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Bismarck School Board highlights Cognia accreditation findings, votes OE‑11 in compliance
Summary
District leaders told the board a Cognia engagement review rated Bismarck Public Schools above the network average and identified seven strengths and three growth areas; the board voted unanimously to find OE‑11 instructional programs in compliance.
The Bismarck School Board on June 23 heard a Cognia accreditation engagement report and unanimously voted to find the district's OE‑11 instructional program "taken as a whole" in compliance.
Dr. Tara Olsen, who led the district's accreditation engagement, said the Cognia process involved a year‑and‑a‑half of data review, self‑assessment and a 90‑minute site presentation to a nine‑member review team. "The BPS score was 313, which was above the network average," Olsen said, presenting seven areas the team celebrated and three opportunities for growth.
Mrs. Meyer, the district's instructional leader for the review, said the report called for expanding student voice and choice, improving digital resources and increasing the district's use of data to inform instruction. She told the board the district will begin using the Panorama platform next year to put engagement data into teachers' hands.
Board member Mr. Lee asked why the district uses Cognia; Dr. Olsen replied that the Department of Public Instruction currently selects Cognia as the accrediting body and that the district has used other accreditors in the past. The review, she said, included classroom observations, stakeholder surveys and multi‑year data analysis.
After questions from board members about dual‑credit alignment and teacher credentialing, Missus Peterson moved that the board find OE‑11 "taken as a whole" in compliance. The motion was seconded and carried unanimously by the four members present (Lee, Peterson, Presky, Hager).
The board was shown compliance details on indicator 11.9 (policy ACDA), where Mrs. Meyer said student compliance was 100% while staff compliance remained below that level and the district plans to address the gap through Canvas‑based delivery and other follow‑up measures. District leaders said progress on the report's recommended actions will be monitored and reported back to the board in three years.
The presentation was part of the meeting's "Focus on Success" agenda item and followed by a brief question period before the board moved on to other business.
