NWAIS Self Study Process: The school has conducted a self study that provides for reflection and for broad participation of the school community in a way that illustrates the school’s commitment to continual school improvement.

The Association’s self study is designed as a vehicle for each school to reflect upon all aspects of its program and should be written so as to provide the visiting team with an accurate portrait of how the school currently fulfills its mission, provides a quality program for its students, and is both viable and sustainable. The vast majority of a school’s staff should be involved in writing the self study as should representative members of the larger school community (trustees, parents, students, and alums). Review committees for each section of the self study should allow for participation of individuals not directly responsible for the area under review.

This section should be addressed by at least the Head of School and the Self Study Coordinator.

Who was responsible for this section of the report?

  1. The school has conducted its self study process in a way that assures that the responses to each section are the result of perspectives of people from both within and outside of the area being reviewed.
  2. Describe how the school organized its self study process and committees so as to provide for the inclusion of people from both within and outside of the area being reviewed.
  3. Describe how the Board participated in the school’s self study process.
  4. The school has surveyed its faculty and staff, students, parents, and, if appropriate, alumni within three years of its accreditation visit for the purpose of reflection and continual improvement.
  5. What general topics were selected in the surveys and why?
  6. What constituent groups were selected to participate in the surveys and why?
  7. What are the school’s strengths and weaknesses from the perspective of constituents surveyed? Comment on any themes or findings from these surveys and how you are using this information to continually improve your school.
  8. The school has addressed all major recommendations from its previous accreditation visit (only for schools going through re-accreditation).
  9. Has the school addressed the major recommendations from the last accreditation visiting report? If yes, provide a brief summary of the key accomplishments in addressing the major recommendations. If not, what aspects of the major recommendations have not yet been addressed?
  • What were the school’s overall strengths in conducting the self study process?
  • What areas of growth and/or recommendations would the school make regarding the way in which it conducted the self study process?

Documents To Be Provided:

  • Visiting Team Report from the last evaluation and any Response Report if applicable (for Team Chair and Vice Chair prior to Preliminary Visit)
  • Copies of the school’s NWAIS Annual Reports for the past five years (for Team Chair and Vice Chair prior to Preliminary visit)
  • Copy of summary data gained from the constituent surveys, if applicable

School Mission: The school’s mission is understood and supported by all constituencies.

This section is intended to assist the school in its review of its mission, core values, and/or philosophy statements. References to “mission” throughout this document will refer to all of these various statements that support the mission statement.

Who was responsible for this section of the report?

  1. The school and its Board have reviewed its mission as the starting point in the self study process.
  2. Describe the way in which the mission statement was used as the starting point for the self study.
  3. The school has a clear mission that is effectively communicated.
  4. What is the school’s mission?
  5. When was it last formulated? By whom? Through what process?
  6. If changes were made, what were they and what brought about these changes?
  7. Are there parts of the mission statement about which there is a lack of consensus on meaning or interpretation? If so, please explain.
  8. In what ways does the school communicate its mission statement?
  9. To the extent that any division of the school has an individual philosophy or goals, that division will provide a written statement of its individual philosophy and its relation to the school’s mission.
  • What were the school’s overall strengths in conducting the self study process?
  • What areas of growth and/or recommendations would the school make regarding the way in which it conducted the self study process?

No documents to be provided.

School Culture: The school has an intentional culture, which supports the school’s mission and NWAIS’ core value of free and open Inquiry.

A school’s unique culture drives the dynamics of the school’s community. The combination of a school’s structures and the social interactions within these structures provides a sense of the “look and feel” of a school and will help the visiting team better assess the school relative to its own mission.

For NWAIS schools, this culture should actively encourage students to explore diverse points of view and to engage in lively and respectful discourse with their teachers and peers about ideas, cultures, and values different from their own. NWAIS schools teach students to think critically and to challenge their own perspectives as they grow in their knowledge of the broader world. NWAIS schools create and sustain a culture in which students are free to express their own ideas and to hear and seek to understand the ideas of others.

Who was responsible for this section of the report?

