COGNIA PLAYBOOK

Delivering on our beliefs

Staff members across our organization strive to make connections, adapt communication, and engage with peers and clients. Foundational knowledge about our organization and the solutions we offer is vital to the effectiveness of those efforts.

This website helps you build that knowledge. Deepening your understanding of the resources, people, and activities across Cognia will help you conduct meaningful conversations and collaborate with clients and prospective clients.

This website is for INTERNAL staff only. Do not share this website externally.

Cognia Building

Why we do what we do

Our Values
  • Be Inclusive
  • Engage with Honesty
  • Pursue with Courage
Our Strategy

In 2023, Cognia leadership and board of directors approved the strategic direction for the next five years. Dr. Elgart outlined the priorities for 2023–2028 as follows:

  1. Achieve profitability in all 3 service lines
  2. Budget management
  3. Increase efficiencies and processes
Our History

The year 2020 marked 125 years of service to our member institutions. We are proud of our heritage—as two separate organizations and now as one.

Our website highlights our rich history of innovation and the impact of our commitment to improving education through the years.

Our commitment to DEI

Cognia has formed a task force to address diversity, equity, and inclusion—setting expectations for our own organization and for our institutions worldwide. The focus of the task force is to assure equitable practices and culture in Cognia, and to drive toward an equitable learning journey for all students.

We will create actionable strategies to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in Cognia and all our education institutions in support of the learners they serve. The strategies will address the causes and effects of internal and systemic bias, to expose and eradicate discrimination in our education institutions and our society.

Who we serve

As we pursue our mission, we engage with a wide variety of education institutions and individuals. Each type of audience has different interests and needs. What resonates with one may not be relevant for another. In most cases, we have a limited amount of time in which to capture the attention and interest of our audience, so it is important that we listen intently and tailor our communication and messaging to focus on what is important to them.

Our stakeholders

The universe of individuals and institutions/organizations with whom Cognia engages is large and diverse.

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Cognia works with various institution types including schools, school systems (districts), virtual/digital learning schools, education service providers, Charter school authorizers, Early Learning Centers, Corporations, State Education Agencies, Ministries of Educations, and education partners.

Learning takes place both within and outside of traditional schools. Non-traditional settings include wilderness schools, adjudicated youth, and Disney Youth Education Series. We also categorize Department of Defense (DoDEA) and Archdioceses as non-traditional systems.

Global Network

THOUSAND INSTITUTIONS

COUNTRIES

MILLION STUDENTS

Members of the Cognia Global Network have unique needs and visions for their institutions, but all are dedicated to their students, parents, and communities. All are focused on maximizing learning opportunities for students, with continuous improvement as their guiding force.

We serve and represent the largest network of education institutions and professionals in the world that are committed to education quality and continuous improvement.

Cognia offers our vast network access to education expertise, best practices, and solutions to the global education community that support their continuous improvement journeys, fit for each institution’s needs. Our network is made up of a high-quality and diverse network of professionals, educational institutions, and partner organizations that share our passion for continuous learning and educational improvement. We take pride in our network size and diversity—institutions, staff, partners and volunteers, as well as our global brand recognition.

Where we work

Take a look at our impact worldwide!

What we do

Every Member, Every Year

As an organization, Cognia is returning to its roots and making client relationships our top priority. Every Member, Every Year (EMEY) is critical to the work of our global services teams and helps ensure that every member in our network is contacted every year—building new relationships and maintaining relationships with existing members. An  EMEY guidebook supports your efforts, including communication templates, conversation documentation training, dashboards, and more.

Please note that the acronym EMEY is for our internal reference, not a term to use with members.

Membership

Membership is the entry point for all Cognia services and support: accreditation, certification, assessments, professional learning, and customized improvement services. With the new Cognia Membership Program, institutions can choose their pathway to improvement with the membership level that aligns with their institution’s needs and improvement goals.

The Value of Membership

Members gain value through the power of the Cognia community. Cognia membership provides institutions with access to a worldwide community of educators, volunteers, and staff members who learn, grow, and improve—together. With our expertise, knowledge, and capacity to meet education institutions where they are, Cognia empowers institutions to successfully navigate an improvement journey designed specifically to achieve their desired destination and vision.

These foundational attributes serve our members, regardless of where they are in their improvement journey.

