Carefully designed, rigorous, and relevant Senior Project® programs impact more than just the senior year and the seniors. Built upon a strong framework of high expectations blending traditional skills with performance-based application, sophisticated programs raise not only graduation standards but influence student expectations, guide and refine district curricula strategies, and offer continued opportunity for significant community involvement.

This level of program sophistication requires not only fidelity of implementation but policies and procedures that create long-term program quality and sustainability. Designed to reinforce and refine established programs, Senior Project® Certification not only evaluates and validates veteran programs but also facilitates continued, rigorous development.

Backed by more than 20 years of Senior Project® expertise, certification assesses the program’s current status and provides focused, specific suggestions and strategies for strengthening weaknesses, stabilizing procedures, and taking next steps. The Senior Project® moves beyond compliance to commitment and shifts from “program” status to a sustainable and relevant high school reform initiative.

The Senior Project® Certification process is most valuable for veteran programs of 3 years or more. However, using the certification guidelines or attending “certification training” creates a strong framework and guiding vision for programs being implemented.

The Senior Project® Certification involves a thorough program examination incorporating the following processes:

• Initial application
• Required documentation prior to the visit
• On-site visitation from Senior Project® Certification Consultant(s)
  
• Program review guided by a series of “Yes or Not Yet” criteria (school must receive all “yeses” to initially be considered for certification eligibility)
• Guided interviews supported with school documentation when possible (Groups to be interviewed: Administrators, Senior Project Coordinator, Senior Project Steering Committee/ Advisory Board, Community members, students)
• Validation of student ‘learning stretch’
• Quality and content review of randomly chosen student portfolios
• Assessment of 10-15% of randomly chosen Senior Project® student research papers

The outcome of this process involves a thorough report citing specific documentation as well as supporting suggestions for improvement and growth. When all phases of the review process are completed, the report will be sent for review to the Certification Board. If the review supports certification, the superintendent, the principal, and the State Department of Education will be notified. If certification is not awarded, the school will be notified with specific details pinpointing “not yet” status and offering detailed strategies for improvement. (Note: A copy of the report will be sent to the school.) The school will have one year to improve the area(s) highlighted as “Not Yet.”

Once certification is achieved, a school may successfully retain the seal of certification for 4 years by validating continued quality during an annual off site renewal process. Do not hesitate to call if you have any questions related to the Senior Project® certification process.

Alice High School

Alice, TX

Auburndale High School

Olark Livehelp