  1. There is an intentional school culture.
  2. Describe the school’s culture. Consider the following topics, as appropriate, when crafting your school’s description. Do not be limited by this listing:
  3. Nature of adult interactions/relationships.
  4. Nature of student behavior and student interactions/relationships.
  5. Nature of student and adult interactions/relationships.
  6. Commitment to continual school improvement.
  7. The school’s expectations for student behavior and student performance.
  8. The school’s expectations for faculty and staff behavior.
  9. The school’s expectations for faculty and staff professional development and performance.
  10. The school’s decision-making processes.
  11. The school’s governance.
  12. Use of school’s facilities.
  13. Traditions, activities, rites, rituals, and school calendar.
  14. Involvement of parents.
  15. The school’s relationship with and involvement in its community.
  16. How does the school help new and veteran members of the school community understand and contribute to its culture?
  17. There is a strong correlation between the stated mission of the school and the culture that exists in the school.
  18. How does the school’s mission influence the school’s culture?
  19. The school’s culture promotes free and open inquiry.
  20. Describe the ways in which the school’s culture creates an environment that enables students to engage in respectful exchanges of differing viewpoints and to express their ideas on all subjects. Provide examples representing the different divisions of the school.
  • What are the school’s overall strengths in regard to school culture?
  • What areas of growth and/or recommendations does the school have with regard to school culture?

No documents to be provided

Commitment to Diversity: The school has created a program, culture, and inclusive community of students, families, trustees, faculty and staff that reflect many perspectives and diverse backgrounds.

NWAIS Core Value of Commitment to Diversity:

The inclusion of diverse perspectives and backgrounds strengthens the quality of the school’s culture and educational program. A commitment to diversity acknowledges and honors the diverse perspectives and backgrounds within the school community and makes every member feel that he or she belongs and is equally valued. NWAIS believes that this commitment to diversity is essential for free and open inquiry to flourish.

NWAIS schools provide their students with access to, knowledge of, and opportunity for open discourse about different perspectives and backgrounds in ways that are meaningful and that clearly demonstrate commitment to the NWAIS core values of diversity and free and open inquiry.

Who was responsible for this section of the report?

  1. The school’s overall program provides students with a school experience that is in keeping with the school’s commitment to diversity and the NWAIS Core Value of Commitment to Diversity.
  2. How does the school define diversity for itself?
  3. Describe the school’s commitment to diversity in light of the NWAIS Commitment to Diversity.
  4. How does the school go about fulfilling and assessing its commitment to diversity?
  5. The school has defined what constitutes a diverse student body in accordance with the school’s mission and and the NWAIS Core Value of Commitment to Diversity.
  6. Describe the population of the area(s) from which the school draws students, including the racial and ethnic composition of this population?
  7. Describe the school’s goals regarding diversity in the student population and how the school is currently meeting them. If the school is not meeting them, what steps will the school take to meet these goals?
  8. Explain how the school’s admission and enrollment management practices are consistent with the NWAIS Commitment to Diversity.
  9. The school makes a concerted effort to address the issue of diversity through hiring and training of staff appropriate to its mission statement and its definition of diversity and the NWAIS Core Value of Commitment to Diversity.
  10. Describe the school’s goals regarding diversity in the faculty and staff and how the school is currently meeting them. If the school is not meeting them, what steps will the school take to meet these goals?
  11. Provide specific examples of professional development opportunities for faculty and staff related to diversity.
  12. Explain how the school’s hiring policies and practices are consistent with the NWAIS Commitment to Diversity.
  • What are the school’s overall strengths in regard to the school’s commitment to diversity?
  • What areas of growth and/or recommendations does the school make with regard to its commitment to diversity?

Documents to be provided :

  • The school’s statement(s) of non-discrimination
  • The school’s diversity statement, if different from the response to question 9a above

School Program: The school provides a mission-congruent educational program designed and implemented to promote the development of its students and in keeping with NWAIS core values. The program benefits from ongoing assessment and research, is supported by necessary resources and services, and provides for the assessment of student progress consistent with the school’s mission.

In keeping with the Association’s desire that the accreditation process serve as a tool for reflection and continual school improvement, this section is designed to aid the School in taking a thoughtful look at both its overall school program and at its various divisions, departments, and/or disciplines. The review committee for the overall program (Indicators #12- #24) should include a broad representation of individuals from the various program components. The various review committees for Indicator #25 should allow for participation of individuals not directly responsible for the program component under review.

The visiting team will also be assessing how the school implements the Association’s core value of free and open inquiry:

NWAIS schools actively encourage students to explore diverse points of view and to engage in lively and respectful discourse with their teachers and peers about any ideas, cultures, and values different from their own. NWAIS schools teach students to think critically and to challenge their own perspectives as they grow in their knowledge of the broader world. NWAIS schools create and sustain a culture in which students are free to express their own ideas and to hear and seek to understand the ideas of others.

