Marilyn S. George, Ed.D., the associate executive director of WASC’s accrediting commission for schools, yesterday conducted a whole-day workshop for CNMI educators at the Pacific Islands Club.
In attendance were the officials and members of the Board of Education and management as well as principals of public and private schools.
According to George, the workshop has five goals: understand the ongoing nature of the “Focus on Learning” self-study process; understand the development of a student/community profile and school-wide student goals; understand analysis of data/information based on school-wide student goals, curricular standards and WASC criteria; value the development and implementation of a school-wide action plan aligned with the identified major growth needs; and become prepared to serve on a Focus on Learning visiting committee.
This school year, nine public schools are up for accreditation visit either for their three- or six-year accreditation terms: Dandan Elementary, San Antonio, Koblerville, William S. Reyes, Tinian Elementary, Kagman High, Saipan Southern High, and Tinian Jr. & Sr. High School.
In a handout passed to participants, it stated that the commission believes that a school’s goal is successful student learning.
A school, it added, must have a clear purpose, ongoing school improvement projects, and internal and external evaluations to assess progress in achieving its purpose.
Students of accredited schools can apply for federal scholarship programs and acceptance to college and universities, as well as transfer to other accredited institutions.
Every year, George said, representatives from the commission conduct learning activities for CNMI schools to help them comply with the accreditation requirements.
According to Stephen Smith, the Public School System’s coordinator for WASC, language and forensic leagues, the workshop is a requirement for all nine schools that will be visited by an accreditation team this year.
“We’re expecting that schools will be able to make the necessary adjustments in their reports after attending this event. This is designed to assist and help our schools do the report in a correct way,” he told Variety.
