About NEASC
Who We Are
The New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) partners with schools to co-create the future of education through purposeful accreditation focused on high-quality learning for all students. Focusing on pre-kindergarten through grade 12, we provide a relevant, future forward framework for meaningful, ongoing whole school improvement through accreditation, professional assistance, and pursuit of best practices. Founded in 1885, NEASC has a long tradition and proven reputation for quality assurance in education.
NEASC is an independent, voluntary, nonprofit organization whose membership represents a broad array of diverse educational institutions unified in their commitment to improvement and growth. More than 1600 public, independent, and international schools in the United States and in over 90 countries around the world are NEASC Members, Candidates for Accreditation, or have achieved Eligibility for Accreditation. A globally recognized standard of excellence, NEASC Accreditation attests to a school’s high quality and integrity.
As a deeply mission-driven organization, NEASC is guided by key priorities that include promoting innovation and excellence in education, advancing equity, and empowering students. NEASC does not compare or rank schools but rather establishes rigorous standards of quality for all accredited schools, centers, and programs while respecting the unique culture and context of each institution it supports.
NEASC's purposes are exclusively educational. It serves the public interest, the educational community, and the students within the educational system by:
- establishing and maintaining high standards of educational excellence
- providing a framework for institutional self-reflection and objective peer review
- serving as a professional resource and providing support
Drawing upon its considerable experience, NEASC serves as a public policy resource on issues related to the condition of education in New England, the United States, and in the international learning communities it serves. The Association is a private, nonprofit corporation that adheres to fundamental principles of fairness and non-discrimination, thus NEASC is uniquely positioned to work in partnership with other organizations on a regional, national, and international scale as it works to sustain and advance the quality of education for all students.
Our History
Founded in 1885 by leaders from Harvard University, Yale University, Wellesley College as well as Boston Latin School, Vermont Academy, Phillips Andover and other esteemed institutions, NEASC was born out of a desire to create closer collaboration between colleges and preparatory high schools. In the early half of the twentieth century, focus was placed on standardization of university entry requirements, and a system for credits and coursework were determined, and this eventually led to the beginning of university accreditation.
NEASC’s initial accreditation focus began with universities and preparatory schools but expanded to include both public and independent elementary and middle schools.
In the 1970s, NEASC began supporting and accrediting schools outside of the United States. This work was initially to support the US Departments of State and Defense in ensuring high quality educational opportunities for children of Americans serving abroad. Since then, the focus of NEASC accreditation outside of the US has expanded to include a wide range of international and American schools around the globe. Over the last 50 years NEASC has grown to support nearly 500 international schools in more than 90 countries.
In 2018, NEASC completed an organizational restructuring to align with the US Department of Education’s requirement that our higher education commission (CIHE) operate as a “separate and independent” entity. As the association evolved to its current focus on prekindergarten through secondary school, NEASC and its membership continue our historic pledge to ensure that all children receive the highest quality education. Imbued with the culture of excellence and scholarship of the original Association, NEASC's mission has never wavered from our founding principles of quality assurance in education and a commitment to ongoing institutional improvement and growth.
Today, as we approach 150 years since our founding, NEASC plays a unique role in bringing leaders and educators together from public, independent, and international schools to learn from one another and build a truly global learning community that bridges school type and location.
Our College Connection
Though the focus of our NEASC Accreditation process is on the experience of PK-12 students, we continue to work across the K-16 continuum in partnership with the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) in ways that serve the interests of our entire membership. Through this ongoing collaboration with NECHE and working closely with universities, colleges, and higher education associations across New England (such as NEBHE and NEACAC), NEASC explores opportunities to enhance the value of accreditation in supporting the educational success and college readiness of our students. For example, we keep our community of accredited schools connected to the latest information in admissions and higher education by featuring our higher education colleagues in the professional learning opportunities we offer.
Connecting and ensuring our students are prepared for post-secondary is a key priority of NEASC membership and accreditation. NEASC Accreditation continues to merit positive consideration in university admissions processes and in funding and consideration for other opportunities such as grants and scholarships.
Read a statement by NECHE on the value of K-12 Accreditation