Conditions for Accreditation

A. The evaluation of a school shall be in terms of its own philosophy and objectives defining its functions and purposes. B. The accreditation of the school shall be based on both quantitative and qualitative criteria as based on the Principles and Standards as established by TAAPS. C. Standards shall be used as one means of assisting in the implementation of the school's functions, purposes, and improvements. D. The procedure for accreditation and the standards to be used shall be developed cooperatively by all concerned. E. The effectiveness of a school shall be judged by the extent to which it meets the needs of the clientele it serves. F. The standards used for accrediting a school stall be sufficiently comprehensive and flexible to provide the stimulation for achieving the stated purposes and shall be in compliance with applicable rules of the State Board of Education. G. The accreditation of a school shall be based on the school's composite progress and the resource, facilities, and staff required to achieve the objectives. H. The accreditation of a school shall depend upon the quality of education provided over an extended period of time as well as its status on a given date. I. Accreditation shall become one significant means of enabling teachers and administrators to look upon their work as a full-time profession that calls for their maximum growth and development. J. A deficiency in a particular area may be compensated for by a strength or exemplary condition in the same or related areas. K. An important guideline is that quantitative evidence of compliance is essential to answer many questions, rather than a qualitative statement. For example, the statement "Our Library occupies 2,300 square feet, contains 7,100 volumes, and 1,215 reference and technical volumes, and we employ a half-time librarian to staff the library" is much more desirable information statement than, "Yes our library meets TAAPS standards." L. All statements must have evidence of compliance. Statements of intent to comply will not be considered as meeting the standard. M. The visiting team will consist of fellow educators from accredited schools, most of whom will have had much experience. There must be a "gentlemen's agreement" that in evaluating compliance with standards that include non-quantitative terms like "adequate", the consensus of opinions of the visiting team will be the "eyes and ears" of TAAPS and their carefully considered opinion must be given the most weight in the deliberations of the Standards Committee, when there is disagreement. If the visiting committee has based its finding on errors of fact, the applicant school will have the opportunity to call that to the attention of the Standards Committee. N. No one person should compile the self-study. While the head administrator may have the greatest responsibility, the task should be divided among administrator and teachers. Input from governing body members, teachers, students, and parents should be sought and included. The self-study's primary purpose is to cause the entire school family to look closely at itself and assess strengths and weaknesses: to bring into being a resolve and plan for improving the school. 0. TAAPS' purpose is to collaborate with schools to raise their standards. A school wishing to become accredited and not knowing how to begin the process may ask TAAPS to send an experienced consultant to visit the school for conferences. The school would be expected to reimburse expenses and per diem. P. It is important to note that there is latitude in the standards for diversity of philosophy among schools. Where standards specify certain essentials (as, for example, that a school may not use a programmed curriculum exclusively) the standards do not specify which textbooks. There are many other areas where local decisions will cause a particular school to differ from others. The important thing to remember is that a particular school should be judged against its own stated philosophy. Each visiting team asks itself "Is this school actually doing what it says it does?".