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School district reaches final accreditation process year

By Lauren Burdick
<lburdick@hilite.org>

What may seem like everyday and routine work for teachers and students means even more this year as all Carmel Clay Schools work toward earning accreditation as a school district for the first time.

This five-year process, conducted by the AdvancED Organization, measures school systems on seven standards: vision and purpose; governance and leadership; teaching and learning; documenting and using results; resources and support systems; stakeholder communications and relationships; and commitment to continuous improvement.

While all schools in the district sought accreditation separately for many years, this is the inaugural year the district has worked for total accreditation.

“Accreditation is about earning validation of a school district’s program based on standards and criteria by an outside organization,” Assistant Superintendent Dr. Jeff Swensson said. Representatives from AdvancED will visit Carmel Clay Schools from March 8 to 11, 2009 to evaluate the entire district.

Although students are ostensibly unaffected by the accreditation process, the certification impacts them in many ways.

“The curriculum gets better and better and improves, as it should, all the time,” said Swensson, who is in charge of the district’s curriculum, instruction and assessment.

Assistant Principal Ronda Eshleman said, “I think (accreditation) helps (students) when they’re applying for colleges. There aren’t that many districts that have gone through the accreditation process.”

Currently a District Accreditation Leadership Team is in place in the Carmel Clay Schools district, but the school is working toward a student team, similar to those which advise for textbook adoptions.

“I think it would be absolutely outstanding if members of the student government from (here) were part of the District Accreditation Leadership Team,” Swensson said. With the year still so young, he said there is still hope that students here will have a say in the progress of the district.

The accreditation of the school system will have a positive influence on both the teachers and students, according to Swensson. He said, “We think we can do a better job of excellence if we are working together as a K-12 school system.”

—

Accredited Courses for the 2008-09 year

• AP Biology
• AP Calculus AB
• AP Calculus BC
• AP Chemistry
• AP Comparative Government and Politics
• AP Computer Science A
• AP Computer Science AB
• AP English Language and Composition
• AP English Literature and Composition
• AP Environmental Science
• AP European History
• AP Human Geography
• AP Macroeconomics
• AP Microeconomics
• AP Physics B
• AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
• AP Physics C: Mechanics
• AP Psychology
• AP Statistics
• AP Studio Art: 2D Design
• AP Studio Art: 3D Design
• AP Studio Art: Drawing
• AP United States History
• AP U.S. Government and Politics
• AP World History

CARMELHIGHSCHOOL.NET / SOURCE

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