ABOUT US : What is accreditation?

Accreditation is the affirmation that a school provides a quality of education that the community has a right to expect and the education world endorses. Accreditation is a means of showing confidence in a school's performance. When the Commission on Secondary Schools accredits a school, it certifies that the school has met the prescribed qualitative standards of the Middle States Association within the terms of the school's own stated philosophy and objectives.

The chief purpose of the whole accreditation process is the improvement of education for youth by evaluating the degree to which a school has attained worthwhile outcomes set by its own staff and community. This is accomplished by periodically conducting a comprehensive self-evaluation of the total school. Through the accreditation process, the school seeks the validation of its self-evaluation by obtaining professional judgement from impartial outsiders on the effectiveness of the total school operation. The intent throughout the process is more than to focus on shortcomings; the chief goal is to seek remedies for inadequacies and to identify and nurture good practices.

Accreditation of a secondary school is on an institutional basis. It should be noted that the whole school, not just one program such as the college preparatory courses, is covered by the accreditation.

The following are some of the many benefits of accreditation:

• greater clarity of purpose
• stronger internal relationships
• wider professional participation
• more effective methods of planning for school improvement
• improved consistency between educational purpose and practice

For a more in-depth look at benefits, visit our Why is Accreditation Important? page.

Given the unique variety found in the member schools of Middle States, the Commission on Secondary Schools offers a number of protocols for schools wishing to undertake the accreditation process. Regardless of the protocol, however, schools are expected to meet the CSS standards before accreditation will be granted or renewed. Two protocols developed by CSS specifically for its schools are Accreditation for Growth or AFG and Reflections on Standards of Quality or Reflections. Free workshops are offered by CSS to member schools on the utilization of either of these protocols. Other protocols have been accepted by CSS, and schools interested in using one of them should contact the CSS office for further information. In addition, CSS also collaborates with a number of other accrediting agencies to offer dual accreditation to schools interested in such an option.

Postsecondary, non-degree granting institutions in the Middle States region can also apply for CSS accreditation to establish eligibility to apply for Title IV, HEA programs. The standards and protocols for such eligibility are regulated. For more on policies and procedures regarding these institutions, please contact Dr. Kenneth Kastle. For more information on schools currently involved in this process see our list of accredited postsecondary schools. Written comments are invited regarding schools and school districts with career and technology programs that will be evaluated by the Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools for initial or renewed accreditation in order to qualify to administer federal Title IV financial aid programs. For a complete list of these schools, visit our Notice of Intent page.

Because accreditation can be an involved and sometimes complicated process, CSS has developed a list of FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS or FAQs. Schools are encouraged to attend one of the many workshops offered throughout the region for more detail on the process.