  • Inclusivity and perspective to serve all: Improvement is not just for underperforming schools. Cognia offers unparalleled opportunities to engage with, contribute to, and learn from the world’s largest network of institutions and professionals who share in our commitment to education quality.
  • Breadth and depth of experience and expertise: Through relationships with local directors and customized Improvement Solutions, we offer personalized guidance and support to navigate the ever-evolving education landscape and our members’ locally owned improvement journey.
  • Comprehensive, customized, and cost-effective solutions: We provide high-quality, proven, forward-thinking, and affordable education expertise, services, and solutions that expect and require commitment and hard work—not “silver bullet” solutions. Members get exclusive access to powerful yet easy-to-use tools, resources, and training that every institution needs to improve the quality of education it provides for the learners it serves. Many of the solutions, tools, and resources we offer are mentioned in the chart below.
  • Global footprint and cultural competence: Membership enables schools, districts, states, policymakers, and institutions around the world to establish a bold commitment to continuous improvement and accountability for all—by engaging their teams in ongoing improvement initiatives and professional learning on their journey toward accreditation or improved outcomes. Our members face the realities and complexities of education, and the significant impact of local context and institutions’ unique characteristics on the relevance and effectiveness of our solutions and services.
  • Long-serving local presence and relationships: Cognia staff members have expansive connections with institutions and professionals around the world who share our passion and commitment for education quality and continuous improvement.
Prerequisites/Requirements

Must be a legitimate education institution

Client Base

Education institutions of all types, sizes and locations, including:

  • Schools
  • School systems
  • Education Service Agencies (ESAs)
  • Charter School Authorizers
  • Education Corporations
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Evaluation Services

K-12 Performance Accreditation

The Value of Cognia Accreditation

Cognia Performance Accreditation provides two types of input to institutions: pivotal data and information to help propel the institution forward, plus personalized support to encourage accountability and further elevate the institution’s quality and commitment to continuous improvement.

Cognia Performance Accreditation leverages research-based standards and evaluative criteria to examine the whole institution—the policies, programs, practices, learning conditions, and cultural context—to determine how well the parts work together to carry out the institution’s vision and meet the needs of every learner.

The accreditation process engages institutions in a third-party review conducted by other education professionals who receive special training to participate. Institutions committed to high standards of education quality and continuous improvement value the independent third-party evaluation, validation, feedback, and insight gleaned from external experts during the engagement review process.

A Readiness Review that takes place before the full Engagement Review provides expert insight regarding the institution’s readiness to pursue Cognia Performance Accreditation.

  • Provides high-quality evaluation services for institutions that value expert evaluative feedback
  • Empowers local decision-makers and improves teaching and learning with actionable data gathered through independent observations of students in their learning environments
  • Provides recognition and validation of distinction and high standards, recognized by parents and communities, as well as internationally by countries, ministries, and higher education institutions, allowing institutions to demonstrate their quality with confidence
  • Prioritizes and focuses areas of improvement and resource utilization through targeted evidence-based Improvement Priorities
  • Elevates the voices of all stakeholder groups through unbiased parent and community interviews
  • Increases potential for success and alleviates anxiety by providing school leaders with expert technical assistance as they engage in the accreditation process
Prerequisites/Requirements

Must be a Cognia member in good standing

Client Base

Education institutions of all types and sizes that are interested in external feedback and validation of quality (schools, school systems, early learning centers, education service agencies, charter school authorizers, education corporations, and more)

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Early Learning Accreditation

The Value of Early Learning Accreditation

Engagement in the continuous improvement and accreditation process will enhance all elements of early learning schools or preschool programs.

  • Early learning schools or preschool programs will become more sophisticated as an organizational system and as their understanding of systems improvement increases.
  • The entire school, community, and children, most importantly, benefit as the early learning school or preschool program works to improve its systems and processes to increase schoolwide effectiveness and enhance children’s learning, growth, and development.

Early learning schools and preschool programs seeking to gain or maintain accreditation by Cognia must meet Cognia Standards for Early Learning Schools. These standards focus on systems within an early learning school or preschool program and systematic methods of attaining high outcomes for children’s learning, growth, and development, as well as organizational effectiveness. The Standards address preparing children with skills they will need for the future and include high expectations for professional practice.  The Standards require demonstrated growth in children’s learning and achievement and a commitment to developing learning, thinking and life skills for all children.

Prerequisites/Requirements

Must be a Cognia member in good standing

Client Base

Early learning centers

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STEM Certification

During the initial five-year cycle of STEM Certification, 240 schools and programs across 25 states and 4 countries earned the recognition.

