Posted: Monday, November 23, 2009 3:43 pm

A team of 13 representatives of AdvancED have recommended Rutherford County Schools for district-wide accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, otherwise known as SACS.

District accreditation is a new designation from SACS that consolidates the process so schools don’t have to be accredited individually. The team spent three days with district on Nov. 16-18. The team visited 16 schools and interviewed more than 600 stakeholders during the process, including principals, administrators, teachers, parents, students and other community members.

“You should have heard some of the tremendous compliments your district received,” AdvancED team leader Mary Jo Rasmussen said. “You have a great school system.”

The official accreditation will come early in 2010 after the team’s report is complete and approved by the AdvancED organization.

Rutherford County Schools received several commendations as part of the accreditation team visit. Specific areas of strength include the district’s professional development opportunities for teachers and staff; the support of schools from district administrators; high quality, caring professionals; and the use of technology as an integrated component in the classroom.

Team recommendations include developing a district-wide systematic process for determining each school’s adherence to AdvancED standards and protocol; updating the district’s technology plan as funding becomes available, especially in older schools; and developing a plan to increase stakeholder input in the decision making at the school and district level.

Once the accreditation recommendation is approved officially, the district will maintain the accreditation for a five-year period.