Our Mission: To ensure that each student achieves his/her highest personal potential
Our Vision: To be a world-class school system

Accountability, Research and
Continuous Improvement Department


Dr. Richard Itzen, Director 239-335-1448
Ms. Mary Terrell, Secretary to the Director 239-337-8647
Mrs. Susan Joiner, Coordinator South Zone 239-337-8352
Mr. Brian Curls, Coordinator - East Zone 239-335-1495
Mrs. Rita Effing, Coordinator - West Zone 239-337-8627
Robert Kuhn, M.S., Data Mgmt Specialist 239-337-8684
Ms. Jo Canterbury, Data Mgmt Specialist 239-335-1490
FAX Number 239-337-8664

About Us
District Accountability, both formal and informal, relies on the availability of data, especially related to student achievement measures. The Accountability, Research and Continuous Improvement Department (A.R.C.) is responsible for providing data for both school-based and district personnel; parent, business, and community organizations; and other educational agencies. The data are used primarily to monitor the progress of students, schools and the district as a whole. Links to School Grades, No Child Left Behind Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), FCAT results, and more, are provided to access this type of data. School-based staff can easily access student FCAT scores through our District FCAT Data Inquiry page.
 
Accountability

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.

 
Testing – Administration and Reporting

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.

 
Research - Guidelines, Request Forms, Reports

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
Continuous improvement is the goal for all schools and departments within the School District of Lee County. Schools complete a yearly "School Improvement Plan" that is aligned with State requirements and the District Strategic Plan. District Departments complete "Department Improvement Plans" that align with State requirements, the District Strategic Plan, and District Division goals. Budgets are derived from these improvement plans. These improvement plans drive the operations of the schools and departments.

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.