a requisite to continued accreditation

ONE OR TWO YEARS: One or two years with a complete Progress Report and revisit to serve as a warning that unless prompt attention is given to the critical areas or major recommendations, accreditation may be denied

DENIAL OF ACCREDITATION: Denial of accreditation is based on conditions detailed in the Visiting Committee Report

Leland’s Accreditation History:Leland’s Accreditation History:

-As a first year school in 1967, Leland received a three year accreditation.-In 1971, Leland received its first six year accreditation, and another one in 1976.-In 1983, Leland received a ten year accreditation. Ten year accreditation no longer exist.-In 1993, Leland received a three year accreditation. This was appealed, but denied.-In 1996, Leland received a six year accreditation.-In 2002, Leland received a six year clear accreditation.

-As a first year school in 1967, Leland received a three year accreditation.-In 1971, Leland received its first six year accreditation, and another one in 1976.-In 1983, Leland received a ten year accreditation. Ten year accreditation no longer exist.-In 1993, Leland received a three year accreditation. This was appealed, but denied.-In 1996, Leland received a six year accreditation.-In 2002, Leland received a six year clear accreditation.

What do we hope for in 2008?




Another six year clear accreditation…

Another six year clear accreditation…

Why do we have to “WASC”?

Why do we have to “WASC”?

And why should I care?And why should I care?

•In order for Leland to be recognized as a credible school, we need accreditation from a governing authority…WASC!

•In order for Leland to be recognized as a credible school, we need accreditation from a governing authority…WASC!

We want our students to graduate from a school that WASC and the California Department of Education have deemed a reputable school.

We want our students to graduate from a school that WASC and the California Department of Education have deemed a reputable school.

When is WASC?When is WASC?Visit: March 2-5, 2008Visit: March 2-5, 2008

Who is involved in the WASC process?

Who is involved in the WASC process?

EVERYONE WHO CARES ABOUT THE WELFARE OF OUR STUDENTS, THEIR LEARNING, AND THEIR EXPERIENCE AT LELAND (SHAREHOLDERS): STUDENTS, PARENTS, FACULTY, DISTRICT REPS., WASC REPS., AND CA DEPT. OF EDUCATION REPS.

EVERYONE WHO CARES ABOUT THE WELFARE OF OUR STUDENTS, THEIR LEARNING, AND THEIR EXPERIENCE AT LELAND (SHAREHOLDERS): STUDENTS, PARENTS, FACULTY, DISTRICT REPS., WASC REPS., AND CA DEPT. OF EDUCATION REPS.

WASC coordinator Leadership Team

Focus Groups Home Groups

Home GroupsHome Groups

DepartmentsSupport StaffStudentsParents

DepartmentsSupport StaffStudentsParents

Focus GroupsFocus Groups

• Focus groups are formed on the basis of covering five areas that WASC would like us to examine in regards to our own school:

A. Organization (Vision and Purpose, Governance, Leadership and Staff, and Resources)

B. Standards-based Student Learning: Curriculum

C. Standards-based Student Learning: Instruction

D. Standards-based Student Learning: Assessment and Accountability

E. School Culture and Support for Student Personal and Academic Growth

• Focus groups are formed on the basis of covering five areas that WASC would like us to examine in regards to our own school:

A. Organization (Vision and Purpose, Governance, Leadership and Staff, and Resources)





Focus GroupsFocus GroupsGood News!!!!

• We already have our focus groups…better yet, we’ve had them for years!

New American High School Committees:- Student Support (Audrey Makris)

- Technology and Staff Development (Gabe Roussere)

- Curriculum and Assessment (Victoria Kim)

- Facilities and Student Safety (Michelle O’Shea)

- Extended Support (Jennifer Touchton)

Good News!!!!

• We already have our focus groups…better yet, we’ve had them for years!

New American High School Committees:- Student Support (Audrey Makris)

- Technology and Staff Development (Gabe Roussere)

- Curriculum and Assessment (Victoria Kim)

- Facilities and Student Safety (Michelle O’Shea)

- Extended Support (Jennifer Touchton)

Focus GroupsFocus Groups• In other words, instead of creating new groups, we’ve

assigned a focus area to each NAHS committee:

A. Organization (Vision and Purpose, Governance, Leadership and Staff, and Resources) --> Extended Support (Jennifer Touchton)


--> Curriculum and Assessment (Vicki Kim)


--> Technology and Staff Development (Gabe Roussere)


--> Facilities and Student Safety (Michelle O’Shea)


--> Student Support (Audrey Makris)

• In other words, instead of creating new groups, we’ve assigned a focus area to each NAHS committee:

A. Organization (Vision and Purpose, Governance, Leadership and Staff, and Resources) --> Extended Support (Jennifer Touchton)


--> Curriculum and Assessment (Vicki Kim)


--> Technology and Staff Development (Gabe Roussere)


--> Facilities and Student Safety (Michelle O’Shea)


--> Student Support (Audrey Makris)

NAHS Committee

Sci SS Eng Math

SupportStaffStudent(s)Parent(s)

Elective

D.O.