Who was responsible for this section of the report?

OVERALL PROGRAM

  1. The school’s program is congruent with the school’s mission, philosophy and values.
  2. How does the school’s mission inform the development of the school’s educational program?
  3. In what ways is the implementation of the school program congruent with the mission?
  4. The school’s overall program provides students with a school experience that promotes free and open inquiry and diverse perspectives and that promotes other characteristics and capacities that students will need to lead purposeful, healthy and constructive lives.
  5. In what ways does the overall program promote, provide or encourage:
  6. free and open inquiry
  7. diverse perspectives
  8. What other characteristics or capacities does the school foster to prepare students to lead purposeful, healthy, and constructive lives?
  9. In what ways does the overall program promote these characteristics and capacities?
  10. The school’s overall educational program and instructional practices stem from a set of underlying beliefs and assumptions about the ways students learn.
  11. What beliefs and assumptions about how students learn inform:
  12. The design of the overall program?
  13. The design of the physical environment and learning spaces?
  14. The use of technology in the school program?
  15. Approaches to instruction?
  16. Curriculum development?
  17. The structure of the school day and the school year?
  18. The school utilizes quantitative and/or qualitative information to assess and improve its overall program.
  19. What quantitative and/or qualitative information does the school use to inform its assessment of and decision-making about the school’s overall program?
  20. How is this information used to develop and continually improve the school program?
  21. In what ways does the school assess graduate success relative to its mission?
  22. The school has clear and effective procedures for the assessment and communication of student progress and/or development.
  23. How is assessment of student progress and/or development conducted?
  24. How is an individual student’s assessment used in the development and/or modification of his/her academic program? How is assessment of student progress and/or development conducted?
  25. Describe how these assessments and modifications are communicated.
  26. The school has a written curriculum guide.
  27. How is the curriculum guide developed and communicated?
  28. How is the curriculum guide reviewed?
  29. The school communicates and coordinates the program between departments, divisions and grade levels.
  30. How does the school communicate and coordinate the program between departments, divisions, and grade levels?
  31. The school has reflected upon what constitutes excellence in teaching in a way that is appropriate to the mission of the school.
  32. What constitutes excellence in teaching at the school?
  33. How does the school promote excellence in teaching?
  34. The school has developed the necessary services to nurture, support and meet the social, emotional, physical and learning needs of its students.
  35. Describe the services and/or programs aimed at nurturing and supporting the social, emotional, physical and learning needs of its students.
  36. Describe the process for introducing students and families to outside services designed to meet the students’ needs?
  37. What accommodations does the school make for the special needs of individual students? Please give examples.
  38. What guidance does the school provide students and parents about the next steps in a student’s educational career?
  39. The school develops information literacy in its students.
  40. Describe your information literacy/library program and its goals.
  41. How does your information literacy/library program support the school’s overall programs?
  42. The school’s online education and/or distance education is congruent with its mission and beliefs about how students learn. (Respond if your school utilizes online/distance education.)
  43. Describe the use of online education and/or distance education at the school. Be specific regarding program development, scope, and number of students involved. Describe how/why these decisions regarding distance education were made.
  44. How does the school’s mission inform the development of the online education and/or distance education program?
  45. How are these courses congruent with the school’s beliefs about how students learn?
  46. What is the relationship between the online/distance education program and the overall school program and school culture?
  47. How does the school assess and evaluate the effectiveness and impact of online education and/or distance education at the school?
  48. The school has developed a co-curricular program congruent with the school mission and contributing to preparation of students to lead purposeful, healthy and constructive lives. (The co-curricular program may include clubs, sports, after-school activities, competitions, summer program, trips, etc.)
  49. Describe the school’s co-curricular program and explain how it supports the school mission and program.
  50. How does the school assess the effectiveness of its co-curricular activities?
  51. Describe how co-curricular activities support student preparation for purposeful, healthy and constructive lives.
  52. The school has the necessary resources to support the overall educational program.
  53. Does the school have the necessary resources to support its overall program?
  54. If the school is not able to furnish sufficient resources to meet the goals of the overall program, how does the school address this challenge?
  55. Has the allocation of resources at the school changed significantly in the past five years? If so, please explain the changes and the reasons for them.
  • What are the school’s strengths in regard to the school’s overall program?
  • What areas of growth and/or recommendations does the school have in the overall program?
  • EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM COMPONENTS

The school’s response to this section should mirror the structural organization of its school program. The school should insert a brief statement explaining how it has chosen to organize its approach to