AdvancED District Accreditation Standards Assessment Report

1. AdvancEDDistrict Accreditation Standards Assessment Report TUSCALOOSA COUNTY SCHOOLS Where Students Learn, Grow, and Achieve

2. Tuscaloosa County Schools • 18 Elementary Schools • 8 Middle Schools • 6 High Schools • 1 Regional Education Center • 11 Title I Schools • 18,000 Students • 45% Free/Reduced Lunch • 68% White • 32 % Non-White • 2,053 Employees • Ninth Largest in State

3. Revenue

4. Expenditures

5. Major Trends Impacting System • The Lighthouse Project • Adopt-A-School Program • Alabama Reading Initiative • Alabama Math, Science, and Technology Initiative • Aspiring Administrators’ Academy • Holt Community Partnership • Career Technical Education • Growth Patterns/New Schools • Technology Improvements

6. Strengths • Leadership • Teacher Quality • Stakeholder Collaboration • Challenging Curriculum • Recruitment • Community Partnerships • Continuous Improvement Process

7. Needs • Financial Stability • Continued Improvement in Special Education • Continued Progress in Reading and Math • Increase Graduation Rate

8. Benefits of TCSS District Accreditation • Common language of school improvement • Continuity and collaboration • Validation and recognition for improvement efforts • System-wide approach to achieving results • Alignment and coordination of all schools in the district • Internationally recognized mark of quality

9. A School System not a System of Schools School Vision, Mission, Beliefs District Vision, Mission, Beliefs District Improvement Plan School Improvement Plan

10. Process • Submitted Letter of Interest • Hosted Readiness Visit • Submitted letter of commitment • Approved for Candidacy • Standards Training • Established District Leadership Team • Established Standards’ Teams • New Vision, Mission, Beliefs • Collected Evidence and Evaluated Standards • Completed SAR • Host QAR team

11. TCSS Standards’ Team Leaders 1. Vision and Purpose/District Facilitator: Dr. Kathy Hilliker 2. Governance and Leadership: Dr. Steve Benson 3. Teaching and Learning/District Facilitator: Mrs. Amanda Cassity 4. Documenting and Using Results: Mrs. Andrea Hamner and Mrs. Gwen Harper 5. Resources and Support Systems: Mr. Pat Conner and Mrs. Ruth Graves 6. Stakeholder Communications and Relationships: Mr. John Merrill 7. Commitment to Continuous Improvement: Dr. Barbara Spencer and Mrs. Pat Johnson Hospitality: Ms. Connie Clements

12. Standard 1: Vision & Purpose The district establishes and communicates a shared purpose and direction for improving the performance of students and the effectiveness of the district.

13. Indicators

14. Overall Assessment: Operational • Surveyed stakeholders regarding instructional beliefs • Reviewed previous Vision, Mission, Beliefs • Created new Vision, Mission, Beliefs • Continuous Improvement Plans • The Lighthouse Project • Parent/Student Information Guide • State of the Schools Address • TCSS Website

15. Standard 2: Governance & Leadership The system provides governance and leadership that promote student performance and system effectiveness.

16. Indicators

17. Overall Assessment: Operational • Establishment of Policies and Procedures • Communication of Policies • Implementation of Policies • Data Collection: State Tools • Data Collection: System Tools • Data Analysis • District Decision-Making • Equity

18. Standard 3: Teaching & Learning The system provides researched-based curriculum and instructional methods that facilitate achievement for all students.

19. Indicators

20. Overall Assessment: Operational • Alignment and Articulation of Curriculum, Instructional Strategies, and Assessments • Alabama Course of Study • System pacing guides and curriculum maps • Variety of assessments • Summative and formative • Local, state, national levels • Data Meetings

21. Research-based Instructional Strategies, Innovative Activities • The Lighthouse Project • Response to Instruction/Problem-solving Teams • Strategic Teaching/Alabama Reading Initiative • Continuous Improvement Plans • UA/UWA Inservice Center • PD for Administrators

22. Support and Implementation of Expectations for Student Learning • PD Systemwide, State, and School • Teacher Mentors • Horizontal and vertical teaming • TCSS Literary Framework • AMSTI, ASIM, ARI • Collaboration with UA • Aspiring Administrators Academy

23. Access to Comprehensive Information, Instructional Technology, and Media Services • Guidance services • Career Technical programs • Programs for At-Risk students • Technology • STI Home; School Messenger; ACCESS, New Century, extensive network • Alabama Course of Study Tech standards • ESL Program

24. Standard 4: Documenting & Using Results The system effects a comprehensive assessment program that monitors and documents performance and uses these results to improve student performance and school effectiveness.

