(FRANKFORT, Ky.) -- The Kentucky Department of Education is seeking active or retired teachers, administrators, university faculty and parents to be members of scholastic audit teams.
The scholastic audit process is part of the state's mandated assistance for schools program. The audit is a comprehensive review of a school's learning environment, organizational efficiency and student academic performance. Results of the audits will be used to determine the level of support necessary to improve student academic performance.
Eligibility for audits is determined by a school's accountability index in the Commonwealth Accountability Testing System (CATS). Based on CATS results, the lowest-scoring one-third of Kentucky schools below the assistance line will be audited. During the last accountability cycle, nearly 30 schools received mandated audits.
The scholastic audit teams' responsibilities include:
- making recommendations for assistance to schools
- submitting a comprehensive report that will include specific recommendations to improve teaching and learning; evaluation of school-based decision making decisions; identification of assistance and resources needed for improvement; and identification of priorities and strategies for improvement
The primary tools of the audit teams are the Standards and Indicators for School Improvement and its companion document, Performance Descriptors and Glossary for Kentucky's Standards and Indicators for School Improvement.
Selected participants will receive five days of training through the department during the week of October 18th and will receive a daily stipend of $150. The audits will occur during the months of November through February. Team members will receive $350 during the audit process, and team leaders will receive $400.
For a copy of the application, visit the department's Web site at http://www.education.ky.gov and enter #SAA2004 in the keyword/search box at the top of the page. Applications also are available by calling the Office of Leadership and School Improvement at (502) 564-2116 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. EDT.
The application deadline is May 28, 2004.
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