NCA-CASI
Login - Search - Contact - Documents - Events & Staff Development - Logo - Tools

RA 1 RA 2 RA 3 RA 4 RA 5 RA 6
RA 7 RA 8 RA 9 RA 10 RA 11 RA 12
RA 13 RA 14 RA 15 RA 16 RA 20 RA 21
RA 22 RA 23 RA 30 RA 31 RA 32 RA 33
RA 34 RA 40 RA 41 RA 42 RA 43 RA 44
RA 45 RA 50 RA 51 RA 52 RA 53 RA 54


RESOURCES AND ALLOCATION

The space, facilities, and environment of the school are safe for students and of a size, configuration, and condition to properly serve the attainment of the goals of the school. Those people serving students are qualified to do so through documented training and experience. Sufficient time is available and organized so that the school community's mission, goals, and current improvement initiatives can be fulfilled. A coordinated system designed to increase students' access to information and expand their knowledge base is available. Sufficient financial resources are available to provide space, people, time, materials, and instructional programs to maximize the potential for all students to make successful life transitions.

Time

Membership Criteria
RA 1 The amount of time allocated for student learning and staff development is sufficient and appropriately organized to enable the school to accomplish its goals.
   
RA 2 The length of the school year and planning time meet or exceed the following specifications:

Length of School Year--Instructional Time
Level Days Per Year Or Clock Hours Per Year
RA 2a Pre-Kindergarten A planned program
RA 2b Kindergarten 175 days @ 2.5 hours minimum or 438 hours
RA 2c Elementary 175 days @ 5.0 hours minimum or 875 hours
RA 2d Middle Level 175 days @ 5.5 hours minimum or 963 hours
RA 2e Secondary 175 days @ 6.0 hours minimum or 1050 hours

RA 2g Planning Time. All full-time teachers have at least an average of 200 minutes per week scheduled for planning and conference time. Pre-kindergarten teachers shall have planning time appropriate to their assignment.
   
Improvement Criteria
RA 3 Interruptions to instructional time are kept to a minimum, and the amount of time devoted to student learning is maximized.
   
RA 4 Planning/conference time is used appropriately so that staff may effectively meet the needs of students.
   

Back to the top

Space

Membership Criteria
RA 5 All space and facilities utilized by the school are of appropriate size, configuration, and condition to enhance the achievement of the goals of the school.
   
RA 6 The site and facilities provide a safe and healthful environment.
   
RA 7 Fire, police, health, or other designated officials conduct regular safety inspections. All legal safety requirements are observed.
   
RA 8 Inspections of the site, building, and equipment and evaluation of the safety and emergency procedures are conducted regularly. Identified hazards and deficiencies are dealt with promptly.
   
RA 9 Provision is made for security and safety of students in terms of both in-school disorder and external intrusion.
   
RA 10 The site is readily accessible to the school population; as free as possible from traffic, other hazards, and distracting noise; and of sufficient size.
   
RA 11 The building is clean, attractive, in good repair, and (where required) barrier free to serve the needs of all students.
   
RA 12 Recognized standards and legal requirements for heating, ventilation, and illumination are met.
   
RA 13 Equipment is appropriate in size, type, and quantity for the students attending the school including students with special needs. Appropriate space is provided for storage, materials preparation, and consultation.
   
RA 14 The buildings and grounds are maintained with consideration for functional and aesthetic values.
   
RA 15 Permanent records of students and staff are protected from theft, fire, or other damage.
   
Improvement Criteria
RA 16 School facilities are open, as necessary to accomplish the mission and goals of the school, for extended hours and days for student and public use.

Back to the top

Personnel

Membership Criteria
RA 20 The school staff is of sufficient quality and number and appropriately assigned so that the school can achieve the goals of the school.
   
RA 21 Preparation and Qualifications:
 
  1. Degree and Legal Standards: All professional personnel hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution and meet the regular certification standards of the state or the equivalent.

    For personnel who are not required to meet regular state certification standards, NCA-CASI defines the equivalent to certification as meeting the following within a minimum of a three-year period:


    1. 18 collegiate semester hours of pedagogy from a regionally accredited institution (including a minimum of six semester hours of student teaching); or
    2. 270 clock hours of staff development in teaching and learning (including a minimum of 90 clock hours of mentoring by a master/certified mentor) as approved by the superintendent or the superintendent's designee; or
    3. Any combination of collegiate semester hours and clock hours (equivalent to 18 semester hours or 270 clock hours) that includes the minimum student teaching experience or mentoring experience.
   
