WASC/Focus on Learning/Accreditation
The Purpose of Accreditation
Excerpts from Focus on Learning (2006)
Why is accreditation important?
- The accreditation process validates and certifies the integrity of a school’s program and student transcripts.
- The accreditation process assures a community that:
- The school is a trustworthy institution of learning; and
- The school’s purposes are appropriate and being accomplished through a viable educational program.
- Accreditation fosters improvement of the school’s programs and operations to support student learning.
- Accreditation is a way to manage change through regular assessment planning, implementation, and reassessment.
- Assessment helps a school establish its priority areas for improvement.
- Through self-study, the school site visit, and the ongoing follow-up, the school staff determines areas of strength and areas for improvement based upon its vision of expected learning results.
- Accreditation enables a school to establish and implement an ongoing, three-year improvement plan as a result of the perpetual accreditation cycle that includes:
- School self-assessment of the current educational program for students;
- Insight and perspective from the visiting committee; and
- Annual assessment of progress by the school community as it refines its annual Academic Plan with appropriate adjustments to better meet our goals annually.