April 2006

New accreditation process gets underway

 
As charged by the 2004 Legislature, South Dakota is embarking on a new accreditation process for school districts.

This new model uses the existing system of mandatory checks as its foundation. It also adds a performance-based element, in the form of a district improvement plan, which many districts already have. In addition, the new process will require an onsite visit by peer review teams every five years.

“The current accreditation process requires that schools submit a set of data regarding staffing, school safety and other issues,” explained Jennifer Neuhauser, assistant director, Office of Accreditation and Teacher Quality. “While those safeguards are necessary, they do not address performance.”

By requiring an improvement plan, the new accreditation process helps to ensure that districts constantly plan for the future and monitor their progress. “Many of them already do this on a regular basis,” Neuhauser said.

Some districts that currently have improvement plans in place have expressed concern about having to start from scratch. The department typically will not ask districts to re-create the wheel when it comes to improvement plans. In fact, the department is developing a list of models currently being used (eg., North Central Association) that will fit the improvement plan requirement. Currently, 156 schools and 75 districts across the state are approved through North Central Association.

The South Dakota Board of Education approved administrative rules regarding the new accreditation process in March 2005. As the state moves forward with implementing the new process, school leaders can expect guidelines from the Department of Education. Please watch for a mailing regarding this issue in the next few months.

To view the administrative rules regarding school district accreditation, go to the Legislative Research Council’s Web site. Click on “Administrative Rules” and type in “24:43” in the Rule box.

For more information about accreditation, contact Jennifer Neuhauser at (605) 773-4774. jennifer.neuhauser@state.sd.us

 

secretary's column
upcoming events
past issues
printable version
main page

The Department of Education will monitor Dakota STEP administration for the first time this year.

Learn more >>>
Sign up to receive this newsletter!

Your email:

What accreditation can do for your district

There’s no doubt that accreditation is hard work, but it’s work that pays off in the long run. Below are some potential benefits of South Dakota’s new, more rigorous accreditation process.

  • Measures performance through multiple assessments over a period of time, not a one-shot image

  • Provides independent validation that a district is delivering quality education

  • Enhances a district’s image with parents and the public

  • Provides the opportunity for self-study and goal setting