Accountability, Research and
Continuous Improvement Department

The ARC Dept. serves as the liaison for the district for the two State accountability systems currently in place: School Grading and NCLB Adequate Yearly Progress. These systems monitor student achievement as measured by results of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT). These measures are built into the School Improvement Plan process as well as the Strategic Planning and Department Improvement Plan processes.

Another aspect of accountability is program evaluation and auditing. The Evaluation Matrix is an attempt to capture major district programs, how they are evaluated, and by what entity.

The ARC Department oversees the administration and reporting of all state mandated assessments such as the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT), the Florida Kindergarten Readiness Screener (FLKRS), as well as, other District assessments including the Stanford 10 and reading diagnostic tests.

The A.R.C. Department is responsible for the management of requests to conduct research in the District through a district committee that reviews proposed research studies. Requests to conduct research in the District primarily come from district employees who are pursuing advanced degrees and who are working on doctoral dissertations. We are happy to encourage our employees in these endeavors and equally committed to following guidelines that ensure that instructional activities in the District continue as usual. Past and current research projects are displayed in the links at the right.

The department is currently working on a system for publishing departmental areas of research interest. Also, the department plans to make the results of approved research projects available for viewing on this website.

Other data related to Educational Research studies and resources can be accessed via the Grant Department's link to Program Development.

Continuous Improvement also includes collecting information from employees and community members on ways to improve District efficiency and effectiveness. There are several ways that the District has initiated to collect this information. The first is the "Cost Savings Ideas" program in which anyone can submit, in writing, ideas for ways to improve a particular District function. The form is reviewed by District staff to discuss the practicality and feasibility of the idea. Ideas that may help improve operations are tested and then implemented. The District also conducts periodic surveys of stakeholder groups to collect data on specific subjects or to gauge general customer satisfaction.  These surveys are conducted using our phone surveys and internet-based surveys.

The "Strategic Plan" is the driving force behind all Continuous Improvement in the District. The "Strategic Plan" offers long term goals for the District to strive to reach. All improvement efforts are aligned to the "Strategic Plan" to assure that all areas of the District are working to achieve the same things. By focusing our attention on these main priorities, the District will achieve the goals in the "Strategic Plan" and will offer the students in Lee County a "world class" education.