Host School/Team Leader Materials
Welcome aboard! You’re about to dive into a thrilling part of the Continuous Improvement journey! Whether you’re stepping in as the organizer for the Host School site or taking the lead as the Team Leader for the External Visit, this is your chance to shine and highlight all the incredible efforts made throughout the past 5 years. Accredited schools are held to the standards of 92 NAC 10, which set forth the rules and regulations governing the accreditation of all public and state-requesting nonpublic schools. Take note, Section 009.01B of Rule 10 outlines the essential actions for Continuous Improvement.
009.01B The school improvement process includes a visitation by a team of external representatives to review progress and provide written recommendations. A copy of the school system’s improvement plan and the written recommendations of the external representatives are provided to the Department. The external team visits are conducted at least once each five years.
The guiding principle behind an external visit is to provide an objective, external view of the school’s continuous improvement processes. Peer reviews are a common strategy for supporting school and teacher improvement, and research suggests their potential value as part of larger school improvement initiatives. Of particular note, some suggest that peer reviews may reduce “top-down” accoun “ability “indsets and generate greater practitioner-driven innovations. Several states utilize peer review as part of their larger school quality, accountability, or accreditation processes.
(See Appendices – Continuous Improvement: Review of Literature, Hanover Research, August 2021.)
The External Team comprises professional peers who will review the school system’s plan and offer recommendations. The Action Plan is a living document that school systems use to determine goals and the steps needed to make progress toward them.
009.01A3 Selection of improvement goals. At least one goal is directed toward improving student academic achievement.
009.01A4 Development and implementation of an improvement plan which includes procedures, strategies, actions to achieve goals, and an aligned professional development plan.
The External Team verifies goal setting, decision making, and the use of multiple data points to drive Continuous Improvement. Themes are developed by the External Team through triangulation during the review, as they conduct stakeholder interviews, visit classrooms, and learn about the community’s uniqueness. At the end of the visit, the External Team provides an Exit Presentation of initial findings, including Commendations and Recommendations. By affirming success and providing specific feedback, the External team also provides direction for launching the next 5-year journey.