 
  1. Elementary Teaching Staff
 
    1. Pre-kindergarten teachers meet the regular certification standards of the state for their specific assignment. However, where state standards are lower, 15 semester hours of early childhood education coursework are required. The preparation may include student teaching in an early child-hood education program, for which no more than 3 semester hours of credit may be counted within the total of 15 required.
    2. Kindergarten teachers have a minimum of 9 semester hours of coursework in early childhood education and meet the regular certification standards of the state for the specific assignment. The preparation may include student teaching in an early childhood education program, for which no more than 3 semester hours of credit may be counted within the total of 9 required.
    3. Elementary teachers meet the regular certification standards of the state or the equivalent. Specialists (e.g., reading, special education) meet the regular certification standards of the state or the equivalent. Where state standards are lower, 15 semester hours of preparation in the area of specialization shall be considered minimal. (See RA 21i for counselors and media specialists.)
   
 
  1. Middle Level Teaching Staff
 
    1. Teachers with preparation and certification for middle level schools may teach all subjects and levels for which their certificates are endorsed.
    2. Teachers with secondary certification have 16 semester hours in the field, appropriately distributed.
    3. Teachers with elementary certification have 12 semester hours in the field, appropriately distributed.
    4. Teachers of combined subject classes have at least 24 semester hours of appropriately distributed credit in the included subject fields.
    5. Teachers of special education, exploratory subjects, work experience, pre-vocational/vocational, and other subjects for which NCA-CASI requirements have not been established are approved by the Commission if they hold a valid certificate for the respective field issued by the state in which they are teaching.
   
 
  1. Secondary Teaching Staff
 
    1. Teachers have 24 semester hours in the field (agriculture, art, business, English, each foreign language, family and consumer sciences, industrial technology, mathematics, music, physical education and health, science, social studies). Coursework is appropriately distributed for each subject taught. Note. Appropriately distributed typically means at least one three hour course in the subject being taught.
    2. Special education. Teachers hold a valid certificate for the respective field in which they are teaching.
    3. All other subjects. Teachers of other subjects for which NCA-CASI requirements have not been established are approved if they hold state certification or have a minimum of 9 semester hours in the subject.
   
 
  1. Optional Preparation. A teacher may qualify to teach a certain subject by taking and passing a proficiency examination provided by an accredited college or by receiving certification by a state department of education that indicates the teacher has demonstrated competency equal to that attained by completion of the required preparation.
   
 
  1. Superintendent. The superintendent meets state certification requirements or has at least 60 semester hours of graduate credit, inclusive of the masters degree from a regionally accredited college or university. At least 30 semester hours of graduate credit is training in administration, curriculum, supervision, and related fields. The superintendent has a minimum of two years of teaching experience.
   
 
  1. Principal. The principal meets state certification requirements or holds a masters degree from a regionally-accredited college or university and has at least 20 semester hours of graduate work in professional education with major emphasis on administration, curriculum, supervision, and related subjects. The principal has a minimum of two years of teaching experience.
   
 
  1. Assistant Principal. The assistant principals meet state certification requirements or have at least 20 semester hours of graduate work in professional education with a major emphasis on administration, supervision, and related subjects.
   
 
  1. Counselors, media specialists, and non-teaching professional personnel shall meet state certification and/or qualification requirements (or the equivalent) or have a minimum of 18 semester hours in the field.
   
 
  1. Paraprofessionals, teacher aides, and interns meet state qualifications for their respective positions
   

Back to the top

RA 22 Assignments of all professional staff are appropriate and reasonable and are in keeping with the professional preparation of each staff member. Administrators, counselors, and media staff members are provided in the ratios indicated on the following tables. The minimum number in each category and the total FTE in the building must be met.
 
  1. Total Staffing Requirements for Administrators, Counselors, and Media Specialists in an Elementary School.

Enrollment Total FTE in Building Minimum FTE in Each Category
Principal Assistant Principal Counselor Media   
0-250 1.0 [ 0.5 0.2 ]**
251-599 2.0 [ 1.0 0.2 ]**
600-800 2.5 [ 1.0 0.5 ]   
Over 800 3.0 [ 1.0 0.5 0.5 ]   
Note. The minimum FTE positions identified for each category must be staffed by persons meeting NCA-CASI criteria (see RA 21g-h-i).
    **An elementary school enrolling fewer than 600 students may use the following alternative staffing formula:
  1. A qualified media specialist in the district serving in a supervisory role for the school's media center AND
  2. .20 FTE certified staff members (one person) assigned to the media center at the school (classroom teacher, counselor, assistant principal, etc.) AND
  3. 1.00 FTE district-trained adult media aide --paid or unpaid. No more than two persons may share this position. ("Trained" means the person has received at least 15 hours of training from the district media specialist on an annual basis.)

