A Qualitative Case Study on the Challenges of Acs Wasc Accreditation Preparation in King Mongkut’s International Demonstration School
Keywords:
Challenges, ACS WASC, accreditation preparation, King Mongkut’s International Demonstration SchoolAbstract
The aim of this research study was to identify the challenges of King Mongkut’s International Demonstration School (KMIDS) on the Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACS WASC) accreditation preparation, from the perspective of school administrators, school supervisor, ACS WASC coordinators and teachers. For this purpose, the researchers built and implemented an in-depth, structured interview protocol, which was conducted one-on-one with 17 participants. Member-checking and triangulation techniques were used in combination with notes from the observations and document reviews in order to ensure internal validity. The researchers applied a systematic qualitative design, consisting of open coding, axial coding, and selective coding, to analyze and interpret the collected data. Such inductive and deductive qualitative process led to the identification of 14 themes and 24 sub-themes oriented around the six categories of ACS WASC initial visit framework. Regarding “Organization for student learning”, there were four main challenges and eight sub-challenges found. Regarding “Curriculum, instruction and assessment”, there were two main challenges and six subchallenges found. Regarding “Support for student personal and academic growth”, there were two main challenges and two sub-challenges found. Regarding “Resource management and development”, there were one challenge and two sub-challenges found. Regarding “ONESQA standards for Thai language and Thai studies”, there were two main challenges and two sub-challenges found. Regarding “Boarding program”, there were three challenges found. Finally, recommendations for different stakeholders in relation to the six categories of ACS WASC initial visit framework, as well as for future researchers, are presented.
References
Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACS WASC). (2016). Initial Visit Procedures Manual. Retrieved from http://www.acswasc.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/ACS-WASC-International-Initial-Visit-Procedures-2016-FINAL.pdf
ACS WASC. (2017). Focus on learning. Retrieved from http://www.acswasc.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ACS-WASC-International-FOL-2017-Edition-FINAL.pdf
Beattie, V., Fearnley, S., & Brandt, R. (2001). Behind closed doors: what company audit is really about. New York: Palgrave.
Bryman, A., & Bell, E. (2011). Business research methods (3rd ed.). New York: Oxford University Press.
Creswell, J. W. (2012). Research design. Qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods approaches (4th ed.). London: Sage Publications.
Duxbury High School. (2012). Accreditation self-study report. Retrieved from https://www.duxbury.k12.ma.us/cms/lib2/MA01001583/Centricity/Domain/8/NEASC%20SELF-STUDY%20FINAL%20REPORT.pdf
Fraenkel, J. R., & Wallen, N. E. (2008). How to design and evaluate research in education. Boston: McGraw-Hill.
International School of Bangkok. (2013). Accreditation self-study report. Retrieved from https://inside.isb.ac.th/parentportal/2013/10/10/isbs-accreditation-3-7-november/
King Mongkut’s International Demonstration School. (2017). KMIDS curriculum. Retrieved from http://www.kmids.ac.th/curriculum-3/middle-school-curriculum/
KMIDS. (2017). Message from the President. Retrieved from http://www.kmids.ac.th/brochure-2/
Leong, T.L., Altmaier, M., & Johnson, D. (2008). Encyclopedia of counseling. Los Angeles: Sage Publications.
Merriam, S. B. (1988). Case study research in education: A qualitative approach. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
New England Association of Schools and Colleges. (n.d.). About NEASC. Retrieved from https://www.neasc.org/about
Norwell High School. (2015). Accreditation self-study report. Retrieved from https://www.norwellschools.org/cms/lib02/MA01001453/Centricity/Domain/45/NEASC%20Self-Study.pdf
Office of Private Education Commission. (2017, July 6). Announcement of Office of Private Education Commission on quality assurance guidelines for international schools. Retrieved from http://www.opec.go.th/ckfinder/userfiles/files/Notification%20of%20quality.pdf
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). (2018). The future of education and skills Education 2030. Retrieved from http://www.oecd.org/education/2030/E2030%20Position%20Paper%20(05.04.2018).pdf
Seoul International School. (2015). Accreditation self-study report. Retrieved from https://sites.google.com/a/siskorea.org/sis-self-study-report/
Strauss, A., & Corbin, J. (1998). Basics of qualitative research – Techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory (2nd ed.). London: Sage Publications.
Willig, C. (2008). Introducing qualitative research in psychology. Maidenhead, England: McGraw Hill/Open University Press.
