Training Center & FAQ
Find upcoming professional learning opportunities with the Office of Social Emotional Learning
Need one on one help? Sign-up for a Supportive Schools Certification Appointment HERE
Supportive Schools Webinar SY22
Supportive Schools Website Webinar.mp4Supportive Schools Summer Institute SY22
SUMMER INSTITUTE SESSION - Supportive Schools Certification Process (2021-08-20 at 09:11 GMT-7)Levels & Distinction
Levels of Distinction SSC.mp4Want to know more? Head over to our Certification Levels website press HERE
Self-Assessment
Presentation here
Supportive Schools Self-Assessment Webinar.mp4Want to know more? Head over to our Self-Assess & Plan website press HERE
Evidence tool overview
Indicators
Indicator 1 (Continuous Improvement) & 2 (Student Data)
Indicator 3 (Teaming) & 4 (Community Partnerships)
October Series Supportive Schools Indicators 3 & 4- Morning (2021-10-26 at 10:06 GMT-7)Indicator 5 (SEL Instruction) & 6 (Professional Learning)
Indicator 7 (Schoolwide Norms) & 8 (Interventions)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Our school already earned a Supportive Schools Certification. Do we need to go through the certification process again?
A: All schools seeking to earn or maintain certification will be required to complete the application process during this cycle. All current certifications will expire in June 2022. This includes schools that are participating in Exemplary Supportive Schools Certification Site Visits in the school year 2020-2021.
Q: My school participates in the CIWP process. Do we still need to complete the School Climate Self Assessment?
A: The short answer is No. However, you may choose to complete the self-assessment with a broader group (e.g. all teachers, groups of students) to inform your self-ratings on the SEF.
Q: (For Charters) We submitted a School Climate Self-Assessment last year. Should we do it again?
A: We recommend that your team complete a School Climate Self-Assessment and create an action plan to address target areas each year. All schools at any certification level benefit when school climate is a focus area, and an action plan will help direct and sustain this work, spread responsibility among stakeholders, and increase accountability. We understand that due to the current situation completing a School Climate Self-Assessment each year may not be feasible. For this reason, charter schools will only be required to submit their School Climate Self-Assessment results from 2020 or 2021 for certification purposes.
Q: Our school is working towards Established or Exemplary Certification. What do we need to submit?
A: 1. CIWP schools should have completed the SEF in January 2020 (although we recommend updating your priority areas 2-3 times yearly), and charters will be asked to submit the results of their School Climate Self-Assessment from either 2020 or 2021.
2. Submit your school climate action plan by February 12, 2021. For most schools, this plan will be your school's continuous improvement plan (CIWP) containing action steps related to the CPS School Climate Standards. Some schools may need to submit a supplemental plan.
3. Submit your Application for Established and Exemplary Certification by October 8, 2021.
See the home page for more information and links
Q: Where can I find the School Excellence Framework (SEF)?
A: Completion of the SEF is a step in CPS's Continuous Improvement Work Plan (CIWP) development process. All district-run schools, contract schools, and ALOP schools complete the SEF. If you are not part of your school's CIWP team and want to learn more, please contact your school's administrator.
Q: Our team was reviewing the SEL instruction tab and evidence under indicator 5 and see that it says " Note: Linked evidence is not required for the following approaches: Second Step, Sanford Harmony, PATHS, Calm Classroom ". Does this mean that since we utilize Second Step and Calm Classroom weekly/daily that we do not have to submit evidence for this indicator?
A: Your school is required to submit evidence for indicator 5 (SEL Instruction). In your specific case, you submit evidence for #1 (rows 8 & 9) & #3 (row 15). But when you submit evidence for #2 (rows 11-13) you indicate the "Name of approach" only (cells E11-E13) and you do not need to submit evidence (cells F11-F13) because you have the following approaches: Second Step, Sanford Harmony, PATHS, or Calm Classroom. A visual is attached for your reference. The blue circles are the areas you need to submit and the red X's are the areas you do not need to do.
Q: Are we supposed to create a separate folder for the "Main Folder" and then link it in the template?
A: Historically schools have created a main folder titled "SCHOOL NAME Supportive Schools Certification Main Folder". Within that folder, the typical layout includes 8 folders for the 8 indicators that is then linked in the Evidence Collection Tool. Please refer to the images as it gives you a visual.
Q: If a school has changed staff/leadership since submitting their application, and is waiting on a site visit, are they still eligible or do they need to reapply?
A: Yes schools are eligible for a site visit regardless of staff/leadership changes. They do not need to reapply just inform your Network specialist or at supportiveschools@cps.edu of your staff/admin changes so we can make sure to communicate future information to the correct person.
Q: If a school has changed staff/leadership since submitting their application, and is waiting on a site visit, are they still eligible or do they need to reapply?
A: Yes schools are eligible for a site visit regardless of staff/leadership changes. They do not need to reapply just inform your Network specialist or at supportiveschools@cps.edu of your staff/admin changes so we can make sure to communicate future information to the correct person.