The start of the 2017-18 school year saw numerous districts and charters across the state hit with multiple compliance review requests from the California Department of Education (CDE). Initially we were scrambling to figure out what was needed, what data was being reviewed, and more importantly, “why is this happening?” After the initial shock and confusion, we realized these multiple reviews gave many of us the opportunity to dig deep into our policies and procedures, programs, and staffing and brought to light items that could be improved.
And isn’t that what we want? We want to improve and build better programs for all of the students we serve. Although the process can be stressful, the collaboration that comes from the multiple meetings and the reviewing of student data and programs has resulted in improved programs and service delivery to our students.
Dare we say these reviews have been a good thing? The conversations we have had sparked new ideas and divergent ways of thinking about how to better assist our students in progressing and thriving in their school career and beyond. It has brought us closer together, sparked many new ideas and ways of thinking, and what better way to assist our students to thrive and progress than to come together and facilitate that growth. What we have discovered from these multiple CDE reviews, we can use as tools to assist the children and families we serve. This is a reminder of why we are in this field of work and continue to assist our students in their quest for greatness.