WELCOME TO THE
FLORIDA CATHOLIC CONFERENCE A
CCREDITATION PROGRAM (FCCAP)
est. 1969-70 school year

The Florida Catholic Conference is a charter/ founding member of the following organizations:
Florida Association of Academic
Nonpublic Schools
National Council for Private
School Accreditation

Accreditation Committee

 
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Happy 40th, FCCAP!
A National Model Celebrates Its 40th Anniversary
1969-2009 (Click Here for More Information)

> Chairperson Honor Roll
> Early FCCAP Milestones
> More (Coming Soon)
 

 Information


 > Annual Dues Notice
 > Brochure (PDF)
 > Calendar, 2009-10
 > Membership

 > Self-Study
    Schools 2008-09

 > Team Member Training
    (coming soon)

 

 Links


 > (Arch)Diocesan Depts./
    Offices of Schools

 > FAANS
 > FCC Education Dept.
 > NCEA
 > NCPSA
 > NSSE
 USCCB Education Dept.
 

A Brief History of the
FCC Accreditation Committee by
One of Its
Founding Members

"... in my opinion, the establishment of the Florida Catholic Conference’s Accreditation Program was one of the best, if least known, accomplishments
of the conference."


Thomas A. Horkan, Jr.
FCC Executive Director Emeritus
 

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL ARTICLE!

Archive of Accreditation News

Three FCCAP Member Schools Receive Special Awards During 2007-08 School Year
A Word of Thanks to Our Catholic School Principals
Catholic School Leaders Convene ... for 2007 FCC Administrators' Conference
FCCAP Adopts Special Purpose School/ Program Standards
NCEA's 2006 Conference Addresses Challenging Times
Accreditation May Protect other K-12 Voucher Programs
Special Letter to FCC Principals
Welcome to New Accreditation Program Manager

'Honor Roll' Listing of FCCAC Chairpersons by School Year

School Years:

Name, Title and Diocese:

2008-09; and,
2009-10

Mrs. Kay Rizzo, Associate Superintendent,
St. Petersburg

2005-06;
2006-07; and,
2007-08

Sr. Joan Dawson, O.S.F., Superintendent of Schools,
Palm Beach

2002-03;
2003-04; and,
2004-05

Mrs. Patricia Tierney, Superintendent of Schools,
St. Augustine


"Indeed, everything possible must be done, in cooperation with the wider community, to ensure that they are accessible to people of all social and economic strata.  No child should be denied his or her right to an education in faith, which in turn nurtures the soul of a nation."

Quote from Pope Benedict XVI's address  to educators about Catholic schools
April 17, 2008 -- at the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.

CLICK HERE FOR A LINK TO THE ENTIRE ADDRESS
 

COMING SOON, A PILOT FCCAP PROJECT:
ABSTRACTS/ LINKS TO CATHOLIC EDUCATION ARTICLES

(focusing on availability, accessibility and affordability)

     "It is the responsibility of the entire Catholic community -- bishops, priests, deacons, religious, and laity -- to continue to strive towards the goal of making our Catholic elementary and secondary schools available, accessible, and affordable to all Catholic parents and their children, including those who are poor and middle class."

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)
"Renewing Our Commitment to Catholic ... Schools in the Third Millennium"
(Copyright © 2005, USCCB)

CLICK HERE FOR A PDF OF THE FULL 2005 USCCB DOCUMENT
 

Notices (Past School Years):
Revisions for the FCC “Principles and Standards"
The FCC Accreditation Committee has approved revised language for Area E, Administration
Standard 2 (regarding Teacher Assistants by Grade Level).  For more information,
PLEASE CLICK HERE.
 
For information on the revised language for Area D, Personnel (Religion and Physical Education Teachers), introduced in the 2007-08 school year,
PLEASE CLICK HERE.
 


Friendly Reminder:
Catholic Schools Week will be held January 31- February 6, 2010.  For more information on this joint project of NCEA and the USCCB, PLEASE CLICK HERE (free resources such as fun pages, a press kit, etc. will be available).

Accreditation Program Resources

NEW: The general FCCAP brochure is now available as a free resource/ marketing tool for member schools!
Please click here or on the image to the right for more information
(the printable brochure has space to add the name/ logo of a member school).

