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Darlington seeks dual accreditation
Nov 17, 2006 12:59 PM
By Tannika King - Faculty
Darlington School is currently seeking dual accreditation from SACS (The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools) and SAIS (The Southern Association of Independent Schools). This option has only been available within the last five years; in the past, independent schools were accredited by SACS only.
“The new SACS/SAIS dual accreditation process is specifically designed to assist independent schools in realizing their strategic goals,” said Dr. Mark Carleton, assistant headmaster and director of Upper School. “A school accredited by this dual process becomes part of an international network of accredited schools that are recognized throughout the world as emblematic of the highest quality in education.”
According to the SAIS Web site, dual accreditation supports every school’s ability to identify and meet its goals for improving student performance and the teaching and learning process. To earn accreditation, schools must demonstrate a systematic approach for meeting quality standards in the following areas: a continuous process of educational improvement; beliefs and mission; governance and leadership; finances and resources; human resources; library and media services; facilities; communication and community relationships; curriculum and instructional design; citizenship and conduct; assessment, measurement and effective results; and dormitory life.
“We have put together 10 faculty/staff/student subcommittees aligned with our recently approved Strategic Plan and representing all three divisions of Darlington,” said Carleton. “These subcommittees have been working on our self-study since August. Under the leadership of Rick Buice and Sally Rudert (’66T), our self-study co-chairs, these groups completed their work in late November.”
Accreditation is voluntary and must be renewed each year, with a peer review visit taking place every five years. This year’s peer team is composed of Billy Peebles, headmaster of The Lovett School in Atlanta; O.J. Morgan, headmaster of The Bright School in Chattanooga, Tenn.; Chuck Baldecchi, headmaster of The Lexington School in Lexington, Ky.; Caroline Blackwell, director of multicultural affairs at The University School of Nashville, Tenn.; and Dana Graham, director of technology at The Lovett School.
“Our accreditation team chair, Billy Peebles of The Lovett School, has already made a preliminary visit to Darlington,” said Carleton, “and he has expressed satisfaction with the depth, breadth and comprehensiveness of our process.”
The full accreditation team will have its on-site visit in February. Darlington will get results from SAIS no later than four weeks after this visit.
“The new SACS/SAIS dual accreditation process is specifically designed to assist independent schools in realizing their strategic goals,” said Dr. Mark Carleton, assistant headmaster and director of Upper School. “A school accredited by this dual process becomes part of an international network of accredited schools that are recognized throughout the world as emblematic of the highest quality in education.”
According to the SAIS Web site, dual accreditation supports every school’s ability to identify and meet its goals for improving student performance and the teaching and learning process. To earn accreditation, schools must demonstrate a systematic approach for meeting quality standards in the following areas: a continuous process of educational improvement; beliefs and mission; governance and leadership; finances and resources; human resources; library and media services; facilities; communication and community relationships; curriculum and instructional design; citizenship and conduct; assessment, measurement and effective results; and dormitory life.
“We have put together 10 faculty/staff/student subcommittees aligned with our recently approved Strategic Plan and representing all three divisions of Darlington,” said Carleton. “These subcommittees have been working on our self-study since August. Under the leadership of Rick Buice and Sally Rudert (’66T), our self-study co-chairs, these groups completed their work in late November.”
Accreditation is voluntary and must be renewed each year, with a peer review visit taking place every five years. This year’s peer team is composed of Billy Peebles, headmaster of The Lovett School in Atlanta; O.J. Morgan, headmaster of The Bright School in Chattanooga, Tenn.; Chuck Baldecchi, headmaster of The Lexington School in Lexington, Ky.; Caroline Blackwell, director of multicultural affairs at The University School of Nashville, Tenn.; and Dana Graham, director of technology at The Lovett School.
“Our accreditation team chair, Billy Peebles of The Lovett School, has already made a preliminary visit to Darlington,” said Carleton, “and he has expressed satisfaction with the depth, breadth and comprehensiveness of our process.”
The full accreditation team will have its on-site visit in February. Darlington will get results from SAIS no later than four weeks after this visit.
