Meeting Notes: Central Morning Home Group
February 19, 2003

Introduction
· Name, Program you represent
· Define Goals for the Breakout/Home Group Meeting
Why We Are Here
The grouping by physical location serves two purposes:
· Representation for concerns of the neighborhood and student population
· Meetings may be easier to schedule if all members are teach at the same time and place.

Objective #1: Define ESLRs: ESLRs are:
· Global
· Assessable
· Doable
· Student Centered: 'Student will be able to…" not "School will teach".

Object #2: Create ESLRs by synthesizing objectives gathered from the meeting.
· Review the Objectives and Obligations of the Home Group
· Group Similar Objectives together.
· Create an ESLR that combines and summarizes the objectives in general, school wide terms.

Object #3: Begin the Self Study Sequence
· It is hoped that you will be part of an ongoing process
· Your participation insures that your ideals of your department and your physical location will have ongoing representation

Nomination Of The 4 Home Group Staff Members.
· Group Leader (responsible for participating in, and reporting findings of, the Focus Group.
· Scribe (pen and paper. Should be able to contact via phone or e-mail all members of the home group).
· Time Keeper (stopwatch. Keeps the meeting on time)
· Gate Keeper (Parliamentarian: Keep discussion on track.)
Group leader and Scribe bear the most responsibility, since they are reasonable for synthesizing the information from both the Home Group and the Focus Group.

Selection of Focus Groups:
4 groups will be established, one for each of the four criteria categories
1. Organization for Student Learning
2. Curriculum and Instruction
3. Personal and Academic Support
4. Resource Management and Development

Organization for Student Learning
· School Purpose
· Governance
· School Leadership
· Staff
· School Environment
· Reporting Student Progress
· School Improvement Process

Curriculum and Instruction
· What Students Learn
· How Students Learn
· How Assessment Is Used

Support For Student Personal And Academic Growth
· Student Connectedness
· Parent/Community Involvement

Resource Management And Development
· Resources
· Resource Planning

Recruits to continue in Room 40

About Us (WASC)*
The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) is one of six regional associations, which accredit public and private schools, colleges, and universities in the United States. Regional accreditation began about 100 years ago and arose from a desire on the part of educational institutions to establish standards of quality.

Accreditation is a voluntary, non-governmental process, which plays an important role in developing and maintaining the high quality of education in this country.

The Western Association is the newest of the six regional accrediting associations. It was formed in 1962 by an amalgamation of several accrediting agencies. There are three Commissions in the Association which work with institutions at different levels.
What does accreditation mean?

Accreditation certifies - to other educational institutions and to the general public - that an institution meets established criteria or standards and is achieving its own stated objectives. WASC and the other five regional associations in the United States grant "institutional accreditation" after a comprehensive self study followed by an on-site evaluation of the programs and services of the total institution. This means that all diploma or degree programs and educational activities offered by the institution are covered by the institution's accreditation.

The evaluation determines whether or not the institution qualifies for regional recognition. More importantly, periodic self-study and review promote improvement in educational quality and institutional effectiveness.
*http://www.acswasc.org/

Tom J. Facilitating