Frequently Asked Questions

All information stated in this post has been documented throughout the blog.

Questions and comments are welcomed! Post may be anonymous. Thank you for taking the time to read this blog. I hope you find some helpful information.

What is accreditation?

• ·        Accreditation is an external, objective validation of the school's quality and student achievement that fosters continuous school improvement

• ·        It provides all of its constituents in the school community (students, staff board and parents) a measurable assurance of what the school seeks to provide.

• ·        Something all good educational organizations seek in order to validate their quality and to verify that they are striving for excellence.

What important role do parents play in accreditation?

Schools should want parents to be actively involved in all important academic and non- academic areas. Parents need to:

• ·        stay informed about what’s going on at their child’s schools

• ·        join the school’s improvement team and/or Parent Teacher Associations

• ·        provide feedback to the school through focus groups, parent meetings, forums, committees and surveys

For the parents, what are the benefits of accreditation?

When a school achieves accreditation, parents and the community can be assured the school is:

• ·        increasing student achievement through clear content requirements for instruction

• ·        providing a safe and enriching learning environment

• ·        running an effective operation

For the students, what are the benefits of accreditation?

• ·        qualified teachers who are working to improve their minds

• ·        more focus on student learning not just high quality teaching

• ·        better transition from grade to grade through mapping of academic grade level standards

• ·        a rigorous, diverse, and sound curriculum based on quality standards

• ·        the confidence that they have the knowledge and skills to compete in furthering their education or joining the work force

What are some accreditation agencies?

American Association of Christian Schools

• established in 1972
• 60-70  schools in US have AACS Accreditation
• Benefits of AACS - Click link below for more information

http://www.aacs.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Benefits-List-10.15.2013-tilt-w-pieC.pdf

AdvanED

• ·        34,000 (2016 data) accredited schools and school districts in the United States and 70 other nations (not just school memberships)

• ·        over 100 years of expertise in accreditation and school improvement

• ·        formed in 2006 by the consolidation of the pre-college divisions of two of the U.S. regional accreditation organizations: the Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA CASI), and the Council on Accreditation and School Improvement of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS CASI) and in 2012 added of Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC)

Association of Christian School International- ACSI

• ·        Nearly 24,000 schools from over 100 countries are members. (Not all members have ACSI accreditation)

• ·        Renewed their accreditation manual-Reach 2.0 The REACH 2.0 ACSI accreditation is a separate accreditation process from AdvancED

• ·        Dual accreditation for ACSI and AdvancED is still available
  

Association of Classical Christian Schools-ACCS

• ·        300 schools are members.

• ·        50-60  schools in US have ACCS Accreditation.

Why is the accreditation process necessary?

If the foundational issues which an accreditation process covers in great detail were not in place, it would become the parent’s responsibility to investigate the school their children attend. Think of this investigation just like the inspection which one commissions when they put an offer on a house. The house looks perfect. But is its infrastructure perfect? Are there flaws which are not readily apparent? The inspector's report will reveal the good and the items which need fixing.  That's basically how accreditation works. The properly executed accreditation process celebrates the school's good points and offers suggestions for fixing what is deficient.

The accreditation process for a school is a thorough review of all the things which matter to parents. They want to know that the academics are sound and that the school is managed properly. Accreditation intrinsically implies that all the necessary due diligence have been done. That seal of approval which institutional accreditation gives should be very important to parents.

What are the steps of an accreditation process?

Each organization creates documents explaining the process a school must follow in order to receive accreditation. An accreditation review is ongoing. Every few years a school has a team visit as part of the accreditation process. Each year there isn't a team visit, schools must complete an annual report of progress.

The five key features of accreditation process are:
• Self-study: Institutions and programs prepare a written summary of performance based on accrediting organization’s standards.
• Peer review: Accreditation review is conducted primarily by faculty, administrators, and members of the public.
• Site visit: Accrediting organization normally sends a visiting team to review an institution or program. Team members are volunteers.
• Action (a judgement made by the visiting team of the accrediting organization) Accrediting organization has been commissioned to make decisions about the accredited status of institutions and programs.
• Monitoring and oversight: Institutions and programs are reviewed over time in cycles from every few years to ten years. Normally, these reviews include a site visit.