School Board

Focus Group Members

Where will WASC reps look to find information

about Leland?

Where will WASC reps look to find information

about Leland?

Where?Where?Self-study report (five chapters):

I) Student/Community Profile - Data and Findings

II) Student/Community Profile - Overall Summary from Analysis of Profile Data

III) Progress Report

IV) Self-study Findings

V) Action Plan On campus during the visit (they will visit every classroom & teacher and will meet with home and focus groups)

Self-study report (five chapters):

I) Student/Community Profile - Data and Findings

II) Student/Community Profile - Overall Summary from Analysis of Profile Data

III) Progress Report

IV) Self-study Findings

V) Action Plan On campus during the visit (they will visit every classroom & teacher and will meet with home and focus groups)

How can we prepare for the WASC visit?

How can we prepare for the WASC visit?To get to the “how” we need to know what our objectives are…To get to the “how” we need to know what our objectives are…

Expected Outcomes of Self-StudyExpected Outcomes of Self-Study•Collaboration of all shareholders to support student achievement

•Clarification and measurement of expected school-wide learning results (Lifelong Learning Standards)

•Gathering and analyzing of data about students and achievement

•Assessment of the school program

•Alignment of long-range action plan

•Collaboration of all shareholders to support student achievement

•Clarification and measurement of expected school-wide learning results (Lifelong Learning Standards)

•Gathering and analyzing of data about students and achievement

•Assessment of the school program

•Alignment of long-range action plan



Get ready mentally for WASC (familiarize yourself with WASC process and terminology)Read the self-study reportPrepare to answer questions about Leland:

What kind of school is Leland?What are the strengths of Leland?What areas need improvement?Is Leland a learning community? Are parents actively involved with the school? Are students actively involved with the school (aside from class and homework)?

Get ready mentally for WASC (familiarize yourself with WASC process and terminology)Read the self-study reportPrepare to answer questions about Leland:

What kind of school is Leland?What are the strengths of Leland?What areas need improvement?Is Leland a learning community? Are parents actively involved with the school? Are students actively involved with the school (aside from class and homework)?

What have we (faculty and focus groups) already done to prepare

for this visit?

What have we (faculty and focus groups) already done to prepare

for this visit?-collaborated about schoolwide and department changes since the last WASC visit in focus groups and home groups

What have we already done to prepare for this visit?


-collaborated about schoolwide and department changes since the last WASC visit in focus groups and home groups

-looked at the midterm progress report and made appropriate revisions



-collaborated about schoolwide and department changes since the last WASC visit in focus groups and home groups-looked at the midterm progress report and made appropriate revisions-interviewed three students about Lifelong Learning Standards and how they are perceived by the respective student



-collaborated about schoolwide and department changes since the last WASC visit in focus groups and home groups-looked at the midterm progress report and made appropriate revisions-interviewed three students about Lifelong Learning Standards and how they are perceived by the respective student-observed two colleagues with a focus on LLS’s.

The Visit

The Visit• March 2008

• WASC Visiting Committee (VC) Members: volunteers who are teachers, administrators, or students

• Four-day visit (Sunday-Wednesday)

The Visiting Committee• They will read the self-study that Leland has

written • One member will choose a section to focus

on, and will write a rough draft report on the focus group based on what they have read in the self-study

• The committee’s purpose is to VALIDATE the self-study report that we have submitted to them

Sunday• VC meets for the first time• VC meets Leland leadership team and gets

acquainted with our campus• VC meets with parent group (pre-selected members)• VC, leadership team, and parent group mingles at a

short reception that Leland provides (drinks and snacks)

• VC continues to work on their own in the evening to discuss issues, concerns, etc.

Monday

• VC meets Leland leadership team in the morning before school starts

• VC meets with focus groups (NAHS) for clarification and validation of self-study

• VC mingles with students during lunch to get a feel for school culture

• VC will meet with student group (pre-selected members)

• VC conducts classroom visits and teacher observations throughout the day (usually the goal is that every teacher will be visited by at least one VC member)

Tuesday

• VC meets Leland leadership team in the morning before school starts

• VC will continue with their focus group meetings and classroom observations

• VC mingles with students during lunch to get a feel for school culture

• VC will meet with classified staff• VC may also meet with a group of students that they

randomly select to have an “unscripted” discussion with about Leland (ad hoc student committee)

• VC will also meet with district office and school board members (to discuss school from an administrative perspective)

Wednesday

• VC meets Leland leadership team in the morning before school starts --> this is when the VC typically gives the leadership team a rough draft of their report

• VC conducts final classroom visits and teacher observations (if they have missed anyone or would like to see further evidence of effective teaching practices)

