Cobb Schools Maintains Accreditation, Given A Year To Make Change

COBB COUNTY, GA — After a request from three school board members, dozens of complaints from the public, over 1,000 hours of preparation and a three-day review, the accrediting body of the Cobb County School District has completed its "unusual" special review of the district's governing practices and sent it back to the district this week.

Cognia, the district's accrediting body, conducted the review from Aug. 15-18, and a report was required to be completed within 60 days, then released to the public. Cognia will then follow up with CCSD within three to six months after the report is released to see how progress is going in terms of correcting any potential problems.

While the most negative outcome would’ve been the district losing its accreditation, Cobb Schools avoided that fate.

In a news release late Thursday night, the district confirmed it will remain a fully-accredited school district. Instead, Cognia’s Special Review Team report provides “recommendations, directives and improvement priorities outlined in the Special Review Report,” which the Cobb Schools must address in the next year.

A full copy of the 16-page report can be found here.

"As is the case with any feedback we receive, our educators will review Cognia's process and recommendations closely and consider areas of recommended growth. I am committed to keeping our focus on high-quality teaching and learning and meeting Cobb County's high expectations for all students," Superintendent Chris Ragsdale.

The "unusual" review was brought on after the district's three Democratic board members — Dr. Jaha Howard, Charisse Davis and Leroy "Tre" Hutchins — sent a letter requesting an investigation from Cognia, and after roughly 50 complaints from the community.

The district first announced the review in April, and Ragsdale said if found violating standards, the district's accreditation could be in danger — hurting college acceptance rates, college scholarships, enrollment, funding and educator recruitment and retention — and it could hurt the county's economy, property values and bond credit ratings.

The review involved a presentation of evidence concerning four specific Cognia standards related to "the governing authority," "equitable opportunities" and "student performance," which CCSD officials previously said Cognia specifically cited as areas of focus.

The review also included interviews between Cognia and board members, Superintendent Chris Ragsdale, district staff, principals, teachers and community members. District officials previously said they spent more than 1,000 hours and $75,000 preparing evidence for the investigation.

Pieces of evidence submitted to Cognia include adherence to and possible violations of board policy by board members; student performance data; allocation of money from the voter-approved 1 percent special sales tax for education; per-student spending; stakeholder feedback; academic programs and initiatives; and finance and procurement process and data, the Marietta Daily Journal reported.

Board Chair Randy Scamihorn said in the news release that the review was a “significant distraction for the staff” and called it “cursory and incomplete.”

"I am happy that the world-class education provided to Cobb students and families is obvious to the Special Review Team. However, it is important to remember we received full accreditation less than two years ago. Despite numerous requests to Cognia, there remains a great deal we do not know about this review.

“We still have not been provided with the specific allegations against the district, which led Cognia to believe this special review was needed. We do not know why so much weight was given to allegations made in public comment, which are often not representative of the community as a whole. It is disappointing the Special Review Team chose not to consider much of the context leading to various board decisions, and their review of evidence requested from the district appears to be cursory and incomplete. While I am pleased this review is unlikely to have an immediately negative effect on the district's students, it did serve as a significant distraction for the staff," Scamihorn said.

Correspondence between Cognia, the district and board members can be viewed here.

Related:

• Cobb Schools To Undergo 'Unusual' Review By Accrediting Body
• Cobb Schools Special Accreditation Review Slated For August
  
• Cobb Schools Special Accreditation Review Begins Sunday