Manuals and Guides

FCC Companion Manual (Password Protected, for Self-Study Schools Only)

NEW: FCCAP Policies and Procedures Manual (August 2009)

Principles & Standards Manual (June 2009) SIP Second Round Guide (Email Schools Office for Password)

SIP Sample Calendar

FCC Strategic Plan (July 2007)

     Resources for Visitation Team Chairpersons/ Members

FCC Visitation Manual FCCAP Standards Checklist (July 2009) Chairperson's Checklist
(Key Reminders)
Stipends and Mileage Information Poem/ Testimonial from School After Hosting Visitation
Annual Dues for FCCAP Member Schools
Special Note: Please click the link provided to obtain the dues form for 2009-10.  Each FCCAP-member school is asked to pay dues in the amount of $1.60 per student
enrolled (Pre-Kindergarten or
Early Childhood 3 to 8th Grade).
Dues Form for the 2009-10 School Year
Information Regarding e-ARCA (electronic
Annual Report of Continued Accreditation)
Coming Soon:
Preview Copy of e-ARCA (2009-10)
Website Link to Complete e-ARCA

NEW:
OFFICIAL NOTICE -- 
Revision of Accreditation Standards and Rationale
 

 

July 2009

Re: Changes to Teacher Assistant (First Grade) and Counselor Standards, Effective 2009-10

Dear Catholic School Principals and Other Interested Parties:

            A few changes have been made to the Florida Catholic Conference Accreditation Program (FCCAP) Standards which are effective with the 2009-10 school year.  These changes were discussed and approved by our Accreditation Committee during its June 10, 2009 meeting in Palm Beach Gardens.

            Recommendations for changes to the standards were prepared by the FCC Subcommittee on Standards Review.  This subcommittee is charged with soliciting and reviewing possible updates for accreditation standards, and providing recommendations for discussion and approval each year at the June FCCAC Meeting.  The members include: Sr. Rosemary Hickmann, O.P., Diocese of Orlando, Subcommittee Chair; Mrs. Josephine Kenna, Associate Superintendent, Archdiocese of Miami; and, yours truly, Mr. James Herzog, Associate Director for Education, Florida Catholic Conference.

            The subcommittee members discussed topics – as referred by FCC Accreditation Committee (FCCAC) members – via individual phone calls and emails in May 2009.  Without further adieu, here are the changes that were made:

*REVISION 1:

Revise the Teacher Assistant Standard for Grade 1 to Provide Consistency with Standards for Pre-K and K 

Area E, Administration (Staff/ Student Ratios)

Grade 1

A part-time teacher assistant is recommended for 1-20 students.
 

 

A part-time teacher assistant is required for 121-25 students.
 

 

A full-time teacher assistant is required for 26-35 students.
 

*NOTE: Deletions are indicated by strikethrough and additions are indicated by underline.

Rationale: In recent years, we have revised the language for Teacher Assistants.  However, there is an inconsistency with the requirement for Grade 1 versus Pre-K and K.  For the younger children, we have a tier at which no assistant is required, such as 1-10 students in Pre-K3, 1-15 students in Pre-K4 and 1-20 students in K.  In Grade 1, an assistant is currently required regardless of class size.  There could be situations in which a school is struggling and has classes with 20 or less first graders but would still be required to have an assistant.

*REVISIONS 2 AND 3:

Revise standards referencing “Guidance Counselors” to reflect term “School Counselors” as referenced in national guidelines

Area D, Personnel Standard 13 (Guidance Counselor)

The Guidance Counselor School Counselor shall:

a.

have a master’s degree;
 

b.

(1)

 

have a current and valid state or national guidance certificate, OR
 

 

(2)

 

have a Florida state license in an area of mental health such as Clinical Social Worker, Mental Health Counselor, Marriage and Family Therapist, Clinical Psychologist, or any other area in mental health which the state shall license; and
 

c.

maintain recency of credit (six college credits or its equivalent) every five years. 

Area G, Pupil Services (Guidance Standard 2)

The school shall have a full- or part-time guidance school counselor with a minimum presence of one full day per week.

*NOTE: Deletions are indicated by strikethrough and additions are indicated by underline.

Rationale: The new language used by the National Standards on School Counseling Programs uses is “school counselor.”  This is the primary organization for counselors’ reference and support. 

