Subject: Accountability Procedures Manual (APM) for On-Site Evaluations, 1999-2000

Staff members in the Division of Accountability Evaluations revised the Accountability Procedures Manual (APM) for On-Site Evaluations, 1999-2000, on September 22, 1999. Revisions were made to the sections listed below:

Accreditation Review-Dropout Only

Academically Unacceptable District Rating: Dropout Only

Note: The district would be scheduled for an Integrated Visit--Refer to procedures pertaining to an integrated visit that are noted in the Accountability Procedures Manual.

Campus Dropouts

First-Year: Desk Audit--Dropout Only

Second-Year: Accreditation Review--Dropout Only

Purpose

The Division of Accountability Evaluations is responsible for monitoring first-year dropout campuses through a desk audit. An on-site accreditation evaluation will be conducted for second-year dropout campuses only as determined by the annual Academic Excellence Indicator System (AEIS) student dropout rate. A dropout rate that exceeds state standards for all students or specific student populations (African American, Hispanic, White, or economically disadvantaged) can result in a desk audit and/or accreditation evaluation.

The major purposes of the performance-based accreditation reviews are to:

• identify factors that may contribute to the areas of high dropout rates for special populations (including populations and special programs)
• determine the extent to which organized and effective planning and decision making is occurring at both the campus and district levels to address the specific areas of identified student performance deficiencies
• determine the factors impacting the condition of performance and low attendance
• provide recommendations for district/campus/school improvements
• recommend followup when special program deficiencies are noted
• recommend to the Commissioner of Education any additional sanctions that may be deemed necessary.
  
  

Participants

Campus: First-Year Dropout--Desk Audit

One staff member from the Division of Accountability Evaluations will be assigned to conduct the desk audit.

Campus: Second-Year Dropout--Accreditation Review

The accreditation peer review team for an on-site evaluation is composed of the following:

• one or more Agency staff members
• TSII member(s).
  
  

Procedures

Campus: First-Year Dropout--Desk Audit

• desk audit conducted by an assigned staff member in the Division of Accountability Evaluations
• If the district is scheduled for another type of on-site visit, the assigned staff member may use the identified activities related to the visit as a means to collect and verify additional information and data relating to the desk audit.

The desk audit review will incorporate the following activities:

• phone call to the district and/or principal to discuss the desk audit
• discussion of information/data that the district will forward to the Agency
• review of campus data
• if needed, phone calls to gather/verify information and data
• complete desk audit review
• mail letter to the district
• Note: As noted, if the district is scheduled for another type of on-site visit, the assigned staff member may use the identified activities related to the visit as a means to collect and verify additional information and data relating to the desk audit in lieu of phone calls. The product of the desk audit will be a letter that will be mailed with the report that the district will receive.
  
  

Points of Review

• areas of low performance or condition of performance
• campus improvement plans
• planning and decision-making: degree of involvement
• campus self-evaluations
• other pertinent information available.
  
  

Campus: Second-Year Dropout--Accreditation Review

On-site review with the following activities:

• abbreviated district entry conference
• optional district roundtable discussion
• campus roundtable discussion
• superintendent pre-exit conference
• district exit conference
• TSII orientation
• superintendent's interview
• board of trustees' interviews
• district-level staff interviews
• teacher interview.
  
  

Points of Review

• areas of low performance or condition of performance
• district/campus improvement plans
• planning and decision-making policies and procedures
• district/campus self-evaluations
• district/campus budget summaries
• Agency-generated Accountability Profiles
• prior accreditation reports
• waivers
• complaints
• other pertinent information available.
  
  

Product(s)

Campus: First-Year Dropout

• one letter to the district from the Division of Accountability Evaluations. Note: If the district is scheduled for another type of on-site visit, the district letter will be mailed with the report that the district will receive.
  
  

Campus: Second-Year Dropout--Accreditation Review/Report

• one district report and appropriate campus reports in districts with two or more Low-Performing campuses
• one campus report and no district report for districts with one Low-Performing campus.
  
  

It is the intent of the Division of Accountability Evaluations that this document serves as a helpful guide to assist districts in preparing for the on-site evaluations. A copy of this Accountability Procedures Manual can be downloaded from the Agency website at the following address - http://www.tea.state.tx.us/account.eval/.

Sincerely yours,
Neida Estringel, Ph.D., Coordinator
Accountability Evaluations

For further information on this topic, contact Accountability Evaluations at 512-475-3112.

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