By: Eddy Gifford, Publisher

You could hear a big sigh of relief from the Dade County Schools Board room last week when the AdvancED Accredited/SACS team gave their report on the three days of intense observation, evaluation and questioning all aspects of the system.

Team leader Dr. Agnes Smith, from Alabama, reported that the Dade County School System evaluation scores were “one of the highest” I have ever seen.

Dr. Smith reported the Dade County School System scores as follows:

Purpose and Direction 2.75; Teaching and Assessing for Learning 2.25; Governance and Leadership 2.83; Resources and Support System 2.75; Using Results for Continuous Improvement 2.20.

Other scores included Equitable Learning Environment 2.9; High Expectations Learning Environment 3.3; Supportive Learning Environment 3.0; Active Learning Environment 3.0; Progress Monitoring and Feedback Learning Environment 2.9; Well Managed Learning Environment 3.5; and Digital Learning Environment 2.4.

Dr. Smith explained to the board scoring was based on a 1-4 scale with 4 being the best and no one ever got a 4, which just underscored how good the Dade System scores were.

The AdvancED team will now make their recommendation to the AdvancED Commission who will meet later this year and advise the system of their decision.

Dr. Smith said she had never heard of the Commission going against a team recommendation.

The Dade County System will now make a progress report in two years and do the whole process again in five years. The accreditation period is five years.

Dr. Smith praised the staff at all the schools for their cooperation as well as that of the citizens and parents who took part in the three-day process.

Dr. Smith had exceptional high praise for Cherie Swader, Assistant Superintendent who was the teams’ contact during the long process.