25. Indicators

26. Overall Assessment: Highly Functional • Assessment system is used to guide analysis of changes in student performance • State summative assessments • Formative assessments • Instructional tools • Evaluative tools

27. Test results are analyzed and communicated in a timely, relevant manner in order to aid the performance of individual students • Results are shared with the system, schools, and stakeholders

28. Data is used to understand and improve overall effectiveness of the school system and its schools • System performance • School performance • Class performance • Individual student performance • Continuous Improvement Plans • Response to Instruction

29. The system and schools are trained to understand and use data to impact teaching and learning in the classroom • Alabama Reading Initiative • Alabama Math Science Technology Initiative • Strategic teaching training • Monthly principals’ meeting • Grade level meeting • State department webinars

30. Standard 5: Resource & Support Systems The system has the resources and services necessary to support its vision and purpose and to ensure achievement for all students.

31. Indicators

32. Overall Assessment: Operational • Human Resources • Maintains, employs, and mentors qualified professional and support staff adhering to all federal and state regulations • Placement of professional and support staff based on system needs and qualifications • Provides professional development to all faculty and staff • Staff is sufficient to meet the vision and purpose of the school system

33. Financial Resources • Provides long range budgetary planning and annually budgets sufficient resources to support programs and plans for improvement • Provides financial safeguards and auditing

34. Physical Resources • Provides a safe, orderly, healthy environment at all facilities • Implements written security and crisis management plans • Provides appropriate maintenance of facilities • Provides an up to date technology infrastructure and equipment to meet system needs • Meets the health, counseling, nutrition, safety, co-curricular, and transportation needs of students through support services • Coordinates student support services with school, home, and community

35. Standard 6: Stakeholder Communications & Relationships The system fosters communications and relationships with and among its stakeholders.

36. Indicators

37. Overall Assessment: Operational • Collaboration with Stakeholders: Media, Adopt-A-School, Chamber of Commerce, The University of Alabama, Stillman College, Shelton State College, ACER, Parent Leadership Academy, Tuscaloosa’s One Place, SAC • Communication: School Messenger, TCSS Website, School Websites, State of the Schools Address, System Newsletter, Media

38. Standard 7: Commitment to Continuous Improvement The system establishes, implements, and monitors a continuous process of improvement that focuses on student achievement.

39. Indicators

40. Overall Assessment: Operational • Process for Continuous Improvement • Collaborative, ongoing self-analysis • Utilization of all data sources • System wide teams for advancing common curricula, common assessments and leadership training • Goals aligned with vision and purpose • Engagement of stakeholders • Focus on student learning • Data analysis

41. Professional Development and Technical Assistance • Research-based learning opportunities • CIP reflections • Administrative surveys • New Teacher Training • UA/UWA In-service Center • Professional Learning Communities

42. Implementation, Monitoring, and Communication of Improvement Plan • Cluster meetings • Website postings • Advisory councils • Community communication, participation, and engagement

43. Quality Assurance Methods • The Lighthouse Project • Continuous Improvement Plans/Reviews • District Improvement Plan • System Title I Plan • ARI/AMSTI Partnerships • Professional Development • Technology • District Leadership Team • Stakeholder Communication

44. Themes • Improved instruction is our most important goal. • Communication is found across the system and in the community. • Community support emerged across the standards. • Lack of financial resources must not lower expectations for instruction and student achievement.

45. Insights • Curriculum and instruction must be the system’s focus regardless of financial status • Continue to reflect and evaluate system’s strengths and challenges • Identify global goals for the system and update the strategic plan based on the District Accreditation self-assessment and The Lighthouse Project