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The DeKalb County School District (DCSD) is pleased to announce the positive outcomes of the recent Cognia Monitoring Review Report. The report indicates that the District leadership is fulfilling its roles and responsibilities according to the governing standards.
The assessment, which took place from November 1-3, 2023, was scheduled to evaluate DCSD’s progress toward addressing the Cognia Performance Standard 1.5 from the previous accreditation protocol and the directives aligned to the standard from the monitoring review conducted on November 8-11, 2022. The improvements noted were celebrated by District leadership.
“The COGNIA review of the DeKalb County School Board’s progress and governance is a testament to their unwavering dedication towards student success. With a commitment to continuous improvement, they have created a transformative educational experience that empowers students to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally,” said DCSD Superintendent Dr. Devon Q. Horton. “Their visionary leadership and collaborative approach have set a new standard for educational excellence, making them a true inspiration for school boards nationwide.”
The Cognia Monitoring Review Report noted an “improving” rating regarding the Board governance standard. More specifically, it pointed out, “the Board is more focused on working together for the benefit of the district and, in particular, for student success.” The report stated, “Board members were passionate about their role, and most assumed immense responsibility for adhering to established policies and procedures.”
“The DeKalb County Board of Education is pleased with the results from this latest review from Cognia, but we recognize there is more work to be done,” stated Board Chair Mr. Diijon DaCosta, Sr. “It further illustrates the considerable efforts of this Board to enhance and sustain an exceptional public school district. The DeKalb County Board of Education remains dedicated to working collaboratively to improve board governance and to enhance and sustain current improvement efforts for the future of our scholars.”
The report mentioned the Board’s retreat in February 2023, where Board members reviewed the November 2022 report and addressed the findings and areas of improvement in the report.
“In addition to the retreat in February 2023, board members reviewed and discussed the findings from the November 2022 Monitoring Review Report during the April 19, 2023, regularly scheduled business portion of the board meeting,” the report stated. “Member comments predominantly agreed with the findings and suggested greater accountability on their part to ensure effective, efficient operations as a ‘whole’ board.”
The Cognia Monitoring Review Report encouraged DCSD to implement the following “next steps”:
- Review and share the findings with stakeholders.
- Ensure the Board fully implements effective board governance best practices from professional learning sessions.
- Continue revising the Board Member Handbook.
- Regularly revise and update policies and procedures to ensure all are current and relevant.
- Host its routine Accreditation Engagement Review before June 30, 2027, since the district has met the expectations for Cognia Performance Standard 1.5.
Cognia fully accredits DCSD through June 30, 2027. Cognia™, a non-profit, non-governmental organization that accredits primary and secondary schools, serves over 36,000 institutions with 25 million students and one million educators in approximately 80 countries.
View the complete Cognia Monitoring Review Report for DeKalb County School District.