This year Dougherty County schools will be evaluated on five standards instead of seven and there's no chance of probation. The review team from SACS, will be here September 23rd, and the superintendent says they're ready.
For nearly two years school employees and staff members have been getting ready for an accreditation team to come to Dougherty County and evaluate the school system on five core standards. And this year, they've been able to prepare online.
"When you see that they're coming, you're already getting people in the mindset of, this is SACS and this is what it actually means. We even want the students to know what this is all about," said Dr. Joshua Murfree, the DCSS Superintendent.
Now that much anticipated visit is almost here. From September 23rd until September 26th the team from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools will gather data, visit classrooms in eight schools and interview school board members, principals and community stakeholders.
"They'll ask things of the principals, they get a chance to talk to some students. They get a chance to talk to board members and community stakeholders- What do you think your district is doing? How is the board doing? Is the board supporting the superintendent? Those kind of things," explained Murfree.
The regional organization will ultimately recommend whether the school system should keep its accreditation.
"That secures the standards for us. When a student leaves this school district it says that their diploma means something, it's just not a piece of paper. And that's one of the big parts of accreditation. It also means funds for the school district, all of that's a part of accreditation."
And now there's no longer a chance of probation.
Dougherty County schools have been under close scrutiny regarding title one funds and their free and reduced lunch program.
But Murfree says they're ready. "That's why I tell people, I don't get distracted by that. We go in terms of what we need to be doing and that's it. I don't worry about, am I going to be stressed because this occurred? No."
It could be at least three months before school officials know if they're accredited.
If a school system isn't accredited it makes it more difficult for graduates to get into college and it could also impact funding.
Even if the district is accredited, the review team will hand down recommendations on what areas the school system needs to work on.
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