School District 4 Awarded Accreditation

Pendleton - Anderson School District Four Superintendent announced today, September 30, 2009, that Anderson School District Four was granted District Accreditation from the AdvancED Accreditation Commission, the national commission that confers the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI) accreditation seal. Receiving this accreditation status means that the district and all of its 6 schools are accredited, and that Anderson Four is recognized across the nation as a quality school system.
The accreditation process involved three ongoing components: 1) meeting high quality standards; 2) implementing a continuous process of improvement; and 3) engaging in quality assurance through internal and external review. The district’s accreditation is for a five-year term with regular monitoring of progress and reporting occurring during the 5-year term.
“"We, in Anderson Four, are delighted with the positive findings of the QAR Team,” said Dr. Lee D’Andrea, Superintendent. “This is a good school district committed to being a great school district. The accreditation process and recommendations will help make that possible. I want to thank Dr. Joanne Avery and all the Standards Review Committee Chairs, our teachers, our staff and our stakeholders for their work, their honesty and their commitment to excellence. It is a very good day in Anderson School District Four! I look forward to getting the final report."
Accreditation has historically focused on individual schools. Only recently, has the district been perceived as a key leverage point for school improvement. Building on this research, AdvancED developed an accreditation process specifically designed for school districts. “The process invites school districts and their stakeholders to collaboratively review the quality of the district’s systems and the success of each school,” said Dr. Joanne Avery, Deputy Superintendent. “AdvancED accreditation is the mark of quality for our district and all of its schools. It demonstrates to our community that we are committed to providing the very best learning opportunities for all learners.”
Anderson Four has been accredited through SACS since 1979. In March of 2008, the district made a formal application to SACS CASI to pursue accreditation through AdvancED and was officially approved to participate in the accreditation process in October 2008.
Parents and interested community members can learn more about the District Accreditation Process at www.advanc-ed.org