Caldwell recognized for a state first

The Benton School District is celebrating one of its own for becoming the first school in the state to become fully accredited as part of the Highly Effective Schools accreditation pilot program for the 2021-2022 school year, according to the BSD.

The process for accreditation was led by Assistant Principal Jennifer Almond and the Caldwell Leadership team. Almond and the team were honored with Panther Pride Awards at the most recent Benton School Board meeting for their achievement.

“Built on the foundation of the ‘Professional Learning Communities at Work’ process and the ‘High Reliability Schools’ model, Solution Tree’s Highly Effective Schools Accreditation process recognizes schools and districts committed to achieving and maintaining the highest levels of educational quality,” Solution Tree said of the process.

Caldwell was awarded full accreditation as a Highly Effective School for the 2021-2022 school year, becoming the first school in the state to do so.

According to Solution Tree, the Highly Effective School Accreditation will:

• Validate the high-quality work being done across a school community.

• Align school improvement efforts to the Professional Learning Communities at Work process and High Reliability Schools’ model.

• Identify implementation gaps and develop growth area action plans.

• Receive formal assessment and evaluation of the school’s progress from PLC and HRS experts.

• Demonstrate a school’s commitment to quality to community stakeholders and parents.

The pilot program accreditation, sponsored by Solution Tree and Henderson ERZ, has earned Caldwell a badge to display on the school’s website and a window cling for the front door of the school showing its achievement. The school will also receive an official Highly Effective School Accreditation certificate.