What accreditation standards and indicators might be included in a school’s self-study?

Although they vary, most accreditation agencies include some type of the following nonnegotiable standards and indicators. The school must show evidence that they are following the standards and indicators to receive accreditation.

Think  back to the scenario of the home inspector reviewing your home before you buy it. The list below would be items the inspector checks during their inspection. As a buyer you may not have the educated eye to effectively look for these items but you would have the right to see the inspectors report, ask questions and clearly understand what these things mean before you purchase your home.

As you read through this list of standards and indicators, write down any questions you have. It might be helpful to ask these questions to your child's school.  As a stakeholder of the school, you have the right to humbly ask questions and hopefully receive an answer in the same manner. You wouldn’t buy a house with questions left unanswered would you?  Remember only a few standards and indicators are listed. To see a complete list of criteria, go to the blog post Accreditation Agencies.

Philosophy and Foundation

·        The school communicates its philosophy, vision, mission and core values, and school expected student outcomes to its constituents and community. Indicator 1.2 ACSI Reach 2.0

·        The school must be able to document that it is maintaining its published mission and continues to serve in accord with the ACCS statement of faith. Indicator A.1 ACCS,

·        The school leadership and staff commit to a culture that is based on shared values and beliefs about teaching and learning and supporting challenging, equitable educational programs and learning experiences for ALL students that include achievement of learning, thinking and life skills. Indicator 1.2 AdvancED,

Governance and Leadership

·        Constituents and stakeholders are provided appropriate input by leadership in the decision-making process, a practice that promotes a culture of participation, responsibility, transparency and ownership. Indicator  2.4 ACSI Reach 2.0

·        The school must have a written constitution and/or bylaws that clearly and comprehensively provide a bases for a school administration and governance; lines of authority and areas of responsibility must be explicit. Indicator C.1 ACCS, 2016

·        A financial review is conducted by an external CPA who has no vested interest in the school at the time of initial accreditation and renewal. The annual statement of financial practices is submitted with the annual accreditation report. Indicator 2.9 ACSI Reach 2.0

Home and Community Relations and Student Services

·        Regular, established, and effective two-way communication occurs between the school and its constituents. Indicator 3.4 ACSI

·        The school systematically seeks input/feedback from current and past students and other constituents in order to adjust its instructional and operational practices. Indicator 3.6 ASCI

Instructional Programs and Resources

·        The curriculum plan includes the following components: 1) schoolwide expected outcomes, 2) an educational philosophy statement, 3) scope and sequence of instruction for each subject area at each grade level. …..specific instructional objectives for each unit of study….developmentally appropriate application of Christlike character and values….. Indicator  5.2 ACSI

·        The school must be able to document that its program is meeting its published goals for student achievement and advancement. Indicator A.2 ACCS

Using Results for Continuous Improvement

·        The school has implemented procedures for regular communication of student achievement to all stakeholders. This communication includes the following: 1) major test used, 2) schoolwide trends in achievement, 3) accomplishment of schoolwide expected student outcomes, and 4) annual progress of individual students. Indicator 5.18 ACSI

·        The school engages in a continuous process to determine verifiable improvement in student learning, including readiness for and success at the next level. Indicator 5.4 AdvancED

NOTE: According to AdvancED and ACSI accrediting organizations, self-study reports and site visit reports must be available to all stakeholders.

What might a complete school self-study look like?

Many schools post their accreditation reports on the internet. There are some samples to click on below. Each self-study is unique to the school itself. Notice plans include multiple opportunities for input/ feedback and two-way communication from stakeholder, data charts and graphs on student achievement, and development of academic and non academics plans.

Monte Vista Christian School

http://www.mvcs.org/files/School/Accreditation%202009/Documentation/ASP%202009%20Report.pdf

Stone Bridge School

http://stonebridgeschool.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/2014-Stone-Bridge-School-WASC-Report-.pdf

Why are standards or grade level student outcomes important?

