AdvancEd Accreditation

by Adam Kronberger / Head of School

The official results of the April AdvancEd Accreditation Visit were recently presented to the CCS School Board. While the accreditation visit, which occurs every five years, currently focuses on the high school, the results generally reflect the larger scope of the school on both campuses. During their visit, the accreditation team interviewed 17 students, 17 teachers and staff, 7 parents, and 7 board members from both CCS and Church on the Hill. At least 26 classroom sessions were also observed. As a result, the visitation team has recommended continued accreditation for CCS. As part of their review, the following standards and benchmarks were highlighted as strengths of our school community:
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• The governing authority adheres to a code of ethics and functions within defined roles and responsibilities. 
• The governing authority establishes and ensures adherence to policies that are designed to support institutional effectiveness. 
• Leaders implement staff supervision and evaluation processes to improve professional practice and organizational effectiveness. 
• The institution attracts and retains qualified personnel who support the institution’s purpose and direction. 
• The institution implements, evaluates and monitors processes to identify and address the specialized social, emotional, developmental and academic needs of students. 
• Learners demonstrate a congenial and supportive relationship with their teacher.
• Learners are supported by the teacher, their peers and/or other resources to understand content and accomplish tasks.
• Learners speak and interact respectfully with teacher(s) and each other.
• Learners demonstrate knowledge of and/or follow classroom rules and behavioral expectations and work well with others.
• Learners are actively engaged in the learning activities.
• Learners engage in activities and learning that are challenging but attainable.
• Learners use digital tools/technology to gather, evaluate and/or use information for learning.

The main areas of improvement suggested by the team focused on areas the school has already targeted for needed growth. The school is in its first year of transition from the TerraNova 3 standardized testing platform to the NWEA MAP platform. The new platform has less interruption to student instruction and provides data that is readily available for teachers to make adjustments to curriculum and individualized student learning. Student growth is also more accurately tracked and individual student growth data will be available to parents this coming fall. Another targeted area of growth is to expand the school’s leadership team in response to continuous growth in enrollment.  Adjustments in this area are already being made. In conclusion, perhaps the most notable remarks made by the visiting team are...

“A strong strength observed and heard often by team members is that CCS has a very supportive environment for students and adults. Students are happy to be at this school, and students and parents report feeling welcomed and safe. Finally, strengths observed and heard often is the CCS Discipleship Model based on: Discover – Develop – Deploy. The school leadership, teachers, school staff, students, and parents and community are committed to these goals as a part of their daily routine at CCS.” 
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– Adam Kronberger / Head of School