External Review Exit Report

Davidson County Schools

March 15-18, 2015

C. Stephen Oborn, Ph.D., Lead Evaluator

© 2014 AdvancED

AdvancED is the global leader in providing continuous improvement and accreditation

services to over 32,000 institutions serving 20 million students worldwide.

© 2014 AdvancED

AdvancED External Review Team

• Mrs. Stephanie Leonard, Smithfield, NC

• Mrs. Nan York, Asheboro, NC

• Dr. Lynette Graves, Asheboro, NC

• Ms. Lavonne McClain, Halifax, NC

• Mr. Tealy Williams, Avon Park, FL

• Ms. Donna Wear, Paducah, KY

• Ms. Beverly Crosby, Jacksonville, FL

• Dr. Steve Oborn, Lead Evaluator, Ocala, FL.

© 2014 AdvancED

Review Theme

• The Davidson County School System is a

system in transition and change,

developing student centered protocols, an

ethos of community and family, and

embracing the notion that all students will

be graduated future-ready and globally

competitive.

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What we Heard!

• Family

• Fairness

• Community

• Caring

• Moving Forward

• Visionary

• Professional

• Supportive

• Challenging

• Exceptional

• Talented

• Responsive

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What the team heard

• “Senior leadership has taken us from a culture of fear to collaboration.”

• “…striving for excellence.”

• “We are a community-a family”

• My kids love their teaches…they care.”

• “Going here [Davidson] is a sense of pride.”

• “…activities for every child every day.”

• “We work to be better everyday.”

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Accreditation

An international protocol for institutions committed to systemic, systematic and sustainable improvement

• Builds capacity of the system and its schools to increase and sustain student learning

• Stimulates and improves effectiveness and efficiency throughout the system

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External Review

A diagnostic process to stimulate and guide

continuous improvement with a focus on:

– Impact of teaching and learning

–Capacity of leadership

–Use of resources

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External Review

Professional judgment by the External Review

Team results in:

–Powerful Practices

–Opportunities for Improvement

– Improvement Priority

– Index of Education Quality

–Accreditation Recommendation

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Stakeholders

Stakeholder Interviewed Number

Superintendent 1

Board members 5

Administrators 57

Instructional staff 168

Support staff 37

Students 138

Parents 32

Total 438

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Teaching and Learning Impact

The External Review Team examined: • Student performance results

• instructional quality

• Learner and family engagement

• Support services for student learning

• Curriculum quality and efficacy

• College and career readiness data

Domain

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Opportunity for Improvement

Indicator 3.4

Research and implement a policy that

provides for a formal process designed to

consistently monitor instructional practices

through supervision and evaluation

procedures beyond classroom observations

to ensure student success.

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Opportunity for Improvement

Indicators 5.1, 5.2

Develop and implement a policy or procedure

that establishes and maintains a clearly defined

and comprehensive student assessment system

based on the collection, analysis, and

application of data from a range of sources,

including comparison and trend data about

student learning, instruction, evaluation, and

conditions that support learning.

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Opportunity for Improvement

Indicator 5.3

Develop and implement a plan, for all

professional and support staff, that is tasked

to provide a robust and directed process for

the interpretation and use of data.

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Improvement Priority

Indicators 3.2, 3.11

Develop and implement a research-based plan that provides all staff members with professional development support focused on curriculum, instruction and assessment that allows for the systematic adjustment of instruction through a response to data and the desire to improve student outcomes.

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Improvement Priority

Indicator 3.9

Develop and implement a district wide

policy that designs and evaluates structures

in all schools whereby each student is well

known by at least one adult advocate in the

student’s school who supports that student’s

educational experiences.

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eleot™

Domains External Review AEN

1 Equitable Learning Environment 2.82 2.68

2 High Expectations Environment 2.99 2.81

3 Supportive Learning Environment 3.17 3.05

4 Active Learning Environment 3.12 2.95

5 Progress Monitoring and Feedback Environment 3.06 2.76

6 Well-Managed Learning Environment 3.40 3.11

7 Digital Learning Environment 2.04 1.88

17

*based on 90 classroom observations

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Leadership Capacity

The External Review Team examined: • Institutional purpose and

direction

• Governance and leadership effectiveness

• Stakeholder engagement

• Improvement capacity

• Results

Domain

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Powerful Practice

Indicators 1.3, 2.4

The superintendent is recognized for establishing a culture that is consistent with the district’s vision and mission, and developing an organizational footprint that is based on shared values and beliefs about teaching and learning. Those beliefs are shared by all staff, and they directly support challenging and equitable programs and experiences for all students.

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Powerful Practice

Indicators 2.1, 2.2

The team recognizes the Board of Education

for establishing practices that ensures the

effective administration of the school

district; inasmuch, develop a culture of

family, support, and caring that allows the

district to operate responsibly and function

effectively.

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Improvement Priority

Indicators 1.4, 1.1

Review and implement a policy, with input

from all stakeholder groups, that is tasked to

guide the review and revision of the district’s

continuous improvement process so it

provides on-going and rigorous direction for

improving conditions that support student

learning.

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Resource Utilization

The External Review Team

examined:

• Allocation and use of resources

• Equity of resource distribution

to need

• Level and sustainability of

resources

• Long range capital and resource

planning effectiveness

Domain

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Improvement Priority

Indicator 4.3

Review and develop a district facilities plan

that is robust, and allows for the integration

of fiscal resources with the upgrading and

installation of security systems in all

buildings over a period of time.

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Conclusions

Index of Education Quality™ (IEQ™)

– Impact of teaching and learning on student performance

– Capacity of leadership to guide and ensure effectiveness in carrying out strategic direction of institution

– Utilization of resources to meet diverse needs of students and institution

– Use as a tool for formative analysis and continuous improvement

– Connection for the conditions, processes, and practices to evidence including student performance

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IEQ Results

External Review IEQ Score

AE Network Average

Overall Score 250.61 282.45

Teaching and Learning Impact

270.83

272.32

Leadership Capacity 248.21 294.44

Resource Utilization 226.56 282.93

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IEQ Results

The IEQ results indicate that the school

system is performing within acceptable

ranges as compared to expected criteria as

well as other institutions in the

AdvancED network.

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Recommendation

The External Review Team recommends to

the AdvancED Accreditation Commission

that the

Davidson County Schools

earn the distinction of accreditation by

AdvancED for a five-year term that expires

June 30, 2019.

© 2014 AdvancED

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Continuous Improvement

• Improvement Priorities must be addressed

within two years

• Beginning of a journey of improvement

• Deliberate and strategic actions to ensure

that every child, every day is being

prepared and achieving success for their

future

© 2014 AdvancED

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Final Thoughts

The External Review Team:

– Appreciates your hospitality, support and

professionalism.

– Respects and acknowledges the efforts to

improve the quality of your institution.

– Congratulates your system and community on

completing the requirements for AdvancED

School System Accreditation.

© 2014 AdvancED

© 2014 AdvancED

Create a world of opportunities

for every learner

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