New Membership

Welcome to AdvancED Accreditation.

AdvancED accreditation provides a national protocol for schools committed to systemic, systematic, and sustainable continuous improvement. The accreditation process invites school staff to collaborate in reviewing the quality of the school's systems and their contributions to teaching and learning. The process supports, enhances, and stimulates growth and improvement throughout the school.

Six Steps to School Accreditation* - an overview

Submit AdvancED Accreditation Application.

1. Host a Readiness Visit.
   • Self-Assessment of Readiness for Accreditation
2. Schedule, prepare for, and host the Quality Assurance Review (QAR) .
3. Communicate the QAR team's findings to the community.
4. Act on the findings.
5. Adhere to the AdvancED standards and engage in quality continuous improvement.
6. Complete the Two-Year Progress Report.

For more detailed information, please read Steps to AdvancED Accrediation. As you progress through the accreditation process, the Illinois Office is here to assist you. Please contact the Illinois NCA office at 1-866-292-1781 to request a new school packet or with any questions you may have.

*For district accreditation, please follow the Accreditation Process for District Accreditation.

Earning and Maintaining Accreditation

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 between six weeks and six months prior to the Quality Assurance Review.
5. Host a Quality Assurance Review Team once every five years.
6. Act on the Quality Assurance Review Team's recommendations.
7. Submit a progress report two years following the Quality Assurance Review.

Term Accreditation

The accreditation process is based on a five-year term.

• Every Five Years - School prepares for and hosts a Quality Assurance Review Team
• Two Years Following the Visit - School submits an on-line progress report based on the Quality Assurance Review Team's recommendations
• Five Years After the Visit - School starts the new cycle by preparing for and hosting a Quality Assurance Review Team