SJHHS Begins Preparation For WASC Visit

Students+work+on+a+chemistry+lab+to+enhance+their+knowlege+about+various+chemicals+and+their+effects.+Instruction+and+curriculum+are+two+of+many+aspects+under+evaluation+by+the+WASC+committee.+

Kayla Greer

Students work on a chemistry lab to enhance their knowlege about various chemicals and their effects. Instruction and curriculum are two of many aspects under evaluation by the WASC committee.

Amanda Rooker, Editor In Chief
March 3, 2017

In order for SJHHS to be accredited as a school, it must pass evaluations by the Accrediting Commission for Schools Western Association for Schools and Colleges also known as ACS WASC.

The WASC process involves the writing of a self-study report that includes the participation of teachers, staff, administrators, parents, and students in the investigation and analysis of SJHHS’ purpose and impact on student learning. The school is currently preparing for a 3-day visit from a WASC visiting committee next year.

According the the ACS WASC mission statement, “WASC accreditation assures that an institution has clearly defined objectives appropriate to education; has established conditions under which their achievement can reasonably be expected; appears in fact to be accomplishing them substantially; [and] is so organized, staffed, and supported that it can be expected to continue to do so.”

This year, the WASC process consists of gathering data and information for the writing of the report. The information being gathered spans all areas including demographic data, data on the communities that SJHHS students live in, data on the staff, data on test scores such as AP tests, SBAC testing, SATs and ACTs, data on where SJHHS students are going to college afterwards, and data on how many Ds and Fs students are receiving in all of the classes here.

SJHHS english teacher Katie Klingbeil has overseen this process as the school’s head WASC coordinator. Klingbeil is in charge of compiling the entire self-study report, in addition to organizing the visit when it occurs in the spring.

While the ultimate goal of WASC is for the school to renew its accredidation, Klingbeil commented that SJHHS will experience other benefits as well. “It’s a really good process because it helps us identify what are we really good at at this school and then where do we need to grow and how can we get better, in all different areas–in the stuff we teach, in how students are getting involved in activities, in the cleanliness of the campus. Overall, it’s going to be a really beneficial process for the school,” Klingbeil said.

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It’s a really good process because it helps us identify what are we really good at at this school and then where do we need to grow and how can we get better, in all different areas–in the stuff we teach, in how students are getting involved in activities, in the cleanliness of the campus. Overall, it’s going to be a really beneficial process for the school.

— Katie Klingbeil

One chapter of the report consists of five separate areas that need to be evaluated: Organization, Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment, and Culture. For these 5 sections, WASC asks for perspectives and viewpoints from people with different types of involvement in the school including parents, students and teachers. Several students and faculty members have been organized into the five focus groups to give their input.