SIATech received the final presentation by the AdvancED Review Team today. The organization was commended for meeting the rigorous requirements of this prestigious full-accreditation recognition and will recommended for accreditation to the AdvancEd Accreditation Commission. The accreditation applies to SIATech as an organization as well as all MYcroSchool and SIATech schools in its network.
Leonard D. Paul, Lead Evaluator, and Mary Kay Kirkland, Associate Lead Evaluator, were the presenters from the review team who spoke to all SIATech and MYcroSchool staff who congregated in the central office and virtually from sites across the country.
SIATech scores were higher than the AdvancED institutional averages in the network. The review team had interviewed at length 196 people, including 73 students and 11 board members. “You’ve been able to figure out a way to serve these students who need extra attention – that is powerful!”
Some powerful practices highlighted during the review team’s share out included:
- Students throughout the schools were highly engaged in the individualized learning. “It was amazing to go into your sites one after another to find all these kids interested and engaged, consistently and constantly.” The review team commented that, “The difference with the young people that you work with is that you’ve got them focused and engaged. SIATech helps them learn and it’s going to be valuable for them.”
- SIATech has implemented a consistent instructional model that meets student needs. The review team was impressed with the curriculum integration and support that goes along with it. Leonard commented that it “really works well for the benefit of the children. This is the missing piece in a lot of our schools. That is powerful!”
- SIATech has implemented high-quality professional development and mentorship for its network. Leonard commented that the sites feel supported by SIATech’s central office team and they commented that, “The central office is always here and there is help and support that we need.”
- In regards to the use of technology, Leonard highlighted SIATech’s use of technology to help students explore, learn, and communicate. “This is the highest score I’ve ever seen – the integration of learning in the digital process.” SIATech’s information technology team was praised for its creation and support of a technology infrastructure that can support students. “The technology here is outstanding.”
SIATech staff congregate for the AdvancED review team’s presentation. The review team concluded that they will recommend the school be awarded the full 5-year accreditation.
AdvancED is the largest community of education professionals in the world. They are a non-profit, non-partisan organization that conducts rigorous, on-site external reviews of PreK-12 schools and school systems to ensure that all learners realize their full potential. While our expertise is grounded in more than a hundred years of work in school accreditation, AdvancED is far from a typical accrediting agency.
The review team concluded with providing some areas of growth and the reminder that accreditation is about what happens on a day-to-day basis. SIATech looks forward to taking the valuable reflections and feedback to implement processes and practices that will help the school better serve at-promise students.