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around campus

Cor Jesu AdvancED Accreditation Report Reflects School’s Strengths

Every five years, Cor Jesu is reviewed for accreditation by AdvancED, and
throughout the ongoing process, the school assesses its program and prac- What is AdvancED Accreditation?
tices to ensure the highest level of learning for our students. This past In order to earn AdvancED Performance
Cor Jesu April, members of the AdvancED review team visited Cor Jesu to Accreditation, institutions must:
Academy’s determine the school’s continuous improvement journey. • Meet the AdvancED Standards and ac-
creditation policies.
Led internally by Cor Jesu’s Dean of Curriculum and Profes-
Corporate sional Development Jeanne Suda and retired English teacher • Demonstrate quality assurance
Partners Initiative Jane Laurentius, Cor Jesu prepared for the accreditation team through internal and engagement
reviews.
is a unique and last fall, surveying stakeholders, collecting data, assimilating • Engage in continuous improvement.
vibrant reports and providing evidence for all the standards required. standards and evidence-based criteria,
“Using a set of rigorous research-based
program... The comprehensive effort paid off tremendously. Below are the AdvancED Performance Accreditation
highlights from the AdvancED Performance Review Report that examines the whole institution – the poli-
we would like to share with the Cor Jesu community. We are grate- cies, programs, practices, learning condi-
ful for all our constituents who are so committed to Catholic education tions and cultural context – to determine
for young women, as well as for the school’s innovative and solid educational how well the parts work together to carry
out the institution’s vision and meet the
program. Cor Jesu would not be the premier school it is today without the needs of every learner.
“AdvancED Performance Accredita-
entire community playing an active role in advancing the mission and the ASCJ tion is not about earning a label for a
charism. one-time evaluation. Rather, it recognizes
AdvancED Performance Review Report Highlights: those institutions that have sustained an
exemplary commitment to continuous
Continuous Improvement Journey Narrative improvement and learner outcomes.
“Combining the knowledge and
• In 2017, Cor Jesu Academy implemented a formal process to develop a five-year strate- expertise of a research institute, the skills
gic plan…The school leadership and the Advisory Board review progress on the plans of a management consulting firm and
on a quarterly basis.
the passion of a grassroots movement for
• The [AdvancED] Engagement Review Team identified two areas that, when addressed, educational change, we serve as a trusted
will positively impact Cor Jesu’s strategic plan implementation, specifically on the cur- partner to 36,000 educational institu-
riculum and instruction goal…Cor Jesu Academy’s emergent capacity for continuous tions...across the United States and 70 oth-
improvement is supported by a long history of fiscal responsibility; strong, responsive er nations. AdvancED was formed through
leadership; and community commitment to the empowerment of their young women. a 2006 merger of the Pre-K-12 divisions of
Powerful Practice the North Central Association Commission
on Accreditation and School Improvement
• Cor Jesu Academy’s Corporate Partners Initiative is a unique and vibrant program avail- (NCA CASI) and the Southern Associa-
able to the young women while at Cor Jesu and beyond. tion of Colleges and Schools Council on
• The system provides programs and services for learners’ educational futures and career Accreditation and School Improvement
planning. (SACS CASI)—and expanded through the
addition of the Northwest Accreditation
• Evidence: Cor Jesu has collaborated with outside partners that share their vision and Commission (NWAC) in 2012.
passion for forming tomorrow’s leaders today. This program lays a solid foundation for “The AdvancED Continuous Improve-
career and future. The CPO program was consistently mentioned in interviews with ment System provides a comprehensive
students, parents, leadership and teachers. Many alumnae and community supporters solution to guide and empower institu-
are instrumental in the continued success and expansion of the CPI program. Summer tions through a unique and customized
Engineering Experience (S.E.E.), Independent Science Research (ISR), and Internship improvement journey. This solution in-
Networking Connections are just three of several CPI programs offered. cludes a continuous improvement frame-
work with proven processes, protocols
Special thanks to Jeanne, Jane and all the faculty and staff who worked and personalized professional services,
throughout the school year to provide the needed assessments, information and as well as, a suite of research-based tools
evidence for the standards by which the school was assessed. And thank you to and resources aligned with the AdvancED
Performance Standards and School/Sys-
the stakeholders who provided feedback and insights that challenge and help us tem Quality Factors.”
continuously improve how we educate the young women entrusted to us.

8 COR JESU ACADEMY