The mission of the Berkeley County School District Office of Professional Development and School Support is to improve and sustain the professional growth of district employees through diverse learning opportunities that continue to support the goals of the district. We are dedicated to supporting the school communities and being a strategic partner to help increase the success of all students.

• Districtwide Professional Development (Certified and Classified Staff)

• Graduate Courses

• Strategic and School Renewal Planning

• Cognia Engagement Accreditation

• School Improvement Councils

• School Administrator Evaluation Process

• Principal Induction Program Support

• Unified Talent Professional Learning (PD platform)

• Read to Succeed Endorsement for Certified Staff

• Praxis Support

• National Board for Professional Teaching Standards

• Recertification Support

• Leadership Support

• Aspiring Assistant Principal Cohorts

Berkeley County School District completed an extensive review process and has  earned Re-Accreditation by Cognia, a nonprofit organization that provides quality assurance for schools, districts and education service providers. The official report was sent to the district at the end of April 2022.  The Cognia Review Team began their preliminary study of the district in early February but officially came “on board” virtually February 28th.  The review team spent four days in Berkeley.  The team interacted with us through virtual Zoom interviews with the Superintendent, 5 School Board Members, Central Services’ staff, principals, school leadership teams, teachers, support staff, students, parents and community/business partners.  The Cognia interview team conducted 361 interviews during their four day visit.  The District and schools started their planning and preparation for this visit in Summer 2021. 

Cognia, formerly AdvancED, recognizes districts and schools, nationally and internationally, that meet rigorous standards focused on productive and innovative learning environments, equitable resource allocation that meets the needs of learners, and effective leadership. Earning accreditation from the Cognia Global Accreditation Commission means that the Berkeley County School District, along with  all of its 47 schools are accredited and recognized across the nation and the world as a school system that meets Cognia Standards of Quality.  Berkeley County School District maintains a commitment to continuous improvement. 

The school district is proud to earn the Cognia Accreditation, along with the valuable information received from the team.  The rigorous process thoroughly evaluated the entire district and provided  feedback to enhance our system.  The results and feedback speak to the hard work our staff provides daily and gives us valuable insight as we seek continuous improvement.  

To earn accreditation from Cognia, a school district must implement a continuous process of improvement, and submit to internal and external review. Districts and schools recognized  in good standing maintain their accreditation for five years.  Berkeley County School District received a preliminary report on March 3 and the final report came on April 26, 2022 .  This report provided specific information relating to the standards and indicators and how they impact learning and continuous improvement.  Cognia uses the i-3 Rubric which provides a rating for each standard and indicator based on the evidence provided by the school district. BCSD’s  rating score was above average. The next accreditation process for Berkeley will take place in the 2026-2027 school year.

Cognia offers accreditation and certification, assessment, professional learning, and improvement services to institutions and other education providers. The result of the merger of AdvancED and Measured Progress, Cognia was formed to bridge the gap between school evaluation and student assessment. As a global nonprofit working in over 80 countries, our 36,000 institutions serve and support nearly 25 million students and five million educators every day. Cognia serves as a trusted partner in advancing learning for all. Cognia is the parent organization of the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI), Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI). Please visit   Cognia.org to learn more about this continuous improvement process.