Our Accreditation Process

 

PURPOSE 

 

The purpose of the Accreditation Program is to establish high, uniform standards among ACTS member schools. Achievement of accreditation status represents a standard of excellence that is recognized by other institutions and the constituency of the community in which the school is located. Accreditation requirements identify educational and spiritual criteria which establish high expectations for Christian schools. Parents seek accredited schools because they believe such schools offer a quality program. Likewise, the larger communities of business and higher education value the standard of excellence established by school accreditation.

 

To become accredited, a school will complete a self-study evaluation and open their school to an on-site visit by a qualified team of educators who will examine its program to determine whether it is being operated within the published guidelines of the accrediting agency. ACTS standards are similar to those of other recognized educational accrediting agencies and are designed to meet or exceed the minimum standards for accrediting associations, such as, the Regional Associations, FAANS, TEPSAC, OPSAC and NCPSA.

 

 

LEVELS OF ACCREDITATION 

 

In the accreditation process, a school progresses from Applicant to Candidacy to Accreditation. A school may remain in Applicant status or Candidacy status for a maximum of two years after being accepted by the Accreditation Commission. If significant progress is not made toward accreditation within this two year time frame, a school will be dropped from the accreditation process. At the end of this two year time frame, a school must submit a new application and pay an additional application fee.

 

1. Applicant Status: A school is in Applicant status from the time an official application is filed with the Executive Director until all items have been received and accepted by the Accreditation Commission. A school at this stage of accreditation may only refer to themselves as being an Applicant with ACTS. 

 

2. Candidacy Status: Once a school's preliminary visit has been completed and the accompanying documentation have been received and accepted by the Accreditation Commission, the school will be advanced to Candidacy status and assigned a chairperson as an advisor. After the school receives their formal notice that their preliminary visit report has been accepted, they may refer to themselves as having Candidacy status with ACTS. 

 

3. Accreditation: Upon completion of the on-site visit, the visiting team will submit a report and recommendation to the Accreditation Commission. The Accreditation Commission then makes a status report to the ACTS Board. Accreditation may be granted by the ACTS Board for a maximum of five years (length may be granted to be concurrent with a regionally accredited school). A school may refer to themselves as Accredited by ACTS upon receipt of the notice of approval by the ACTS Board.