Welcome to the Minnesota State Office Web site of the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI).

Minnesota NCA CASI proudly accredits public and private schools, including: early childhood, elementary, middle, secondary, adult/vocational, college preparatory, special purpose (K-12), and supplementary schools.

In 2006, NCA CASI joined with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI), and the National Study of School Evaluation (NSSE) to form one strong and unified organization under the name AdvancED. We are very excited about the new accreditation standards and process that have resulted from the partnership. AdvancED is the largest accreditation organization in the world representing schools in 65 countries, 30 states, the Navajo Nation, and the Department of Defense. These schools and districts serve more than 370,000 students.

Accreditation involves three major components for a school or district: meeting standards, engaging in continuous improvement, and providing for quality assurance.

Our Accreditation Standards for Quality Schools and School Systems are research-based and focus on the most important factors in teaching and learning in order to ensure student success. They provide a framework for schools and districts to use to examine their continuous improvement efforts in a systemic and systematic manner.

The Minnesota State office provides ongoing support to our accredited schools and districts as they engage in their accreditation and continuous improvement processes. We offer high quality professional development, online resources through AdvancED, and technical assistance. We also administer Quality Assurance Reviews.

Please contact our state office for additional information regarding School and District Accreditation, school improvement, available resources, and professional development opportunities. We are committed to providing the support and assistance you need to meet your school improvement and accreditation goals.

Thank you for visiting our Web site. We hope you find it useful and informative.

Gayla Holmgren-Hoeller, Ed.D.