VASS Educational Services Review Program
Overview
An Educational Services Review (ESR) is one of several professional services offered by the Virginia Association of School Superintendents for both new and incumbent superintendents, particularly those who are considering new programs or modifications in their division’s educational programming.
There are two major objectives of a Review. One is to identify key strengths of a school division’s governance, administrative, instructional, business, and operations functions. A second objective is to identify areas for improvement within any of these areas and give specific recommendations for improvement. The Association’s most popular Review is the specific program review.
Superintendents request Reviews by contacting the VASS Executive Director, the VASS Project Coordinator, or the ESR Consultant.
Benefits
A VASS Educational Services Review provides the following benefits to participating school divisions:
- An independent analysis and objective point of view regarding division programs and operations
- New ideas for delivering instructional programs, carrying out day-to-day operations, improving communications and planning
- An opportunity for division personnel to give their perceptions of division strengths and areas for improvement
- A springboard for setting priorities on specific areas for improvement
- An assessment of ‘improvement focus’ – how well the division/school assesses needs, people, and program effectiveness
- An evaluation of adequacy of internal fiscal controls
- Initiative to continue self-evaluation, modification of division goals and objectives for improvement of all educational programs
Scope
- Governance
- Communications/Public Relations
- Human Resources/Staff Development
- Planning and Evaluation
- Regular Instructional Programs
- Special Education
- Other Instructional Programs (e.g. Vocational)
- Student Services (e.g. Guidance and Counseling)
- Accounting and Payroll
- Budgeting
- Cash Management
- Data Processing
- Purchasing
- Auditing
- Risk Management/Safety
- Maintenance/Facilities Management
- Food Service
- Transportation
Review Process
Reviews are led by Team Leaders who are active or retired Virginia superintendents. VASS also uses experienced central office and school-level specialists on peer teams. These individuals are selected to match the needs of the school division requesting the Review. VASS teams use multiple data-gathering methods -- confidential personal interviews, surveys, focus groups, school division documents and reports -- to obtain information and to produce a formal, written report for the superintendent.
VASS requires a meeting of the team leader and team consultant with superintendents inviting projects prior to initiating a contract for services, selecting team members, or completing on-site visits. Once a contract is approved, the school division inviting the Review appoints an on-site coordinator to work with VASS to organize the Review process. Teams are generally on site for 2-3 days to gather information. Teams range from 4 to 8 members. Review reports are usually completed within 6-8 weeks from the time of the site visit.
Final Report
- An objective overview of the key strengths and areas for improvement of the division’s [or specific] programs
- Identification of areas where organizational or fiscal effectiveness may be improved with specific observations of current practices and recommendations for new practices
- An assessment of how well central administration [individual school administration] is supporting programs reviewed
- An analysis of the division’s use of ‘best practices’ as they would be most effective in that division
- A chart of recommendations from which the superintendent, board, and staff may set priorities for improvement action