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ST. CHRISTOPHER SCHOOL AND MIDDLE STATES RE-ACCREDITATION
Accreditation Granted and Effective May 1, 2008
In the spring of 2006, St. Christopher School faculty began the Middle States re-accreditation process. The process takes almost two years. In order for the school to maximize the benefits of re-accreditation, it is most important that all members of the school and parish community understand what it means to be an accredited school.
Following is a tutorial, or a Middle States for Beginners:
What is it?
- It is a process which involves a self-study which is centered on the school’s mission
St. Christopher School Mission
St. Christopher School Community is committed to carrying Christ to others through the modeling and teaching of Catholic Christian morals and values, while creating a caring, respectful environment which promotes Christian stewardship, individual student achievement, academic excellence, and fosters a love for life-long learning.
- It is a process designed:
v to facilitate the school’s movement and growth
v to facilitate the school’s understanding of its missions and beliefs
v to initiate growth and set direction for planning
Why would a school want to gain accreditation?
- It offers the school an opportunity to create a future that is visionary and humanitarian.
- We value the Characteristics of an Accredited School:
An accredited school
v . . . is devoted to a mission. It cares enough about what it does to seek validation by a recognized accreditation authority.
v It knows itself. The school operates from an examined vision of service to students, family, and community.
v It keeps its promises. An accredited school promises only what it can deliver.
v An accredited school accepts objective evaluation. Outside evaluators who have no prior involvement with the school or its sponsoring authority provide periodic evaluation.
v It is recognized. Schools accredited by the Commission are listed as accredited schools in a registry available throughout the world.
v It is self-correcting. Accredited schools demonstrate a capacity to control their own quality.
v It is student-oriented. Its philosophy of education must express what it does for the whole student.
v It plans for its future. An accredited school continuously has plans that include strategies for anticipated events and goals toward even higher levels of quality.
v It examines outcomes. Accredited schools continuously obtain and analyze objective evidence on student achievement and growth.
v And finally, an accredited school participates in the responsibilities of the academic profession. Accredited schools participate in the self-renewing activity of evaluation and accreditation.
When will this happen? What’s the timeline?
- Faculty began work on the process in Spring, 2006
- Planning Committee (Stakeholders from Parish) was formed in January 2007
- Faculty Steering Committee was formed in January 2007
- Goals should be named by May 2007
- Ad-Hoc Committees will be formed by June 2007 and begin meeting in Fall, 2007
- Strategic Plan will be created by Fall 2007 (and timeline will span the next 3-7 years)
- Middle States Evaluating Team will visit St. Christopher December 2-5, 2007
- Hopefully, re-accreditation will be granted in Spring 2008
Strategic Plan - Goals
- To develop quantitative methods to measure the effectiveness of the ILA and Math curriculum
- To insure continued educational success and fiscal stability
- To create and promote extracurricular (outside of the core academic curriculum) activities in order to explore and advance students interests and talents.
A timeline has been developed for each goal. This timeline spans the next 5-7 years.
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