The Value of STEM Certification
  • Allows institutions to market the quality of their STEM school/program with confidence using an externally validated and globally recognized seal of quality.
  • Elevates the quality of STEM schools/programs through targeted feedback from expert STEM reviewers.
  • Helps create quality STEM education programs by empowering educational leaders to use the Cognia STEM Standards and training resources to build local knowledge and capacity.
  • Alleviates anxiety and increases potential for successful certification by offering expert technical assistance to guide institution teams as they prepare for the Cognia STEM Certification Review process.
  • Generates data that can be shared with a school board, community, or STEM funding provider as evidence of STEM school/program quality and/or improvement.
  • Strongly aligns with the U.S. initiative to increase representation of under-represented groups in STEM fields.
  • Sets expectations for schools to provide students with real-world experiences in STEM learning through partnerships with local STEM-affiliated associations and businesses.
  • Ensures that even the most effective educators and programs continue to assess and improve to keep pace with rapid global changes.
  • Follows a rigorous process with high standards that promotes quality STEM learning at all levels of the education system.
Prerequisites/Requirements
  • Must be a Cognia member in good standing
  • Must have been implementing STEM for at least two years prior to hosting a review
Client Base

STEM schools or STEM programs operating in a school or a system

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Non-Public Partnerships

The Value of Non-Public Partnerships

Cognia works directly with non-public accrediting organizations to provide a dual accreditation option to institutions currently accredited and in good standing with a Cognia Non-Public Partner. Currently, Cognia manages 38 non-public partnerships with faith-based and independent school associations.

Non-public partnership agreements are developed through a process to synchronize protocols and ensure partner standards align 100% with Cognia Performance Standards. Partners commit to utilizing a process that requires their schools to:

  • Engage in continuous improvement and maintain a written plan
  • Collect and use stakeholder feedback
  • Evaluate student performance
  • Include improvement priorities feedback in Accreditation Engagement Review team reports
The Benefits of Non-Public Partnerships
  • The use of quality Standards that incorporate faith-based and/or culturally relevant elements
  • An aligned, systems-based process that seamlessly connects the internal review, to a peer review, to the post visit follow-up
  • Cultural competence (experiential and intuitive) of the team is ensured by staffing the team with individuals who have understanding and experience with the cultural realities existing in any given school
  • A procedurally competent Lead Evaluator who is a process expert with an understanding of and respect for the cultural context being evaluated
Prerequisites/Requirements

Most solutions are available to Cognia members or non-members

Client Base

Faith-based and independent school associations

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Competency Based Education (CBE) Certification

The Value of CBE Certification

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Digital Learning Accreditation

The Value of Digital Learning Accreditation
  • A customize and personalize approach towards supporting the digital learning institution and the uniqueness of their learners and technological needs.
  • The Cognia observation tool for digital learning allows for a holistic approach towards synchronous observations or reviewing the digital learning environment. The tool is utilized for various settings including asynchronous, synchronous, instructor-led, self-paced, 100% virtual, or blended learning.
  • Digital Learning accreditation allows for the institution flexibility in student enrollment as related to their geographically or physically location.

Corporation and Corporation Systems Accreditation

Corporation Accreditation Model

In the corporation accreditation model, the corporation itself achieves accreditation, but the corporation’s accreditation is separate from the accreditation of any of its schools. Additionally, the corporation must have at least one school that is accredited (or in the accreditation process) by Cognia and the corporation must assist its interested schools in achieving Cognia accreditation individually and separately from the accreditation process of the corporation.

Corporations that select this option typically cite the desire of their schools to achieve only the regional accreditation of the school’s location (if that accreditation is from a regional accreditor not belonging to Cognia).

A corporation Accreditation Engagement Review focuses on the corporation only, not its schools. Each school pursuing Cognia accreditation hosts its own Engagement Review separately from the corporation. Therefore, the corporation and the individual schools may or may not be on the same accreditation cycle.

The advantages of this model are:

  • Provides flexibility if schools are in different regions requiring regional accreditation from organizations other than Cognia.
  • Provides flexibility if corporation is limited in funding to add schools as their discretion. Corporations may choose to include a limited number of schools due to varying factors identified by the corporation.
  • The corporation and each of their schools choosing to apply for accreditation go through the process independently.
Corporation Systems Accreditation Model

Corporation Systems Accreditation is grounded in the corporation’s processes for quality assurance oversight of all its operations and its schools. The corporation itself achieves accreditation, and all the schools belonging to the corporation also achieve accreditation. This model requires that 100% of the corporation’s schools be onboarded as members of Cognia when the corporation enters the system accreditation model.

Like Engagement Reviews for accredited public districts (systems), the Corporation Systems Accreditation Engagement Review focuses on both the corporation and its schools. The Engagement Review will be conducted at the location of the corporation headquarters. A selection (percentage) of schools will also be reviewed either prior to, or during, the Corporation Engagement Review.