            Thank you in advance to each school for implementing these new standards in 2009-10.  Please don't hesitate to contact your diocesan representative on the FCCAC -- or this Office -- if you have any questions or feedback, or need more information.  (The changes made should be pretty straightforward but let us know if any clarification is needed.)

 

Blessings and Peace,

 

James

  James B. Herzog,
  Associate Director of Education

Other Accreditation Program Resources
We have gathered a variety of additional resources into one location below.

List of FCCAP Member Schools (DRAFT):
Special Note: The FCCAP Staff has drafted the following list of membership schools and is in the process of finalizing the contact information, grade levels offered at each school, etc.

Click here for a DRAFT list of FCCAP Member Schools;
a Finalized List will be Posted by Sept. 30, 2009

 


2009 FCC Administrators’ Conference to Showcase Catholic School Identity
 

During the 2009 Florida Catholic Conference (FCC) Administrators’ Conference, principals, vice principals and other (arch)diocesan administrators will be able to glean and share valuable tips and tools regarding the essentials of Catholic school identity. 

“This conference will display how the bright light of our Catholic schools is shining more than ever,” said James Herzog, FCC Associate Director for Education.  “Our school leaders will be given a unique opportunity to confirm and enhance their repertoire of tools for making a vibrant Catholic identity a living reality at each campus.” 

With this in mind, principals, vice principals, superintendents and associates are encouraged to mark their calendars for Wednesday, September 30, 2009 – Friday, October 2, 2009.  The conference will be held at the Harbor Beach Marriott Resort and Spa in Fort Lauderdale Beach.   

The opening liturgy will be celebrated by Most Rev. John C. Favalora, Archbishop of Miami.  Throughout the conference, there will be liturgies and activities focusing on the vocation of Catholic educators.  A prayer room will also be available for moments of personal prayer and reflection. 

The theme will be: “Miami: Catholic School Identity.”  The keynote speakers are: Most Rev. Michael Miller, Archbishop of Vancouver; and, Dr. Thomas Groome, Director of the Institute for Religious Education and Pastoral Ministry at Boston College.  Break-out topics include:  

  • "Challenge of Hope in Education" with Kenneth Doran;

  • "Educational Leadership" with Saundra Kennedy;

  • "Stress Management" with Bob Barnes;

  • "Using the Web in Education" with William Clifford;

  • "Campus Ministry" with Mike Patin; and many more. 

PLEASE CLICK HERE for a copy of the registration form and schedule. 

Another conference perk is the opportunity to enjoy sites and fun activities that Ft. Lauderdale has to offer during the break on Thursday afternoon, from visiting the beaches to shopping at the Sawgrass Mills Outlet Mall.

The last FCC Administrators’ Conference in February of 2007 highlighted that “Catholic schools are the best vehicle for sharing the totality of our Catholic faith and traditions,” said Most Rev. Robert N. Lynch, Bishop of St. Petersburg.  Msgr. Laurence Higgins, pastor of St. Lawrence Catholic School in Tampa, added that, “we teach, my dear friends, by example.  And ... the children have to know that religion is not a subject.  It’s a way of life.”  To read more PLEASE CLICK HERE. 

This special event is only held once every two years, so all Catholic school administrators in the Province of Florida as well as the Diocese of Savannah, GA are encouraged to participate!  Please continue to check back here for more information as it is made available.

Committee Welcomes Michael Kooi from the Florida Department of Education as One of Its Newest Members

Mr. Michael Kooi has accepted an invitation to join the Florida Catholic Conference Accreditation Committee (FCCAC).  Mr. Kooi came on board with the FCCAC in late December, 2008.  He serves the people of Florida as Executive Director of the Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice (IEPC), within the state's Department of Education. 

Mr. Kooi will fill the spot for one of two FCCAC members from an outside educational organization; in this capacity, he is following in the “footsteps” of other DOE members who have served with the FCCAC over the years such as Dr. Michael Tremor, Dr. Katherine Piersall, etc.  For more on his background, click the following link to this October 2008 newsletter from his Office:

http://www.floridaschoolchoice.org/information/charter_schools/newsletters/CS_Newsletter_10-08.pdf
. 

Many thanks to Mr. Kooi for joining our FCCAC team!

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