“If you aim for nothing, you will hit it every time.  ….. Exemplary schools must strive to have regularly reviews, well-written student outcomes. ….. Meaningful statements of student expectations that drive the decisions of an exemplary school.” Stephen Dill “Student Learning: The Big Picture” ACSI Christian School Educator Magazine Vol 19. NO. 3 2015/2016 pg. 7

When defining an exemplary school, what criteria might a parent look for?

This is a rubric developed by ACSI that details four levels- "Flourishing School Continuum-Formative Level, Maturing Level, Effective Level and Flourishing Level.” They perceive the “Effective Level” or “Flourishing Level” as the levels representative of accreditation.

Is having my child attend an accredited school important for my child to get into college?

Some claim that it doesn't matter much whether or not a high school or school district is accredited. The truth of the matter is that accreditation is just one piece of the admissions profile for candidates.  It is, however, a piece that must be completed before one can be accepted. Because AdvancED’s accreditation is widely recognized and known for the quality of their accreditation, they are accepted by almost every college in the US. Although ACSI is not as widely known to some colleges, they are committed to providing support to graduates where colleges do not readily accept their accreditation. Graduates will not know if the college accepts ACSI accredited diplomas unless they contact each school directly.

Why is a standardized test important?

Students in American schools are increasingly facing high-stakes standardized testing in an effort to improve educational outcomes. While some may debate the merit of an educational environment with an increased emphasis on tests, there is no denying that these tests have come to play a greater role in the college admissions process. It may not always be the best instrument for those who “don’t test well” but it is the hoop that one must jump through to be accepted into college. An impressive score on one of these tests could also make a graduate a more impressive candidate for scholarships, especially those based on merit and academic achievement.


More and more colleges are using these scores for placement into English and math courses. Auburn for example, requires the following ACT scores for math placement.

Course	ACT Math Score Required for Placement
College Algebra	22 and below
Pre-Calculus	23

 Click below for Auburn University Math Placement Document

https://www.auburn.edu/cosam/departments/math/students/ugrad/placement.htm

Does accreditation effect scholarships?

This depends on the scholarship application requirements.

What does Alabama High School Athletic say about accreditation?

Alabama High School Athletic Association states on page 16 of the AHSAA Handbook that all private schools MUST be accredited by SACS (older name for AdvancED) or and equivalent agency to participate in AHSAA. If a schools has an accreditation other than AdvancED it has to be approved by AHSAA.

My child attends a private Christian school. Do they have to follow Common Core?

The following was published by ACSI in their Christian School Educator Magazine Vol 17.1, 2014

“In cases in which we disagree with the truth behind the content, we will continue to train our students to respond with logical arguments that account for their beliefs. In the end, Common Core Standards are a step in the right direction to support the academic needs of our students in relation to the skill sets and knowledge they need to be successful in the twenty-first century. To ignore Common Core Standards completely is to miss the potential for developing students into the leaders of this next generation—leaders who stand for Christ while attaining high levels of academic achievement, which will open doors to make an impact on the world for His kingdom.”

Link to complete article click below

http://pubs.royle.com/article/Christian+Schools+and+the+Common+Core/1497092/173903/article.html

What are some meaningful questions to ask at my child's school?
In pursuit of that transparency, below are some questions to better clarify what's happening in the classroom and school setting. Some of the questions may seem a bit direct, but most educators who are on top of their profession shouldn't take offense to them. In fact, most would welcome the kind of added capacity that questions like these could lead to.

1. What is the school's mission, vision, and core values?
2. Is your school accredited?  And by whom?
3. In what ways does the school provide opportunities for two-way communication and parent support?
4. What is the school's philosophy for education and how will it relate to my child?
5. What are the school's academic standards for each grade or subject, and what do I need to know about them?
6. How does your school academically compare to other schools in the area?
7. Will you fully prepare my child for college? What is your evidence?
8. Do you offer Advance Placement AP courses, honor courses or duel enrollment opportunities?
9. If my child has a weakness in learning, what extra academic support will your school provide for my child?
10. Will my child be safe?
11. What electives, sports, and service opportunities are offered?
12. How are creativity and innovative thinking used on a daily basis in the classroom?
13. How is critical thinking used on a daily basis in all classrooms?
14. How are assessments designed to promote learning rather than simple measurement?