The Corporation Systems Accreditation model may benefit a corporation better if it is situated for anticipated growth. In this process, the corporation holds accreditation in addition to each of the schools’ accreditation status. This model does require that 100% of the schools be onboarded as members of the Cognia Improvement Network when the corporation enters the Corporation Systems Accreditation model. However, there is only one Accreditation Engagement Review held at the Corporation level.

The advantages of this model are:

  • The self-assessment for readiness and the Readiness Review are conducted once for the entire organization, focusing on the Corporation standards and how the corporation is supporting all of its schools through quality assurance and oversight. When the corporation is recommended for Candidacy, all the schools in the system are also recommended for Candidacy.
  • Once the corporation system becomes accredited, all the currently operating schools also achieve accreditation through a single Corporation System Engagement Review.
  • Any new schools opening or acquired through the corporation system are immediately recommended for accreditation once applications for the new schools are submitted. No additional Readiness Reviews or school-level Engagement Reviews are conducted at the school level.
  • This model offers significant cost savings for initial and ongoing accreditation but does require that all the schools pay the annual fees, in addition to the annual fee for the corporation.
Assessment & Assessment Services
The Value of Cognia Assessment

Across the country and the world, educators and families need to answer the questions: How well are our schools accomplishing their mission? Are my students learning effectively? Cognia answers that call for reliable information with a system of well-balanced assessments. A strong balanced assessment system increases learner and teacher agency and ownership. It can connect academic achievement to learner engagement and to school quality.

At Cognia, in addition to our existing large-scale, summative assessments, we now offer formative and interim assessments to provide multiple opportunities for students to demonstrate understanding, while instruction is happening and at multiple points through the year.

Because they are aligned with 21st-century college and career readiness standards and are tied to specific information goals, Cognia Formative Assessment resources and Interim Assessments help schools and systems avoid redundant and disconnected testing and achieve alignment across their assessment programs.

We don’t just fulfill contracts; we build and sustain relationships. We share in our client’s goals and make decisions with their students in mind. We help states and districts craft solutions that fit their needs.

There is no “typical” contract or client for Cognia. Our expertise in core subject areas—reading, writing, mathematics, and science—are demonstrated in current statewide programs, including alternate assessments for students with the most severe cognitive difficulties.

Client Base

Education institutions of all types and sizes

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Improvement Services
The Value of Cognia Improvement Services

Cognia’s Improvement Services deliver on our promise to build on and connect our core offerings of assessment and accreditation. These solutions help institutions create and enact strategies that will grow learners, teachers, and leaders.  Currently, we offer five key improvement services that provide professional development, coaching, data, and customized services to support our members’ continuous improvement goals. Our experts can recommend tailored support or solutions, based on the needs of and in collaboration with our members.

The Improvement Services experts apply their extensive experience and consider local context to craft solutions that meet institutions’ particular needs. Our team members have served in a variety of classroom and district roles as teachers, coaches, administrators, and superintendents. We also have experience serving a wide range of demographics including rural, urban, and international areas.  Here’s what sets us apart:

  • Cognia spends more time in more schools than any other organization in the world—our experts’ practical experience and best practices are not easily replicated.
  • Cognia Improvement Sevices are built upon trusted relationships and a deep understanding of local context.
  • Cognia solution specialists work with school leaders to design and deploy personalized learning and support services that best meet their needs.
  • Cognia solution specialists are trained to help schools and school systems with every aspect of their continuous improvement journey.
Features

Diagnostic Reviews

This proven solution leverages a research-based framework to pinpoint root causes for underperformance, target interventions and support services, prioritize immediate actions, and address systemic issues that are hindering learner success. Combine the power of Diagnostic Review with focused and customized coaching and consulting to turn around and sustain improvement of underperforming schools and systems. School turnaround does not happen overnight. The ultimate goal of this multi-year process is to build local capacity to make and sustain dramatic improvements. Although a direct correlation between improved student outcomes and specific interventions is difficult to make given the large number of variables at play in education systems, the impact of Cognia solutions and services including Diagnostic Review and related coaching are evidenced by consistent and documented improvements in stakeholder engagement, school climate and culture, organizational effectiveness, and student performance across the world. The Diagnostic Review process and outcomes align with state and federal requirements and satisfy governmental auditing, accountability, and reporting needs.

Leadership Circle

Leadership drives everything—and the conditions for school system leaders can be isolating, especially amid the growing list of current and future challenges. Superintendents and leaders like them, along with their executive team members can benefit from collaboration with job-alike peers beyond their local surroundings. With the Cognia Leadership Circle, these leaders come together in a collaborative, job-alike community, where they can receive support and give it to others, providing pragmatic input and advice in confidence. The Cognia Leadership Circle features solution circles, weekly leader chats, think tanks, and face-to-face events. Learn more about Cognia Leadership Circle.

