|
The Northwest
Accreditation Commission (NWAC) is an accreditation division of AdvancED
AdvancED/Northwest Accreditation Commission
(NWAC)
Welcome to the AdvancED Washington
State Office. We are excited about the future of accreditation and the
renewed focus on continuous improvement in our schools and school
systems. Our mission is to advance excellence in education through the
process of accreditation. Accreditation promotes continual school
improvement leading to greater student achievement. Schools in our state
are accredited through the Northwest Accreditation Commission, an
accreditation division of AdvancED, that has been accrediting schools
since 1917. We accredit distance education, elementary, foreign nation,
high, K-12, middle level, post-secondary non-degree granting,
residential, special purpose, supplementary education and travel
education schools.
For further information,
please go to www.advanc-ed.org.
What Does Accreditation Mean?
When the Accreditation Commission accredits a school, it is
certifying that the school has met the prescribed quantitative and
qualitative standards of the Commission, within the
terms of the school's own stated mission and beliefs. It is also
certifying that the school has undergone a self-study and validation by
an outside team of peers, upon application for
membership.
Accredited schools are members of one of the nation's six
regional accrediting bodies. Being an accredited member implies that the
school subscribes to a process of voluntary self-regulation that is a
constructive experience designed to improve the quality of that member
school.
Membership
Accreditation is an important aspect of school effectiveness.
Accreditation in Washington state is closely aligned to the School
Improvement Process of the Office of Superintendent of Public
Instruction (OSPI) and the School Improvement Plan (SIP) required by the
State Board of Education.
Resources:
Membership Documents:
Benefits
In addition to the intrinsic benefits that the school
receives, the public also obtains the following assurances:
-
Regional Accreditation assures transferability of credits among
other regionally accredited schools.
-
Citizens are assured of accountability and value for their tax
dollars in light of the fact that their school is meeting regional
standards (see links below).
-
The community in general is more attractive to prospective
incoming families and businesses when it can be reported that its
schools are accredited.
-
Accreditation assures the public that an outgoing process of
evaluation will be a permanent feature of school improvement
practices.
-
Through school, the public can receive information regularly on
the extent to which their school is meeting standards.
-
Accreditation provides general justification for public
confidence in a member school. It does not affirm that the school is
perfect in all aspects, but it does promise that the school has the
resources, leadership and vitality needed for ongoing improvement.
-
Accreditation gives evidence to its public that the school is
meeting expectations and fulfilling standards that transcend local and
state requirements.
-
Accreditation assures that other schools, colleges and
universities will accept student credits.
Questions regarding membership may be made directly to Joe Pope,
AdvancED/NWAC, Washington State Director, at 253.318.3861 or jpope@advanc-ed.org, or to Sandie
Cannady at scannady@advanc-ed.org.
Online Learning Programs
Washington State Accreditation Contacts:
|
P (360) 357-7951 or (800) 562-6100 
