Process

Accreditation is not a single event, but rather an ongoing, voluntary cycle that supports the school’s strategic planning process. Member schools must demonstrate continued alignment with NEASC Standards in order to maintain their NEASC accreditation and membership.

FAQ about NEASC Accreditation

Schools approaching accreditation for the first time, move through three stages:

Interest and Eligibility
Candidacy for Accreditation
Accreditation

Become Accredited

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Once a school has achieved Candidate status or is pursuing re-accreditation, the process involves the key elements listed below, though they may be organized or approached differently depending on the Pathway selected.

Self-Reflection

Each school engages in a period of meaningful self-reflection to determine their aspirations and goals for their learning community, select areas of focus for the accreditation process, and assess their adherence to the NEASC Standards for Accreditation. NEASC provides framework, training, a report template, survey tools, and other resources to support each school’s process. Once a school's self-reflection report is completed, they prepare to host an accreditation visiting team. Some NEASC pathways include multiple, alternating stages of self-reflection and visits within one cycle.

Visit and Feedback

A hallmark of the accreditation process is an on-site visit by a team of peer reviewers. These "visiting teams" are made up of trained volunteers from other accredited and candidate schools, with NEASC staff members occasionally participating. Visitors are fellow educators who can understand a school's context and relate to their commitment to school growth and transformation. As volunteers dedicating many hours to support excellence in education, they are motivated to provide honest and comprehensive feedback in their report so that you can best meet the needs of your students.

The visit culminates in a report written by the team which is submitted to NEASC and shared with the school. The report includes focused recommendations and actionable feedback. It will also serve as the determining factor in the decision to grant initial or continued accreditation.

Accreditation Decision

Member schools can trust in the final accreditation decision. Four levels of review and recommendations by both peers and experts in the NEASC community are involved. The visiting team creates the report. The report is then reviewed by NEASC staff and the appropriate commission. Follow-up discussion with the school leadership may be requested. A final accreditation decision is then made by the commission and affirmed by the NEASC Board of Trustees.

Continued Growth and Reflection

The decision of accreditation or re-accreditation is not the final destination, rather one step in an ongoing growth and transformation cycle for a school. Following the accreditation decision, a school's progress is monitored through periodic reports with support provided by NEASC staff. Continued self-reflection and engagement with other educators in the NEASC community through networking and professional learning events are encouraged during this time.

Support and Training

Every member school has a designated liaison or relationship manager on the NEASC staff. With this personalized approach, staff get to know a school's unique context and can provide well informed guidance throughout the accreditation process.

NEASC staff offer training in each pathway throughout the year to prepare schools for their self-reflection.

NEASC also offers professional learning and networking opportunities including an annual leadership conference, educator showcases, and a student-led conference. Online learning opportunities and in-person workshops on topics relevant to the needs of schools and highlighting important trends in education are scheduled regularly.

Browse our calendar of upcoming events.

Volunteering

A benefit of NEASC membership is the opportunity to visit other schools as an accreditation visitor. Participating on a NEASC accreditation visiting team is a unique, immersive experience frequently referred to by volunteers as the most impactful professional development they've had as an educator.

Another way to get involved is to serve on one of the three commissions or on the NEASC Board of Trustees. Responsibilities include reviewing reports and informing policy decisions.

Members of our accredited schools are also invited to highlight best practices in their schools by presenting at our conferences or serving as panelists on the popular NEASC Forum webinars.

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