Behind the Scenes at Method: The Work You Don’t Always See

When people think about schools, they picture classrooms, teachers, and students—the energy of learning in action. That’s the part everyone sees. Behind that, though, is a layer of work that’s much less visible. It’s not flashy, and it doesn’t always make for exciting conversation, but it plays a huge role in how schools grow and improve over time. In this blog I'll discuss some of the critical steps we take to ensure we're offering the very best school options for Southern California families. 

All schools go through processes like the LCAP and accreditation. In many places, they can become something to check off a list—requirements to complete, documents to submit, boxes to tick. But when done well, these processes become something much more meaningful. They become part of how a school reflects, improves, and stays accountable to the students and families it serves.

Method Schools will submit its Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) plans for each Method charter to the board in June and is currently working through accreditation processes through organizations like the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and Cognia. If those terms sound a little technical, you’re not alone. Here’s what they actually mean—and why they matter.

What is the LCAP?

In simple terms, the LCAP is a three-year plan that outlines a school’s priorities, how it plans to improve, and how it will measure success. It answers questions like:

• What are our biggest goals for students?
• Where are we seeing success—and where do we need to grow?
• How are we using our resources to support those priorities?

It’s required for public schools in California, but more importantly, it’s an opportunity to be intentional and transparent about the work we’re doing.

And what about accreditation like WASC and Cognia?

Accreditation is an external review process. Organizations like WASC and Cognia evaluate how well a school is serving its students. They take a close look at everything—teaching practices, systems, data, and outcomes—to determine whether a school is delivering on its mission.

It’s both a validation of what’s working and a push to keep improving. So why does all of this matter?

It forces us to step back and see the big picture.

In the day-to-day rhythm of education, it’s easy to stay focused on what’s right in front of us. These processes create space to zoom out—to reflect on our strengths and identify where we need to focus next.

It helps shape our strategic vision.

That big-picture view becomes a roadmap. It helps clarify who we are as a school and where we’re headed, ensuring that our efforts are aligned and intentional.

It provides validation and accountability.

Having outside organizations review our work matters. It affirms the progress we’ve made while also holding us accountable to keep growing. Both are essential.

It reflects the work we’re already doing every day.

At Method, these aren’t one-time events or last-minute efforts. We’ve built systems to regularly review data, listen to feedback, and make adjustments along the way. Because of that, when it’s time to complete these reports, they don’t feel disconnected from our work—they reflect it. In many ways, they begin to write themselves.

It builds transparency and trust.

This work allows us to clearly communicate with our families and community about what we’re doing and why. We’re proud of the progress we’re making and committed to continuous improvement. The behind-the-scenes work may not always be what people see first, but it shapes everything else.

And it’s a big part of what makes a school not just functional—but truly effective.