Become a Volunteer

Contribute your expertise, collaborate with education professionals from across the network, and gain valuable professional learning while supporting school improvement.

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Enrich your learning. Serve on a team.

As part of the Cognia Accreditation Process, schools and systems participate in an Engagement Review conducted by specially trained education professionals. The review team:

  • Evaluates adherence to Cognia’s Accreditation Performance Standards
  • Assesses the impact of continuous improvement efforts
  • Reviews the effectiveness of quality assurance practices
  • Provides actionable feedback to support growth
  • Delivers meaningful recommendations aligned to each standard

Serving on an Engagement Review team is widely regarded by volunteers as an exceptional professional learning opportunity. Share in this experience by joining a Cognia review team. Participation details vary depending on the institution being reviewed and the purpose of the Engagement Review.

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What’s it like to be a Team Member?

Learn more about the benefits of serving on an Engagement Review team. Current and past team members share the value of their experiences.
It's one of the most important PD activities I've done. It gives me a boarder perspective in the world of education. It gives me time to stop and reflect about what I know about best practice and then what it looks like in operation.”
Dr. Tina Mondale, Retired
Former School Improvement Director
Department of Education, Oregon
The Engagement Review and Accreditation Process validated the great and hard work occurring in our district, provided us an opportunity to celebrate and communicate about our quality performance with our staff and community, and gave us feedback we need to continue our improvement efforts.”
Michael Penca
Superintendent
Flagstaff Unified School District, Arizona

Frequently asked questions

Team members gain valuable professional development while participating in a review experience that typically spans two to three days, depending on travel time, institution type, and location. School reviews are generally completed in two days, while system reviews typically require three days; international reviews may be longer.

Educators from around the world rate their service on an Engagement Review Team as one of their most powerful professional development experiences. When you serve on a team, you’ll:

  • See firsthand how your peers address challenges
  • Share ideas about effective practices with colleagues from other schools/systems
  • Expand your thinking by examining a school or system through the lens of quality standards
  • Drive action that makes a difference for students
  • Experience educational cultural differences around the globe

Our Engagement Review process rests on research-based quality standards and practices that we’ve refined through evaluations of more than 40,000 schools. With your team, you’ll:

  • Interview administrative leaders, staff, students, parents, and other stakeholders from all over the world
  • Review evidence, including improvement plans, professional development programs, and student performance data
  • Observe classrooms using Cognia’s Effective Learning Environments Observation Tool® (eleot®) or the Environmental Rating for Early Learning (EREL®)
  • Develop themes and recommendations to help the school or system reflect on its current practices and leverage strengths for improvement
  • Communicate the findings of the Engagement Review to stakeholders

Participants are supported throughout the review visit with logistical arrangements and accommodations designed to make the experience as seamless as possible. Transportation, food, and lodging expenses are covered by the hosting organization, reducing the financial burden on participants. Additionally, reviewers are responsible for coordinating any necessary time away from work with their employer to ensure their availability throughout the review process.

Program participants have access to a range of learning and support opportunities designed to prepare them for success throughout the Engagement Review process. This includes an online course that provides comprehensive preparation for all aspects of the review and leads to certification in the use of eleot. Throughout the review experience, participants receive coaching, mentorship, and guidance from an extensively trained Lead Evaluator.

Cognia offers volunteer opportunities to serve on Diagnostic Review Teams, where experienced educators collaborate with peers to evaluate and pinpoint the cause for underperformance in schools designated by the state as CSI (comprehensive school improvement) or TSI (targeted school improvement). In addition, a diagnostic review can be used by moderate- to higher-performing schools to identify underlying problems that may prevent them from advancing achievement.

Ready to make a difference?

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