Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Neasc Accreditation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Burrillville High School receives largely positive NEASC decennial report; student-learning standard flagged for further work
Summary
NEASC's decennial accreditation visit commended Burrillville High School for climate, CTE programs and student supports but identified "student learning" (curriculum implementation) as the sole foundational element not yet fully met pending curriculum approvals and implementation.
Burrillville High School publicly released the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) decennial visiting-team report at the Burrillville School Committee meeting on Sept. 9.
Administrators said the visiting team commended the school for its culture and climate, relationships among students and staff, expanded career and technical education offerings, increased AP enrollment and improvements to the library media center. The report highlighted the high school's Bronco Focus Hour, student digital portfolios and career-focused pathways such as the certified nursing assistant (CNA) and EMT components of the biomedical program.
"The relationships that the students have with each other and the relationships that the teachers have with the students was a consistent standout," said Mr. Lazarecki, a member of the high school administrative team. School administrators also noted recognition for the district's unified champion/special Olympics involvement and increased postsecondary exposure through Bronco Focus Hour.
Dr. Salito said the visiting team's final ratings met the NEASC foundational elements overall, with one exception: "The only area that did not meet the standard is student learning," he said, explaining that some curricula are not fully implemented districtwide because administrators are waiting for Department of Education-approved curriculum options before final adoption and roll-out.
Administrators described the NEASC process as a multi-year cycle that began with self-study in 2021, a collaborative conference in 2023, and culminated in last year's decennial visit. The school plans to use the NEASC recommendations to make scheduled improvements, including expanded common planning time for teachers and changes to the senior portfolio presentation to increase community access.
Committee members praised the administration and staff. The district will post the full NEASC report on its website and make printed copies available at public locations.
