There is no agency of Government, Federal or State, in the United
States of America that certifies high schools. Accreditation of
schools is provided by independent, non-profit organizations that
examine the standards of the schools for compliance with certain
educational requirements.
As a result, international schools must apply to one or more of these
independent organizations in order to receive accreditation. When a
school is accredited by such an organization, it is generally assumed
that the diplomas it grants to graduating students are valid for the
purposes of meeting any educational criteria of higher education
(Colleges and Universities) or employment.
US Department of Education
Foreign Diploma and Credit Recognition
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html
"The United States is a federal republic with a decentralized system
of education. Degree, diploma, and credit recognition are not
performed or regulated by the federal government. Recognition is not
usually done by state or local governments, either, except in the case
of professional licensure. Instead, the federal government and other
levels of government rely on, and recognize, the evaluations of
foreign academic, professional, and vocational credentials performed
by the delegated competent authorities at the institutional level and
in the private sector."
[...]
"Credential Evaluation Services
Not all U.S. institutions, employers, and licensing authorities
perform evaluations of non-U.S. diplomas, credits, or qualifications.
In many cases this work is delegated to private credential evaluation
services and the resulting evaluations are recognized as valid."
There are a number of Accreditation Services that examine the
credentials of schools outside the USA for the purpose of providing
the required accreditation.
Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE)
<http://www.aice-eval.org/> is a California-based organization of
credential evaluating services and consultants.
National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES)
<http://www.naces.org/> is the principal national professional
association representing private credential evaluation services. Its
web site maintains direct links and contact information for all member
services.
Current NACES Members
http://www.naces.org/members.htm
Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools
http://www.css-msa.org
Accreditation
http://www.css-msa.org/accredit.html
"Accreditation is the affirmation that a school provides a quality of
education that the community has a right to expect and the education
world endorses. Accreditation is a means of showing confidence in a
school's performance. When the Commission on Secondary Schools
accredits a school, it certifies that the school has met the
prescribed qualitative standards of the Middle States Association
within the terms of the school's own stated philosophy and
objectives."
THE ROLE OF STANDARDS IN ACCREDITATION ACTIVITIES
http://www.css-msa.org/standard.html
"In accreditation activities, standards have a number of important
functions. They provide a succinct outline or description of what
should be in place in a quality, accredited school and thus, serve as
an important school improvement tool. Standards are the primary
criteria used by the Commissions, their advisory committees, readers,
visiting teams, and staff in making appropriate accreditation
recommendations. Since the same set of standards is used with all
accreditation protocols, these standards provide a consistent vision
of "what quality looks like." Member schools are expected to meet all
of the twelve Middle States standards described below, regardless of
which accreditation protocol is used."
The standards used by the Middle States Commission:
THE STANDARDS
http://www.css-msa.org/standard.html
(See the Web page for explanations of the following headings. Also,
see the Indications that can be used to show compliance.)
STANDARD: Philosophy, Mission, Beliefs, and/or Objectives
STANDARD: Governance and Leadership
STANDARD: Organizational Design and Staff
STANDARD: Educational Programs
STANDARD: Learning Media Services and Technology
STANDARD: Student Services
STANDARD: Student Life and Student Activities
STANDARD: Facilities
STANDARD: Health and Safety
STANDARD: Finances
STANDARD: Assessment of Student Learning
STANDARD: Planning
THE STANDARDS WITH INDICATORS
http://www.css-msa.org/stdind.html
Committee on American and International School Abroad (CAISA)
http://www.neasc.org/caisa/caisa.htm
"Accreditation of American and International Schools Abroad* American
and International schools located in foreign countries are eligible to
seek regional accreditation through the New England Association of
Schools and College's Committee on American and International Schools
Abroad <caisacom.htm> (CAISA). These schools must offer an educational
program at the pre-K through grade 12 level following an
American-style or International program of studies using English as
the primary language of instruction. Normally, an overseas institution
is expected to achieve accreditation status within three years of
being granted candidacy.
Accreditation by NEASC, recognized by the U.S. Department of
Education, indicates that a school meets or exceeds established
criteria within the profession for the assessment of institutional
quality through a periodic process of self-study and peer review."
An Overview of the Accreditation Process for American/International
Schools
http://www.neasc.org/caisa/overview_accreditation.htm
Committee on American and International School Abroad (CAISA)
Standards for Accreditation, Seventh Edition
http://www.neasc.org/caisa/caisastd_7ed.htm
"The 7th Edition Standards for Accreditation progressively come into
use as each school receives its next Preliminary or Preparatory Visit
after September 2003."
COST
NEASC charges a $900 (US) application fee. While the school is under
evaluation, another $900 fee is required annually. After evaluation
and acceptance, a $1600 fee is charged annually.
Schedule of Fees
http://www.neasc.org/caisa/fees.htm
SEARCH TERMS
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&q=US++Department+Education
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&q=International++High+School+accreditation
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