SPRINGDALE — Described as a process that would provide additional guidance on how to improve school instruction, Springdale will be seeking districtwide accreditation through AdvancED this school year.
AdvancED is an accreditation agency that evaluates and accredits schools throughout the nation.
The process is not required by the Arkansas Department of Education, which accredits state schools, so the work the district will do to achieve the accreditation is above and beyond state mandates.
However, Superintendent Jim Rollins said the accreditation process will be a good way to evaluate the district’s strengths and weaknesses.
Also, accreditation through AdvancED would show people moving to Northwest Arkansas that Springdale aspires to high standards, he said.
“It ought to be a great public relations document for our school district,” Rollins said.
An AdvancED evaluation team is scheduled to visit the district in May. As part of the visit, the team will interview teachers, patrons, administrators and school board members.
The team will report its findings to district leaders at the end of the site visit.
“The proof will be when this visiting team comes,” Rollins said.
Farmington School Superintendent Ron Wright, whose district went through the same AdvancED accreditation process two years ago, said he believes it is a worthwhile endeavor.
“With such a diverse population as Springdale has, it will help them look at every (student) subgroup,” Wright said. “It’s an effort, but every bit of that effort is going to require you to reflect on how you deliver instruction to kids.”
Springdale’s 18,172 students include 7,410 students classified as limited English proficient. Also, approximately 60.8 percent of the district’s students qualify for free and reduced lunches because of their household’s income.
As part of the preparation process, Springdale has formed a leadership team made up of 35 people to address the seven standards AdvancED officials look at when evaluating the district.
The seven standards include district vision and purpose, governance and leadership, teaching and learning, and documenting and using results.
The AdvancED team also looks at stakeholder communications and relationships and the district’s commitment to continuous improvement.
Assistant Superintendent Marsha Jones said a favorable review by the group would affirm that the district is doing a good job compared to other schools in the nation.
“We want to set ourselves to a standard that is rigorous,” she said.
The Lincoln School District has also obtained accreditation through AdvancED.
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