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National standards compliment Arkansas' standards

Published: April 28, 2012   

By Vernell Bowen
Superintendent of Catholic Schools

Vernell Bowen

In a Jan. 28 Catholic Schools Herald section, there was an article published regarding accrediting Catholic and private schools in Arkansas. These standards have been in place since 1988.

Just recently there have been National Standards and Benchmarks issued through the National Catholic Education Association for effective Catholic elementary and secondary schools. In reviewing theses standards and benchmarks, I have found that the Arkansas Non-Public School Accrediting Association standards are very much in line with these standards. What I do like about these new national standards and benchmarks for Catholic schools is that they are written to align with our mission and philosophy for Catholic schools.

These standards and benchmarks have been developed over the past two years following collaboration with educators from Catholic universities, superintendents, principals and other accrediting associations. Dr. Lorraine Ozar, director of the Center for Catholic School Effectiveness School of Education at Loyola University Chicago, chaired the task force.

There are nine characteristics that define the Catholic identity of Catholic schools and serve as a platform on which the standards and benchmarks are written. These characteristics flow directly from the Holy See's teaching on Catholic schools and from statements by Pope Benedict XVI and the American bishops.

The nine characteristics are:

1. Centered in the person of Jesus Christ

2. Contributing to the evangelizing mission of the Church

3. Distinguished by excellence

4. Committed to educate the whole child

5. Steeped in a Catholic worldview

6. Sustained by Gospel witness

7. Shaped by communion and community

8 Accessible to all students

9. Established by the express authority of the bishop

The 13 standards describe policies, programs, structures and processes that should be present in our mission-driven programs in today's Catholic schools. The standards address four domains: mission and Catholic identity, governance and leadership, academic excellence and operational vitality.

The benchmarks provide observable, measurable descriptors for each standard. The benchmarks will assist superintendents, pastors, school leaders and boards in assessing whether or not a school is meeting the standards effectively. As superintendent, I feel that these standards and benchmarks will help me to evaluate the schools more in relationship to the mission and philosophy of Catholic education.

I plan to provide principals, pastors and boards with information regarding these standards and benchmarks during the next school year.

As our schools go through the Arkansas Non-Public Accrediting self-study, these standards and benchmarks should be aligned with the school's self study making sure that the school is adhering to the national standards outlined for Catholic schools. It is a blessing to have these standards and benchmarks at the time when everyone is concerned with national standards and “common core.” The standard will provide a tool for more accountability and planning for the future of Catholic schools.


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