Spring 2002 Issue

What Does It Mean to Be a Transitions School?   Dear NCA CASI Colleagues: For the second year, NCA CASI will be honoring schools at the Annual Meeting that have achieved Transitions recognition. What does it mean to be a Transitions school?

Transitions is a school improvement model that is based on individual student accountability. The school makes a decision about every student in every credentialing area at the grade levels where the school has chosen to credential. This means that the school decides whether each student is performing well enough that it is likely that he/she will be successful at the next grade level. Different levels of schooling credential in different areas, as shown below:

Part of being able to make credentialing decisions about every student involves developing an effective student information system, agreeing upon processes to be used in making credentialing decisions, agreeing upon the performance standards for credentialing, and developing effective interventions for students who cannot meet the performance standards.

Transitions is the most rigorous school improvement model that I am familiar with, and it responds to the individual accountability that parents and the public expect from schools. In April 2001, 13 districts were recognized for their accomplishments as Transitions schools. The districts and the schools are listed on the following page. These schools are to be commended for their excellence in data-driven decision-making and individual accountability.

The Transitions schools accredited in the spring of 2002 will be recognized in the fall Journal.

Sincerely,

Kenneth F. Gose
Executive Director
NCA CASI

TRANSITIONS SCHOOLS 2001

Thirteen districts had schools that were granted Transitions recognition at the 2001 Annual Meeting. The name of each district is in bold print.

Academy School District 20, Colorado Springs, CO
Aspen Valley HS

Carlinville CUSD1, Carlinville, IL
Carlinville MS, Carlinville HS, South ES, West ES

Evergreen Park Community High District No. 231, Evergreen Park, IL
Evergreen Park HS

Villa Grove CUD302, Villa Grove, IL
Villa Grove ES, Villa Grove HS

Bronson Community Schools, Bronson, MI
Anderson ES, Bronson J/S HS, Chicago Street ES, Ryan ES

Detroit Public Schools, Detroit, MI
Crockett Vocational Tech HS, Henry Ford HS

East Jordan Public Schools, East Jordan, MI
East Jordan ES, East Jordan HS, East Jordan MS

Fennville Public Schools, Fennville, MI
Anna Michen Lower ES, Anna Michen Upper ES, Fennville HS, Fennville MS

Romulus Community Schools, Romulus, MI
Barth ES, Cory ES, Halecreek ES, Merriman ES, Romulus HS, Romulus MS, Wick ES

Sparta Area Schools, Sparta, MI
Englishville HS, Ridgeview ES, Central ES, Sparta HS, Sparta MS

Dublin City Schools, Dublin, OH
Albert Chapman ES, Ann Simpson Davis MS, Daniel Wright ES, Deer Run ES, Dr. Henry W. Karrer MS, Dublin Coffman HS, Dublin Scioto HS, Griffith Thomas ES, Indian Run ES, John Sells MS, Mary Emma Bailey ES, Olde Sawmill ES, Riverside ES, Scottish Corners ES, Willard Grizzell MS, Wyandot ES

Penta County Vocational School District, Perrysburg, OH
Penta Career Center

Perrysburg Exempted Village Schools, Perrysburg, OH
Fort Meigs ES, Frank ES, Perrysburg J-S HS, Toth ES, Woodland ES