The Right Path
TCS Maintains District Accreditation
"TCS is positioned for developing a world-class model of excellence."
Indications of Progress
Several leading indicators show the that work the Tuscaloosa City Schools is doing is yielding results and progress. From National Blue and Green Ribbon Schools, Council of Leaders for Alabama Schools (CLAS) Banners, an award-winning summer learning program to recognition among the top 50 of Alabama schools for third-grade reading proficiency, to supports for National Board Certification and STEM certification, TCS is on the path to improved outcomes for all students.
According to AdvancED, the accreditation organization founded on more than 100 years of work in continuous improvement, "TCS is positioned for developing a world-class model of excellence." AdvancED is committed to helping institutions continuously improve through its mission is to lead and empower the education community to ensure that all learners realize their full potential. Accreditation is renewed every five years.
In March, a team of educators visited Tuscaloosa to offer a peer review of how the system is performing in three domains: leadership capacity, learning capacity and resource management. The team rated the Tuscaloosa City Schools, an Index of Education Quality (IEQ) of 311.45, which is above the average range of 278.34-283.33 for all institutions evaluated for accreditation in the last five years. The IEQ is a holistic measure of overall performance based on a comprehensive set of standards and review criteria.
On The Right Path
Superintendent Dr. Mike Daria called the findings an “affirmation of the right work being done and being on the right path.” That path includes the system’s strategic plan which focuses on three areas: teaching and learning, human resources and facilities. The fidelity to the plan was also noted in the report. Allocations of human, material and fiscal resources are aligned to the system’s identified needs and priorities to improve student performance and organizational effectiveness.
“We’re a district where we’re not where we need to be on outcomes,” Daria said. “But they saw intentionality and urgency with our plan.”
More than 675 school and community stakeholders participated in the review to provide the team with their perspective on the system. The evidence confirmed a high level of leadership across TCS that begins with visionary leadership of the superintendent and is energized by a positive climate and sense of hope that the community will be the beneficiary of an educated and productive TCS graduate.
Other Key Findings:
- TCS development of practices, processes, programs and services for learners’ educational future and career planning (e.g. TCS graduate profile, dual enrollment, internships and workforce opportunities, International Baccalaureate) is beginning to change the educational landscape.
- TCS engages in a continuous improvement process that produces evidence, including measurable results of improving student learning and professional practice.
- Board members are a part of the continuous improvement process.
- TCS looks a data with a broad lens of scrutiny that includes performance data, attendance data, teacher retention, discipline reports/infractions, purchasing and other factors, all of which have clearly defined and documented processes that produce evidence of desired outcomes.
- Two schools were removed from the failing schools list in 2019.
Setting the Standard of High Expectations for All
Daria said TCS must continue to pursue of a standard of excellence through the system.
“We’ve got to continue to unite as a school system and as a community,” said Daria. “We’ve got to be galvanized as a unified system. We must make sure we have a high-quality teacher in every classroom across the district.”