A five-person review team recommended this month that the AdvancED Accreditation Commission award accreditation to Chilton County High School.

AdvancED is a non-profit organization that provides on-site external reviews of pre-K-12 schools and school systems.

With a balanced, systematic approach combining standards, stakeholder feedback and student performances to measure quality programs, relationships and results, AdvancED’s systems-oriented accreditation process helps institutions make the most of their talents and resources.

The AdvancED External Review team conducted interviews with stakeholders, certified staff, support staff, students, parents and other members of the community.

The review also took into account two-plus years of work that Chilton County High School had done in advance of the visit.

Combined with the interviews, the work done prior to the external review is designed to identify strengths, weaknesses, improvement priorities (which will be identified in the final report and must be addressed within two years), an index of education quality (IEQ, which compares the school to other accredited schools, including those which have been accredited for five years) and makes a recommendation to the Accreditation Commission regarding whether the school meets accreditation standards.

Chilton County High School had several noted powerful practices including the school’s commitment to providing meaningful experiences for students, the supportive environment provided by special education teachers including the differentiation of learning to meet to the needs of all students, and the well-managed supportive environment provided for students. The review team saw a need at Chilton County High School for the devising of a plan that would provide and enhance technology opportunities for students, faculty and staff.

The external review team will make its recommendation to the Accreditation Commission in June.

School accreditation is attained based on five standards and 33 indicators that the school must meet. Those five standards are purpose and direction, governance and leadership, teaching and assessing for learning, resources and support systems, and using results for continuous improvement.