AdvancED Report Shows Progress for Gilmer School System

ELLIJAY, Ga – The Gilmer County Charter School System (GCCSS) has finally received their letter of review from AdvancED following an investigation that has been taking place for almost a year now.In the letter sent to superintendent of schools Jason Kouns, AdvancED made several observations (that you will be able to read in the full review by clicking this link: GilmerCountyGAMonitoringReviewReport01222015.pdf ), but some of the main points are as follows:

First of all, and probably most important, the GCCSS has been moved from an Accredited ¨Warned¨ status to an Accredited ¨Advised¨ status. This is great improvement for the GCCSS.

Secondly, the GCCSS, although noted for improvement, will now be expected to focus on the fidelity and sustainability of the recommendations mentioned throughout the letter that was sent.

Thirdly, the GCCSS will be expected to do a great deal of self-regulation and monitoring to present formative information showing patterns and trends consistent with the governance processes.

Lastly, the GCCSS will be asked to present an additional Institutional Progress Report to AdvancED by July 1, 2015. If deemed appropriate, an additional on-site visit may/may-not be required.

In the “conclusion” section of the letter from AdvancED it states, “The Monitoring Review Team recognized areas in which the institution is making progress toward the Required Actions made by the Special Review Team. Indeed, given the relatively short amount of time between the Special Review and the Monitoring Review, it is hard to see how the system could have done more than has been done to meet some of the directives, particularly those relating to board training.”

Even with the applauded improvements made by the GCCSS it will be very important for everyone to remember, as stated in the letter, that the board will still need to work hard “so that compliance with best practice and with accreditation standards is seen as a continuous (and never-ending) process, rather than as an event.”

Continue to check back with FYN for more on the investigation from AdvancED.