Southern Union Conferenceof Seventh-day Adventists

EDGE School of Excellence Application

Educators Delivering GREAT Education

The Process and Orientation For Becoming an Exemplary School!

Overview:1. Orientation by the Local Conference Office Of

Education (LCOE) 2. Review Scoring Rubric3. Design Action Plan(s)4. Consider applying for SU matching funds5. Complete EDGE Application6. Submit application to the LCOE for official

approval 7. LCOE submits application to the SU

Superintendents’ Steering Committee for approval to begin the Journey To Excellence

Overview continued:

8. Participate in a pre-visit with LCOE, SU Developmental Specialists and/or SU Marketing Consultant

9. Refine your Action Plan(s) and complete Action Plan(s) steps within a specified time-frame

10. Complete your Action Plan(s) in the specified time-frame

11. Work with LCOE in preparation for the official Confirmation Visit by the SU Validation Team

Raise Matching Grant“SMART” Funds

(Schools Making A Real Transformation) Raise up to $6,000.

Every dollar deposited by a school into the SU Adventist EDGE S.M.A.R.T. Fund is matched, two dollars for one dollar,

up to $6,000.00!

“SMART” Fund (Schools Making A Real Transformation)

Matching funds available for your school: You raise $1.00: Get matched by $2.00 Maximum amount raised: $6,000 Maximum SU matching funds: $12,000 Maximum amount presented on approval of

application: $18,000.00

“SMART” Fund Dollars can be used for

pre-approved expenditures to accelerate

the progress of the schools’ continuous improvement Action

Plan(s)

Step One: Application Orientation by local conference Review EDGE Scoring Rubric Design Action Plan Decide whether to apply for “SMART” Funds Complete EDGE Application Submit application to the LCOE for Board Of

Education approval Local conference submits application and

documentation to the SU for review and approval to begin the Journey To

Excellence (You can receive “SMART” funds upon approval)

Step Two: Preparation

Participate in the pre-visit with the LCOE, SU Developmental Specialists,

and/or SU Marketing Consultant Complete Action Plan(s) Review Adventist EDGE Action Plans /

Rubric with LCOE Work on components until the LCOE

confirms that you are ready for a SU Validation Committee Visit

Step Three: Confirmation

Formal review of EDGE Rubric Components by the SU Validation Committee

Public Recognition as an Adventist EDGE “School of Excellence”

Receive SU “School of Excellence” Plaque Receive SU “School of Excellence” Trophy Receive SU “School of Excellence” Flag Receive Confirmation Term of up to Five Years

Step Four: Perpetuation Status

1. Maintain

Southern Union

Local Education Office

Local Conference Administration

Various Visitors

2. Drop-in Visits

3. Develop plan for sustaining

Evidence of maintaining a Rubric Score of 90% +

Step Five: Reconfirmation

Evidence that all criteria is moving towards ideal

Submit Confirmation Request for continuation

Expect official visits at anytime

Application Process

Application Process

Application Process

Application Process

Application Process

Application Process

Application Process

Action Plan:See School Evaluation Action Plan Forms and

Learning Places: A Field Guide for Improving the Context of Schooling

http://www.amazon.com/Learning-Places-Improving-Context-Schooling/dp/1412942330/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1252419045&sr=1-2

What you are presently doing Specific plans for improvement Who will be involved/responsible Resources needed Timelines for completion

Component Area

What Next? Form committees to start Action Plan(s):

See Learning Places: A Field Guide for Improving the Context of Your School by Michael Fullen and Cliff St. Germain. Corwin Press, Thousand Oaks, CA

Begin raising matching funds for “SMART” When steps are completed, contact your LCOE to

arrange a collaborative consultation visit with LCOE and the SU Development Specialist, and/or SU Marketing consultant

Partner and collaborate with a sister school for continuous growth

Educators Delivering GREAT Education

Thank You!

Becoming A Southern Union

Adventist EDGE“School of Excellence”

Application, Confirmation, and Reconfirmation Process

Prepared, in collaboration with the Southern Union Conference,by Pamela C. Forbes, M. Ed.

Carolina Conference, September 2009

Educators Delivering GREAT Education