MyVoice—Engaging teachers in school culture

Teachers have the greatest impact on the success of every student’s learning journey, and they need a healthy school culture to feel supported in their efforts. MyVoice offers a solution focused on developing a school culture to support teachers in improving outcomes for students.  It is a web-based platform for teachers to rate their school’s culture using defined school culture indicators. Leaders and teachers together use MyVoice real-time data to create solution frameworks for improvement. Data and solutions can be viewed through three user types: teacher, leader, and central office. Learn more about MyVoice.

Professional Learning

Cognia offers a variety of services ranging from one-hour training sessions to long-term trusted coaching relationships. Regardless of which service best meets the client’s needs, individuals can proceed with confidence knowing that our full menu of services are supported by more than 100 years of knowledge and expertise and a commitment to personalization.

Cognia Professional Learning (PL) is conducted virtually. A full list of events can be found on our website. In addition, our PL offerings provide self-directed, recorded, and “live” learning sessions—giving our clients flexible options for immediate feedback and maximum engagement.

Key benefits to our clients:

  • Cognia spends more time in more schools than any other organization in the world—our experts’ practical experience and best practices are not easily replicated.
  • Cognia consultants are trained to help schools and school systems with every aspect of their continuous improvement journey.
  • Cognia professional learning opportunities are grounded in the research-based Cognia Performance Standards for Schools and Systems.

Learn more about Professional Learning.

School Turnaround

When students are not meeting their potential, what are the root causes?  How can you change the trajectory of your school and focus on success? Schools can change the trajectory of their school and focus on success.  We provide in-depth diagnostic reviews for targeted or comprehensive support, based on the Cognia Performance Standards, to drive improvement. A team of experts and peers collaborate with you to identify areas of improvement and move students and schools out of underperformance. The school sets the course. We guide and support the implementation of the plan. Learn more about Cognia’s School Turnaround solution.

Strategic Thinking and Planning

With the strategic thinking and planning solution, schools can get help developing an improvement plan that is effective and gives them the results they want. All schools have areas of strength and room for improvement. Every school needs a strategically designed improvement plan that establishes concrete actionable steps to advance student learning and professional practice—to build on current strengths and implement new approaches. Cognia’s research-based planning process helps schools create a vision for improvement and theory of action to assure effective implementation. The process engages key stakeholders and results in a strategy map and implementation plan to drive tangible improvement. And Cognia can guide them in how to use available funding for school improvement. Learn more about Strategic Thinking and Planning.

Prerequisites/Requirements

Most solutions are available to Cognia members or non-members

Client Base

Education institutions of all types and sizes.

Resources
Trusted Provider Program
The Value of our Trusted Provider Program

Cognia’s Trusted Provider Program connects our members with services and knowledge that add breadth to Cognia’s core areas of expertise. Cognia carefully explores potential partnerships to assure that they are fully aligned with our mission, vision, and philosophy, and are committed to serving institutions in a scalable and sustainable fashion. The solutions we seek from Trusted Providers must make an immediate impact on learning and fill a gap or need that Cognia is not able to provide on our own. We are committed to growing our collective capacity to meet needs of our member and partner institutions, and Trusted Providers are one aspect of that growth.

Our current providers offer:

  • Immediate access to unique solutions, reviewed and evaluated to  minimize risk for our clients
  • Seamless, single source integration
  • Solutions that are vetted for rigor and accuracy
  • Exclusive savings
Prerequisites/Requirements

Exclusive savings are available for Cognia-paying members

Client Base

All Cognia members and any educator interested in powerful professional development and teacher empowerment

Resources
The Cognia Improvement Platform

This state-of-the-art productivity platform, formerly called eProve™, is Cognia’s web-based information management system designed specifically to support our members’ continuous improvement. Institutions use it to conduct observations from mobile devices, create and administer custom surveys, tailor reports, and more, creating numerous data points throughout the year.

The Cognia Improvement Platform is not just a data system; it empowers education institutions to make sense of and use their data, offering a valuable technology companion on the journey of continuous improvement. This integrated suite of tools creates a holistic improvement system that consolidates and converts data into clear courses of action.

The platform aligns improvement efforts into a comprehensive solution that empowers education communities to engage each other as they evolve to continuously create opportunities for every learner to succeed.

Note that we do not use the acronym CIP to refer to the platform.

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Client Base

Education institutions of all types and sizes that are interested in external feedback and validation of quality (schools, school systems, early learning centers, education service agencies, charter school authorizers, education corporations, and more)

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Research & Development

Introduction paragraph.

Research and Effectiveness

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Analytics

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