As a parent, you’d likely do anything to see your child succeed, especially in school. Finding the right school to enroll your student in can be a big decision, as it can be a determining factor in their future education and career options. Your options include public, private, cyber, or charter schools. You’ll also have to decide between an accredited or non-accredited school. Learn more about K-12 accreditation, its importance, and what it could mean for your child’s education.
What Does It Mean for a School to Be Accredited?
Accreditation is often considered a form of quality assurance — when a school is accredited, they’ve met strict standards indicating that they’re a high-quality institution. Specific programs within a school can also attain specialized accreditation, which applies specifically to a given program. These educational standards define criteria that K-12 schools voluntarily meet, proving they put the time, effort, and resources into becoming accredited. Meeting accreditation standards shows current and future students and families that a school is academically fit to meet their needs.
Schools must meet and maintain accreditation standards to keep their status, meaning an accredited school continuously works to improve itself for the benefit of its students.
What Is an Accrediting Agency?
Accrediting agencies are the organizations responsible for evaluating schools and awarding accreditation. The U.S. Department of Education regulates college and other higher education accreditation, though it doesn’t currently claim jurisdiction regarding K-12 school accreditation. This means accrediting agencies can appoint themselves to evaluate K-12 schools for accreditation. There are many accrediting agencies for elementary and secondary schools, though only a handful are widely accepted. K-12 schools most often receive accreditation through one of six regional accreditation agencies:
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges
- Middle States Association
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges
- North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
- Northwest Accreditation Commission
In recent years, the North Central Association, Southern Association, and Northwest Accreditation Commission have been consolidated into an organization called Cognia, which accredits primary and secondary schools worldwide.
What Is the Accreditation Process?
Every accreditation agency uses a different process, though it typically involves a self-study, setting improvement goals, and an on-site evaluation. After requesting accreditation evaluation from an accepted agency, schools generally have to conduct a self-assessment. A school seeking accreditation will assess its curriculum, programs, and impact on students in relation to the agency’s accreditation standards. The self-study is ultimately a benchmark, indicating areas the school should improve.
With potential improvement areas determined, the school will then create an improvement plan with goals to get them where they need to be regarding the accreditation standards. As the school works toward these goals, it must provide documentation and progress reports to its accrediting agency. The accreditation process is an ongoing cycle, which means schools must continuously prove they’re meeting the accreditation standards to maintain their status.
The accreditation agency will typically conduct an on-site evaluation before awarding accreditation status. They’ll evaluate aspects of the school like curriculum quality, educator credentials, and student performance and involvement. The initial visit is often used to fact-check information the school provided to help the agency determine its potential for accreditation. Site visits typically continue after accreditation is awarded to follow up and ensure schools continue meeting standards.
Accredited vs. Non-Accredited Schools
Chartered, public, and private schools can choose to become accredited, but what’s really the difference between accredited and non-accredited K-12 schools? Accreditation is ultimately a higher status indicating the school has proven quality and academic excellence. Since a public or private school isn’t required to be accredited, this status sets accredited schools apart from non-accredited schools.
Fundamentally, accredited and non-accredited schools may be very similar regarding who they teach and what is taught. The biggest difference is that there’s no verification of the quality or integrity of a non-accredited school’s education. With an accredited school, parents can be confident their students are getting an effective and quality education that will serve them well in the future.
The accreditation process is long and requires dedication. The accredited status speaks to the level of commitment and investment a school has in itself and its students’ success.
Importance of School Accreditation
Although optional, K-12 accreditation is an important consideration for parents enrolling their kids in school. At the very least, school accreditation is important because it ensures your student receives high-quality education from an early age. You’ll also have peace of mind that they’re reaching specific benchmarks throughout their education.
Accreditation is also important for students who attend a unique form of high school, such as a cyber school. An accredited, specialized high school assures colleges of the institution’s quality standards.
Additionally, the military uses a tiered classification system that ultimately ranks potential enlistees based on their high school education. Graduates from accredited schools are typically ranked in the top tier and are given preferential treatment. Some employers also consider potential employees’ high school education and seek those who attended an accredited school.
Overall, school accreditation can play a significant role in your student’s future education and career. Enrolling in an accredited school helps set students up for success from a young age.
CCA’s Accreditations
CCA voluntarily maintains accreditation through the Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA CESS). At CCA, we meet the standards for MSA’s 12 areas of evaluation:
- Mission
- Finances
- Facilities
- Governance and leadership
- School improvement planning
- Assessment and evidence of student learning
- Student services
- Student life and activities
- School organization and staff
- Health and safety
- Educational program
- Information resources
MSA’s thorough accreditation process and standards evaluate our school as a whole to completely measure our performance, giving us the knowledge necessary to realistically and strategically plan for continuous improvement schoolwide. Find out how we meet the criteria of each of the MSA standards.
Learn More About Our Cyber School Accreditations
CCA is a public K-12 cyber charter school with MSA accreditation. We aim to provide our students and families with flexible education options. Our students actively participate in their education, deciding what topics they want to focus on and how they want to learn. A personalized curriculum gives you and your student more control over their schedule and coursework.
Our accreditation is something we take seriously and we are dedicated to ensuring we maintain that status to continue offering academic programs that adequately prepare students for higher education or careers. Contact us to learn more about CCA accreditations or our customized education options.