 
  1. Total Staffing Requirements for Administrators, Counselors, and Media Specialists in Middle and Secondary Schools

Enrollment Total FTE in Building Minimum FTE in Each Category
Principal Assistant Principal Counselor Media
0-250 1.5 [ 0.5 0.5 0.5 ]
251-500 2.5 [ 1.0 0.5 0.5 ]
501-750 4.0 [ 1.0 0.5 0.5 0.5 ]
751-1000 5.0 [ 1.0 0.5 0.5 0.5 ]
1001-1500 6.0 [ 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 ]
1501-2000 8.0 [ 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 ]
2001-2500 10.0 [ 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 ]
Over 2500 12.0 [ 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 ]
Note. The minimum FTE positions identified for each category must be staffed by persons meeting NCA-CASI criteria (see RA 21g-h-i).


 
  1. The school is in compliance with state and federal laws regarding equal employment opportunities.
   
RA 23 Pupil-Staff Ratios:
 
  1. The ratio of pupils to teachers and other professional staff members does not exceed 25:1.
  2. In each kindergarten class, the pupil-teacher ratio does not exceed 25:1 without an aide and 30:1 with a full-time aide.
  3. In pre-kindergarten a full-time aide is present whenever students are present and the ratios of students to professional staff are as follows: 2 years old and younger--6:1; over 2 to 4 years old--18:1.
  4. The teaching load for middle level and secondary teachers (including those in unit schools) permits teachers to have time to perform their duties. Except in certain activity-type classes such as typewriting, physical education, and music, the daily student load for each teacher does not exceed 170 students. When several staff members participate in a cooperative teaching project, the length of time of each person's participation is included when computing the individual teacher's load.

Back to the top

Finances

Membership Criteria
RA 30 Sufficient financial resources are available to accomplish the mission and goals of the school.
   
RA 31 All income and expenditures are safeguarded through proper budgetary procedures and are audited annually or as required by law.
   
Improvement Criteria
RA 32 The budget is based upon an assessment of resources needed to accomplish the mission and goals of the school.
   
RA 33 The principal and faculty are involved in developing the budget, in establishing expenditure allocations, and in setting priorities with the budget.
   
RA 34 In analyzing the resources needed, the school makes appropriate use of community resources and community advisory groups.

Instructional Resources


Students have access to a broad range of information through an organized media and technology program that makes maximum use of local, state, national, and international resources.


Back to the top

Media Services


Membership Criteria
RA 40 The school media collection consists of a balance of print, nonprint, and electronic media adequate in quality and quantity to meet the needs of the curricular program.
   
RA 41 Sufficient resources are budgeted and spent annually to maintain a current collection.
   
RA 42 Ongoing instruction is provided for staff and students to ensure effective and appropriate use of all materials available through the center.
   
RA 43 Provision is made for equipment, basic materials, space, and instruction for the staff and students in designing and producing instructional/learning materials. Provision is made for the replacement and updating of all materials.
   
RA 44 Media and technology materials and equipment are available to staff and students throughout the school day and throughout the school year.
   
RA 45 The media services are provided by an adequate number of appropriately prepared personnel.

Back to the top

Information Technology


Membership Criteria
RA 50 The school has an ongoing instructional technology plan that addresses utilization, staff development, effectiveness, and the needs of all students and staff.
   
RA 51 The instructional technology plan includes a budget that is realistic for the needs of students and prepares them for living and learning in the 21st century.
   
RA 52 The school has access to current technology to continually expand its information base.
   
RA 53 All technology resources are conveniently accessible to all students, faculty, and staff and are integrated across the curriculum.
   
RA 54 Personnel with appropriate expertise are available to assist students and staff in making effective use of all technology resources.


NCA-CASI HOME : STANDARD : EMSU : NEXT

All material on this site © 2000-02 NCA Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement unless otherwise noted.
Questions may be directed to the Webmaster ([email protected]).