• VC meets with leadership team to discuss draft of findings from their visit

• Leadership team works on drafting an action plan based on the VC findings

• VC finishes final edits and produces a final draft of their report• VC meets with school to report strengths, weaknesses, and advice for

all stakeholders in improving the school (ALL STAKEHOLDERS ARE INVITED TO THIS MEETING)

• VC leaves - no more discussion with VC --> they exit the building before anyone has a chance to talk to them

WASC Visitation Schedule at Leland

WASC Visitation Schedule at Leland

Sunday, March 2nd

3:30-4:30 Leadership Team Meeting: WASC Visiting Committee (VC) meets with Leland leadership team (at Leland) to clarify issues in the self-study and explain

the process for the visit. If time permits, the VC will tour the campus

4:30-5:30 Parent Meeting:WASC VC meets with the parent group to discuss report and perceptions about Leland (from a parent perspective)

5:30-6:00 Reception:VC, parents, and leadership team will casually mingle; Leland

will provide drinks and snacks

***VC will have dinner on their own every night during this visit***

Sunday, March 2nd

3:30-4:30 Leadership Team Meeting: WASC Visiting Committee (VC) meets with Leland leadership team (at Leland) to clarify issues in the self-study and explain

the process for the visit. If time permits, the VC will tour the campus

4:30-5:30 Parent Meeting:WASC VC meets with the parent group to discuss report and perceptions about Leland (from a parent perspective)

5:30-6:00 Reception:VC, parents, and leadership team will casually mingle; Leland

will provide drinks and snacks

***VC will have dinner on their own every night during this visit***

WASC Visitation ScheduleWASC Visitation ScheduleMonday, March 3rd

7:15-7:50 a.m. Leadership Team Meeting: Discuss perceptions & clarify findings.

8:00 - 9:45 Focus Group Meeting: Vision, Organization & Leadership (Extended Support - Jennifer Touchton)

10:15 – 12:00 Focus Group Meeting: Curriculum (Curriculum - Vicki Kim)

12:00 – 12:30 VC mingles with students & staff during their lunch

12:40 – 1:35 Student Committee Meeting: WASC VC meets with the student group to discuss report and perceptions about Leland (from a student

perspective)

1:40 – 3:15 Focus Group Meeting: Instruction (Technology - Gabe Roussere)

4:00 – 6:00 Transformation Board Meeting ***VC members will make classroom observations throughout the day***

Monday, March 3rd


8:00 - 9:45 Focus Group Meeting: Vision, Organization & Leadership (Extended Support - Jennifer Touchton)

10:15 – 12:00 Focus Group Meeting: Curriculum (Curriculum - Vicki Kim)


12:40 – 1:35 Student Committee Meeting: WASC VC meets with the student group to discuss report and perceptions about Leland (from a student

perspective)

1:40 – 3:15 Focus Group Meeting: Instruction (Technology - Gabe Roussere)

4:00 – 6:00 Transformation Board Meeting ***VC members will make classroom observations throughout the day***

WASC Visitation ScheduleWASC Visitation ScheduleTuesday, March 4th


8:00 - 9:45 Focus Group Meeting: Assessment and Accountability (Facilities and Student Safety - Michelle O’Shea)

10:05 - 11:00Ad Hoc Student Committee Meeting

10:15 – 12:00 Focus Group Meeting: School Culture and Support (Student Support - Audrey Makris)


12:35 – 1:35 VC meets with Administration and Classified Staff

2:25 – 4:00 VC meets with Superintendent and District Office Staff

***VC members will make classroom observations throughout the day***

Tuesday, March 4th


8:00 - 9:45 Focus Group Meeting: Assessment and Accountability (Facilities and Student Safety - Michelle O’Shea)

10:05 - 11:00Ad Hoc Student Committee Meeting

10:15 – 12:00 Focus Group Meeting: School Culture and Support (Student Support - Audrey Makris)


12:35 – 1:35 VC meets with Administration and Classified Staff

2:25 – 4:00 VC meets with Superintendent and District Office Staff


WASC Visitation ScheduleWASC Visitation ScheduleWednesday, March 5th


8:00 - 11:20VC works on completing draft report of visitation

12:00 - 1:00Leadership Team Meeting and Working Lunch: Discuss draft of findings

1:05 – 2:30 VC finishes report of visitation while Leadership Team works on draft of action plan based on VC’s findings

2: 45 – 3:15 VC meets with entire staff/community members/students to report findings from their visitation


Wednesday, March 5th


8:00 - 11:20VC works on completing draft report of visitation

12:00 - 1:00Leadership Team Meeting and Working Lunch: Discuss draft of findings

1:05 – 2:30 VC finishes report of visitation while Leadership Team works on draft of action plan based on VC’s findings

2: 45 – 3:15 VC meets with entire staff/community members/students to report findings from their visitation


Documents

WASC The Five W’s and more…. What’s WASC? WASC Western Association of Schools and Colleges One of six private, non-profit, regional accrediting associations