| At Saucon Valley, we talk about the need to set challenging standards and document our growth toward them.
To that end the District has volunteered to bring in the Accreditation for Growth (AFG) process sponsored by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
The public can expect to hear a lot about AFG over the next five years because that is the length of commitment.
So what is AFG? Simply put, it's a commitment to the public to make continuous improvement of student performance.
Specifically, clear and measurable goals are set by representatives of the District and public.
These goals are made public and monitored by the Middle States Association.
In essence, Middle States will hold our collective noses to the grindstone, resulting in our either gaining or not gaining their external validation.
Why would a school district decide to take on this kind of rigorous initiative?
There are several reasons.
First of all, with accountability comes public certainty about what we do well and what we need to improve.
Second, the AFG process helps us establish educational priorities and to maintain a focus on them.
This is not always easy in an organization where politics, individual self-interest, and a myriad of special interest groups compete for resources.
Third, the process builds capacity for progress that is not dependent on a single individual.
Public education has historically been vulnerable to changes in leadership.
Saucon Valley has certainly experienced this phenomenon in the recent past.
AFG requires the Board to commit to a five-year process that continues no matter who in in charge. |