Standards of The Academy of Architecture and Construction
NSOP #1 DEFINED MISSIONS AND GOALS - The career academy has a written definition of its mission, goals, and benchmarks. These are developed by and available to the administrators, teachers, students, parents, advisory board, and others involved in the academy. These include at least the following elements: connect college and career; raise and maintain students' aspirations; increase student achievement; a commitment to equity.
NSOP #2 ACADEMY DESIGN - An academy has a well-defined structure within the high school, reflecting its status as a small learning community.
NSOP #3 HOST DISTRICT and HIGH SCHOOL - This area deals with the commitment of the district and local administrators to the work of the academy. Nashville has turned into a model community that representatives from other cities pay to visit. This is largely due to the entire community's commitment to Career Academies and smaller learning communities.
NSOP #4 FACULTY and STAFF - Appropriate staff selection, leadership, credentialling, and cooperation are critical to an academy's success.
NSOP #5 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT and CONTINUOUS LEARNING - Since an academy places teachers & other adults into roles not normally included in their previous training, providing adequate professional development time, leadership, and support is critical.
NSOP #6 GOVERNANCE and LEADERSHIP - The academy has a governing structure that incorporates the views of all stakeholders and the leaders of the advisory board.
NSOP #7 TEACHING and LEARNING - The teaching and learning within an academy meets or exceeds external standards and college entrance requirements while differing from a comprehensive high school by focusing learning ariound a theme.
NSOP #8 EMPLOYER, POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION, and COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT - A career academy links high school to its host community and involves members of the employer, post-secondary education, and civic community in certain aspects of its operation.
NSOP #9 STUDENT ASSESSMENT - Improvements in student performance are central to an academy's mission. It is important to gather data that reflect whether students are showing improvement and to report these accurately and fairly to maintain the academy's integrity.
NSOP #10 SUSTAINABILITY - No new academy functions perfectly. Even well established and highly functioning academies benefit from self-examination and refinement. Ensuring and improving the quality of a career academy requires engaging in a regular cycle of improvement.
NSOP #2 ACADEMY DESIGN - An academy has a well-defined structure within the high school, reflecting its status as a small learning community.
NSOP #3 HOST DISTRICT and HIGH SCHOOL - This area deals with the commitment of the district and local administrators to the work of the academy. Nashville has turned into a model community that representatives from other cities pay to visit. This is largely due to the entire community's commitment to Career Academies and smaller learning communities.
NSOP #4 FACULTY and STAFF - Appropriate staff selection, leadership, credentialling, and cooperation are critical to an academy's success.
NSOP #5 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT and CONTINUOUS LEARNING - Since an academy places teachers & other adults into roles not normally included in their previous training, providing adequate professional development time, leadership, and support is critical.
NSOP #6 GOVERNANCE and LEADERSHIP - The academy has a governing structure that incorporates the views of all stakeholders and the leaders of the advisory board.
NSOP #7 TEACHING and LEARNING - The teaching and learning within an academy meets or exceeds external standards and college entrance requirements while differing from a comprehensive high school by focusing learning ariound a theme.
NSOP #8 EMPLOYER, POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION, and COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT - A career academy links high school to its host community and involves members of the employer, post-secondary education, and civic community in certain aspects of its operation.
NSOP #9 STUDENT ASSESSMENT - Improvements in student performance are central to an academy's mission. It is important to gather data that reflect whether students are showing improvement and to report these accurately and fairly to maintain the academy's integrity.
NSOP #10 SUSTAINABILITY - No new academy functions perfectly. Even well established and highly functioning academies benefit from self-examination and refinement. Ensuring and improving the quality of a career academy requires engaging in a regular cycle of improvement.