Become Accredited

For a school to begin the process of accreditation with NEASC it must meet the following criteria:  

• be in operation for a minimum of a full academic year
• be legally authorized to operate by the local authority (state or national)

If your school is located outside of the United States these additional criteria must be met: 

• use English as a primary language of instruction (at least 50% of core subjects) and communication throughout the school or program*
   
• demonstrate the international nature of the school through a mission which includes creating international citizens, through demographics of the student body and staff, and through the co-curricular experiences and programs offered
   
• provide a curriculum which in content, design, implementation, and assessment reflects best practices in American and international education

Please use the following questions to help you ascertain your school’s current state, aspirations, and readiness to apply for NEASC accreditation: 

• Is the school guided by broadly accepted and understood Guiding Statements of vision, mission, and shared understanding of high-quality learning?
   
• Is there evidence that students are learning effectively, are engaged with their learning and understand what they are learning?
   
• Does the school’s learning environment support and nurture the students’ personal, creative, academic, social, and emotional needs?
   
• Does the school provide an emotionally and physically safe, secure, accessible learning environment for its students and staff, supported by clear policies to support Child Protection and Safeguarding?
   
• Do healthy, ethical, respectful, trusting, and constructive relationships and interactions between and among students and adults characterize the school culture?
   
• Does the school equip its students with the skills, knowledge, and understandings to be successful in the next level of formal schooling and beyond?
   
• Are the school’s faculty, staff, leadership and governance competent, knowledgeable, and qualified in modeling and promoting the school’s Guiding Statements?
   
• Are the school’s faculty, staff, leadership, and governance committed to ongoing improvement, self-reflection, and life-long learning? Are they aware both of strengths and areas in need of attention?
   
• Does the school culture encourage future-oriented dialogue, discussion, reflection, and action? Does it tolerate risk-taking and failure?
   
• Do the school’s resources (financial, equipment, facilities, personnel) assure its long-term viability and development?
   
• Does the school have comprehensive policies and procedures to guide all major aspects of the school’s operations?