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Non-DoD Schools Program

Accreditation

Accreditation is the practice of evaluating educational institutions and programs to determine whether or not they are operating according to established quality standards.

DDESS schools have been accredited in the past by one of three regional agencies based on the state in which the school was located. However, DDESS is part of the larger organization of the Department of Defense Dependent Schools Activity (DoDEA), which is recognized as a state for accreditation purposes. Therefore, DDESS is transitioning from the regional accreditation agencies to all schools being accredited by the North Central Association, Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI).

Note: Except for DDESS, Department of Defense Schools in DoDEA have been accredited by NCA CASI since 1945. The transition of DDESS Schools to NCA accreditation will be completed by 2008.

NCA CASI is part of the unified organization AdvancED who's focus is to help member schools continually improve student performance and school conditions. Their accreditation standards and process are based on ongoing self-assessment against quality standards, rigorous on-site evaluation, and continuous improvement.

Accreditation Standards

The AdvancED accreditation standards serve as the foundation for the accreditation process. The seven standards and accompanying indicators are tied directly to the research on factors that impact student learning. The seven standards address the following areas:

Vision and Purpose
Governance and Leadership
Teaching and Learning
Documenting and Using Results
Resources and Support Systems
Stakeholder Communications and Relationships
Commitment to Continuous Improvement

AdvancEd is dedicated to ensuring our schools are held to the highest accreditation standards. While accreditation happens once every five years school improvement is ongoing, making the school improvement process a vital component of accreditation. Accredited schools not only adhere to the standards, they use them as a tool for ongoing self-assessment and improvement.

A school is successful in meeting the standards when it implements a curriculum based on clear and measurable standards for student learning that provides opportunities for all students to acquire requisite knowledge, skills and attitudes.

The process of continuously improving curriculum, environment, assessment, and instruction are key to student achievement

"Accreditation is an activity, not a status. Schools are accredited because of the way they move, not the way they stand."

- John A. Stoops, Late Executive Director, CITA

Read the AdvancED Standards for Quality Schools for more information on the accreditation standards.

Accreditation Terms & Definitions

Standards: comprehensive statements of quality practices and conditions that research and best practice indicate are necessary for schools to achieve quality student performance and organizational effectiveness. View the DDESS Academic Standards.
Indicators: Operational definitions or descriptions of exemplary practices and processes. Together, indicators provide a comprehensive picture of each standard.
Impact statement: describes characteristics, processes, and actions that would be observable and verifiable in a school that effectively implements the standard.

To earn and maintain accreditation from NCA CASI schools must:

1. Adhere to the AdvancED Accreditation Standards for Quality Schools.
2. Engage in ongoing self-assessment and continuous improvement.
3. Document results of improvement efforts.
4. Complete a Standards Assessment Report prior to the Quality Assurance Review visit.
5. Host a Quality Assurance Review Team once every 5 years.
6. Act on the Quality Assurance Review Team's recommendations.
7. Submit a progress report following the Quality Assurance Review according to the established schedule.