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AdvancED is the parent organization of
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     Steps to School Accreditation
    AdvancED accreditation provides a national protocol for schools committed to systemic, systematic, and sustainable continuous improvement. The accreditation process invites school staff to collaborate in reviewing the quality of the school's systems and their contributions to teaching and learning. The process supports, enhances, and stimulates growth and improvement throughout the school.
    The steps of the accreditation process are outlined below. As you progress through this process, your NCA CASI/SACS CASI state office is available to assist you. For a more detailed overview of the steps, download School Accreditation: A Handbook for Schools:
    Applicant Step 1: Submit Application.
    • The school reviews the AdvancED Accreditation Standards for Quality Schools and the AdvancED Accreditation Policies. The school desires accreditation and believes it has the capacity to meet the AdvancED Accreditation Standards and policies.
    • The school completes and submits an Application, an application fee, and its first-year accreditation fees to AdvancED, 2520 Northwinds Parkway, Suite 600, Alpharetta, GA 30009.
    • The AdvancED State Office is notified of the application and sends the administrative head of the school a Readiness Letter describing the expectations for the Readiness Visit, along with a Readiness Assessment.
    • The AdvancED NCA CASI/SACS CASI State Office assigns a contact person to provide support and assistance to the school as needed.
    Step 2: Host a Readiness Visit.
    • The State Office works with the school to coordinate the Readiness Visit. The purpose of the visit is to determine the school's capacity to pursue accreditation.
    • The school completes the Readiness Assessment prior to the Readiness Visit. The Readiness Assessment is shared with the Readiness Visit team members and provides the basis for the Readiness Visit.
    • The school hosts the Readiness Visit.
    • The State Office communicates the findings of the visit to the school.
    Step 3: Receive Notification of Candidacy.
    • Upon receipt of the findings of the Readiness Visit, the State Office sends a Candidacy Letter to the administrative head of the school. The letter places the school in candidacy status.
    Candidate Step 4: Schedule, prepare for, and host the Quality Assurance Review (QAR).
    • Schedule the visit.
      • At least six months prior to the desired timeframe for the visit, the school identifies and sends to the State Office up to three dates (in preferred order) for hosting the Quality Assurance Review (QAR). The visit should be conducted within two years of entering candidacy.
      • Upon receipt of the letter requesting to schedule the visit, the State Office selects and communicates the dates for the visit to the school.
    • Work with the QAR Chair.
      • The State Office appoints a Chair for the visit approximately three months prior to the visit. Team members are also appointed. The State Office provides the school with the names and contact information for all team members.
      • The QAR Chair works with the school to ensure that the school is prepared to receive the QAR team.
    • Prepare for the visit.
      • The school prepares for the visit by: engaging in a thorough internal review that includes completing all required AdvancED reports; notifying the school's community; making available evidence to share with the team to demonstrate adherence to the standards; coordinating individuals to be interviewed by the team; making appropriate logistical arrangements for the team members; coordinating the visit schedule with the QAR Chair; and ensuring that the administrative head is accessible for the visit.
    • Engage in Internal Review & Completed Required AdvancED Reports.
      • The school engages in a comprehensive internal review guided by the AdvancED standards. Schools hosting QAR visits through June 2010, complete the Standards Assessment Report as part of their internal review. Schools hosting QAR visits beginning July 2010 complete the Self-Assessment and Executive Institutional Summary. The school uses the AdvancED web-based reporting system to submit all required reports. Reports must be completed within six weeks of the scheduled review.
    • Host the QAR team and receive the team report.
      • The school hosts the QAR team and receives the oral exit report. It is expected that the oral exit report will be delivered to the school's stakeholders.
      • The QAR Chair prepares the written report of the visit and submits it to AdvancED for review by an AdvancED Reader who reviews the report to ensure quality.
      • The final report is submitted to the school, State Office, and QAR chair.
      • The QAR team's recommended accreditation status is submitted to the State Office for state and national review and action.
    Step 5: Communicate the QAR team's findings to the community.
    • Upon receipt of the written report, the school communicates the QAR team's findings to the school and community.
    • When the school's accreditation status is reviewed and acted upon at the national level, the school communicates its final accreditation status to the community.
    Accredited (Ongoing steps) Step 6: Act on the findings.
    • The school acts on the required actions outlined in the QAR team report and engages in continuous improvement.
    Step 7: Adhere to the AdvancED standards and engage in quality continuous improvement.
    • The school maintains adherence to the AdvancED standards and regularly engages in internal review against the standards.
    • The school engages in continuous improvement.
    • The school provides AdvancED with accurate and up-to-date contact information and demographics.
    • The State Office provides support and professional development opportunities to assist the school in its continuous improvement efforts.
    Step 8: Complete the Accreditation Progress Report.
    • Following the QAR visit, the State Office sends a letter to the administrative head of the school requesting an Accreditation Progress Report detailing the school's progress in addressing the recommendations from the QAR team report.
    • The school completes the report and submits it via the AdvancED website to the State Office for review and action at the state and national level.
    • The final accreditation action is transmitted to the school and state office.
    • The school shares its accreditation status with the school's stakeholders.
    • The school continues to meet the AdvancED standards, engage in continuous improvement, and hosts quality assurance reviews once every five years.