Andersen Elementary School receives accreditation recommendation from board Published Feb. 5, 2009 By Airman 1st Class Carissa Wolff 36th Wing Public Affairs ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -- The Quality Assurance Review Team School Accreditation board evaluated Andersen Elementary School from Feb. 3 through Feb. 5 to assess the school's accreditation status. "The accreditation board now comes to the school every five years due to a policy change; the board used to assess Andersen Elementary on a three-year basis," said Helen Bailey, AES principal. "During the five-year period the accreditation comes to make sure progress has been made and will continue to be made. The midway visit is like a progress report for the school." After the board completes the review, it determines if the school maintains accreditation, said Jason Sheedy, AES assistant principal. "Without an accreditation we can't provide our students with the best teaching practices," Mr. Sheedy said. "It also shows we are monitoring our progress and trying to constantly improve as a new school." School accreditation takes several steps to complete. First, the school assess data such as student testing, demographics and the future job market. After they assess the data, the school must decide what areas need improvement. Based on the results, the school administration sets a goal and develops a plan to meet it. The accreditation board assesses how well the school meets its goal. This year, AES did so well the accreditation board wants the school to create new goals, according to Joann Roscoe, chairperson of the Quality Assurance Review Team School Accreditation board. "AES received the next to highest rating on six out of seven of the categories we assess," said Ms. Roscoe. "On the last category they received the highest rating. They were also exemplary in the areas of their professional development program, teacher commitment to improvement and showed an embedded collaboration effort at the classroom, teacher, grade and school levels." The board approved Andersen Elementary School's accreditation. "It was a group effort between parent volunteers, the school staff and Team Andersen's 36th Mission Support Group," Mr. Sheedy said. "Without everyone, this wouldn't have been possible." Ms. Roscoe agreed. "A good education support system starts from the top down," she said. "After evaluating this school, it's clear that the 36th MSG has a vested interest in the school and provides for the school, making sure the support system does start from the top."