ABOUT US : Why is accreditation important?

    Accreditation encourages and facilitates school improvement...
  • Involvement in an ongoing accreditation protocol fosters excellence and ongoing improvement in a school. The question is not if we want a better school, but how we will assure continuous school improvement. Accreditation provides a systematic process that requires a school to ask why it exists, to establish a vision of its future, and to determine specific objectives for reaching that vision.

  • The information surfaced through the accreditation protocol serves as a sound basis for school/district improvement, strategic planning, restructuring, and staff development.

  • The accreditation process examines the entire school-its philosophy and goals, its community, its programs and services, the facilities and financial stability.

  • Accreditation provides a way to manage change through regular assessment, planning, implementation, and reassessment.

  • Accreditation helps schools/districts establish priorities for improvement by using thorough needs assessments, rather than faddish approaches to improvement.

  • Accreditation requires a school to establish and implement a 5-year improvement plan based upon its vision of the future. Desired school-wide results are a part of the perpetual accreditation cycle that includes:
    • School self-assessment that identifies areas of strength and areas for improvement in the current educational program for students.
    • Insight and perspective from the evaluation team.
    • Regular staff assessment of progress during the intervening years between full self-studies.

  • The accreditation process helps to ensure greater continuity of student experiences through continuous clarification of the school's direction.

  • Participation in accreditation provides an excellent growth experience for staff who participate on visiting teams to evaluate other schools.

  • Because accreditation is a regional activity that encourages broader involvement with educators from other states and independent, public, and church-related constituencies, participants learn from the differences and benefit from the resulting professional networks.

  • The support of MSA staff and encouragement of the Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools motivates schools to maintain their focus on continuous school improvement.


    Accreditation provides a means for public accountability...
  • The accreditation process validates to the public the integrity of a school's program and student transcripts.

  • The accreditation process assures a school community that the school's purposes are appropriate and are being accomplished through a viable educational program.

  • The accreditation process justifies the faith and resources others place in the school.


    Accreditation fosters stakeholder involvement and commitment...
  • Accreditation provides opportunities for grass roots, broad-based involvement of stakeholders in charting the direction of the school.

  • The accreditation process offers a mechanism for constituent groups to play a major role in determining the school's future, helping a school to be all it can be.

  • Accreditation involves key people in creating a vision of the future, rather than letting the future happen to the school.

    Accreditation builds positive public relations...
  • Accreditation provides opportunities to emphasize the positive and show how strong and effective the school is.

  • Willingly submitting a school to public scrutiny and evaluation builds commitment and a deeper understanding of the school's efforts. It helps staff to broaden its view of community expectations and fosters closer school and community collaboration.

  • The accreditation process provides articulation and communication opportunities between school levels and among stakeholder groups.
This page was last modified on 1/9/2004

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