FROM STAFF REPORTS

HOOVER – Hoover City Schools announced that the school district has earned continued accreditation status by AdvancED.

The school district was recommended for accreditation, and action was taken at the AdvancED Global Commission meeting held on March 29.

Findings from AdvancED show Hoover City Schools operating at the coveted “Impact Level.” Impact—AdvancEd’s highest level—indicates effective practices system-wide from leadership, learning and resource capacities.

Hoover City Schools’ AdvancED Engagement Review Index of Education Quality score (359.35) sits well above the five-year IEQ range: 278.34-283.33. This scoring spectrum reflects the average of AdvancED accreditation reviews of institutions worldwide.

“One of the (AdvancED Accreditation Review Team members) said to me, ‘Hoover City Schools has set the standard,’” HCS Superintendent Dr. Kathy Murphy said. “Our score is exceptional. This is a remarkable place to be.”

The AdvancED Engagement Review Team visited Hoover City Schools in February to engage in the exhaustive Performance Accreditation Process, interviewing 509 stakeholders and completing almost 60 detailed observations.

Prior to the teams arrival, they poured over hundreds of data points ranging from parent, student and teacher surveys to district-provided evidence and diagnostics.

“Accreditation demonstrates to our students, parents and community that we are focused on raising student achievement, providing a safe and enriching learning environment, and maintaining an efficient and effective operation staffed by highly qualified educators,” Murphy said.

AdvancED provides nationally-recognized accreditation, the purpose of which is continuous improvement focused on increasing student performance. To earn accreditation, systems must meet AdvancED’s high standards, be evaluated by a team of professionals from outside the district, and implement a continuous process of system improvement. Accreditation is granted on a five-year term.

Dr. Debra Walker Smith, director of federal programs and testing, led Hoover City Schools through the accreditation process.

AdvancED accreditation is recognized across state lines, which not only eases the transfer process as students move from one accredited school district to another but also assures parents that Hoover City Schools is meeting nationally accepted standards for quality and successful professional practice.

“AdvancED Accreditation is a rigorous process that focuses the entire system on the primary goal of creating lifelong learners,” said Dr. Mark Elgart, president and CEO of AdvancED. “Hoover City Schools is to be commended for engaging in this process and demonstrating a commitment to continuous improvement.”

Parents and interested community members can learn more about accreditation at Advanc-ed.org.