CCSD : CCSD Successfully Completes First Step Of Accreditation Renewal

Press release from Cherokee County School District:

March 14, 2022

The Cherokee County School District has successfully completed the first step of accreditation renewal, with the process accomplished last week for its Pre-K program!

Accreditation is the highest level of overall accountability for school systems.  The independent review assesses not only success in teaching, but also governance and stewardship of taxpayer resources.  The school district’s accreditation by Cognia, which is considered the top accreditation organization in the world by both public and private schools and school systems, colleges and universities, is up for its five-year review this month. 

The first step in the process was Cognia’s examination of the school district’s Pre-K program, which took place last week and resulted in the recommendation for its continued accreditation.  Cognia now is at work on its review of the school district’s Grades K-12 program, which will culminate with a review team visit later this month.  

“We’re so proud of our Pre-K program and the high-quality education and great care provided to our youngest learners,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower said.  “Principal Debbie Ritter and her team of outstanding teachers, paraprofessionals and support staff demonstrate daily their dedication to students and families and their commitment to continuous improvement.  Congratulations to the entire team, and thank you for all that you do to serve our students!”

A Cognia review team made up of experienced educators from outside the school district reviewed the Pre-K program’s operational and student performance reports, visited classrooms to see teaching and learning in action and interviewed stakeholders.  

The review team praised the Pre-K program’s teachers and staff, the School Board and the school district’s leadership for their roles in providing excellent service to the community.  The program’s positive culture, safe and caring environment, and the faculty and staff’s focus on student success earned praise from the review team.  The School Board’s support and investment in curriculum and resources to support the learning development of the whole child also earned accolades. 

The team commended the program for its long history of inclusion, both of students with special needs and students with economic challenges, and its communications and community engagement practices.

In its recommendations, which are a part of the Cognia review process, the team encouraged the program to continue its efforts to recruit more diverse faculty and staff to reflect its students’ diversity.  It also recommended the involvement of more faculty and staff in using student performance reports to improve teaching and learning.

“We look forward to seeing our school district later this month continue its history of exemplary accreditation review reports,” Dr. Hightower said of the Grades K-12 pending review.  “We also will share the results from that review with our community as part of our continuing commitment to transparency.”
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This press release was produced by Cherokee County School District. The views expressed here are the author’s own.