AdvancED International Summit 2012

You are not too late to register for the AdvancED International Summit 2012!  Themed Creating the Future: Accelerating Excellence, the Summit will take place June 24-26, 2012 in Washington, D.C. This international event will engage state and federal leaders, national education heads, and policymakers in an exploration of strategies to design effective future learning systems.  For additional details and registration, please visit the AdvancED Summit event page.

Accreditation Pride

We want to help you display your pride in your school’s or system’s achievement by providing you with an accreditation seal that you can display.  Schools and systems that have achieved accreditation through the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI) can obtain the latest accreditation seal to display at their school or school system.  These seals supersede the use of prior AdvancED or NCA CASI logos or seals that may have been used in the past and should be used in all marketing materials moving forward. 

AdvancED developed a Communications Kit tailored especially for schools and school systems to promote their accreditation in their community.  In this kit, you can find the seal along with other resources and tools to help you spread the word about your commitment and dedication to student achievement.  If you are unsure how to access the Communications Kit for the accreditation seals, press release templates, and accreditation brochures, contact your state office.  Don’t delay; start using these tools today.

New Accreditation Components Launched

AdvancED recently launched the new AdvancED Accreditation Protocol and new components for the AdvancED Adaptive System of School Improvement Support Tools (ASSIST).  These tools and protocols, coupled with the AdvancED Accreditation Standards launched last fall, mark a new generation of accreditation and school improvement.  The new AdvancED Protocol creates a stronger alignment between internal and external diagnostic review, stakeholder feedback, and student performance results.  The result is a performance-based accreditation process that provides each institution with a comprehensive analysis to drive continuous improvement. 

Additional components of ASSIST also have been released.  In addition to the school improvement planner launched last fall, ASSIST now provides the tools to guide your next internal and external review for accreditation, including Surveys, Student Performance Diagnostic, and Stakeholder Feedback Diagnostic tools. 

If you will be hosting an External Review (formerly Quality Assurance Review) in 2012-13, you are required to use ASSIST to submit a Self-Assessment, Executive Summary, and Assurances.  As in the past, you will continue to be required to submit a school improvement plan.  ASSIST offers a high quality school improvement planner, or you may submit an existing plan by attaching it in the Assurances section of ASSIST.

Even if you don’t have an External Review scheduled in the coming year, you can begin exploring and using the new offerings.  If you have questions about the AdvancED Accreditation Standards, Accreditation Protocol, or ASSIST, please contact our office.

Schedule Your School's External Review

Schools required to host External Reviews in the 2012 – 2013 school year were sent notifications in early April. Please submit your preferred two-day timeframes* to the AdvancED Illinois state office if you have not done so already. Once we receive your preferences, our office will work with you to schedule and confirm your school’s External Review.  Please contact Becky Densmore at bstoll@advanc-ed.org if you have questions or require assistance.

Note:  First day of the External Review must begin on either a Monday or Wednesday.

Preparing to Host Your External Review – Training Opportunity
The AdvancED Illinois State Office has scheduled training for schools hosting their External Reviews in 2012-2013.

IL - AdvancED Accreditation for Schools - 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Multi University Center in Oak Brook  

IL - AdvancED Accreditation for Schools - Collinsville  - 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 a.m., Double Tree Hotel

Training highlights include:

• Overview of AdvancED Protocol and New Standards for schools
• External Review Preparation and Schedule (what’s expected)
• How to Access ASSIST
• Stakeholder Diagnostics and Surveys
• Student Performance Data
• Improvement Plan Overview
• Components of the Accreditation Decision: Organizational Performance, Student Performance, and Stakeholder Perceptions

Please be sure to register early as seats are limited. If you require assistance, please contact the state office.

AdvancED External Review Chair Training

The AdvancED Illinois State Office is scheduled to host training for External Review Chairs on August 1 and 2, 2012 at the Double Tree Hotel in Collinsville.  The External Review Team Chair coordinates the review at the school being visited and writes the final External Review report.  Requests for training are being accepted at this time. Please send your request to Becky Densmore.  Due to the new AdvancED Protocol, Standards, and Procedures, all current Chairs must attend the training to remain qualified to serve as a Chair beginning the 2012–2103 school year.