BEACON FALLS — The New England Association of Schools and Colleges recently awarded Woodland Regional High School continued accreditation status.
The New England Association of Schools and Colleges is a voluntary membership organization of more than 2,000 public schools, colleges and universities, independent schools, and vocational, technical and career institutions. Secondary schools are accredited through the association’s Committee on Public Secondary Schools.
A team of 16 educators conducted an on-site visit of the school in April and submitted a report to the committee.
Woodland was commended in several areas in the report, including the quality and variety of support services offered to students, the opportunities available for students to connect classroom learning with authentic experiences outside of the school environment, and the wide range of technology provided through the support of the district and the efforts of the teachers to integrate technology into instruction.
The report also included recommendations, including ensuring clear alignment between the written and taught curriculum, ensuring 21st century learning expectations drive the curriculum, instruction, and assessment practices of the school, and ensuring the curriculum emphasizes depth of understanding and knowledge through inquiry and problem solving, higher order thinking, cross-disciplinary learning, and authentic learning opportunities both in and out of school.
Officials will develop a plan to address all recommendations. The next step in the ongoing accreditation process is to submit a two-year progress report, which is due on Oct. 1, 2018.
“I would like to personally thank all the people who played a vital role in the successful self-study process that led to Woodland being awarded continued accreditation in the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, including faculty, staff, students, parents and members of the communities of Beacon Falls and Prospect. This is not an easy process, but one that will lead to continuous improvement for Woodland Regional High School,” Woodland Principal Kurt Ogren said.
