PREPARATION FOR ACCREDITATION


Prior to requesting an evaluation visit, the school must be familiar with the accreditation procedure.  The following suggestions are intended to guide the school in preparing the application.

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 Standards and

       Principles 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 shall 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 resources, facilities, and

       qualified 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.    All schools must have evidence of compliance.  Statements of intent to comply will not be considered as meeting the

       standard.

L.    The visiting team will be made up 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 weight in the deliberations of the Standards

       Committee.  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.  

M.    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 school to look closely at itself

       and assess strength and weaknesses; to bring into being a resolve and plan for improving the school.

N.    TAAPS does not consider itself an agency to enforce the standards of the school.  Its purpose is to collaborate with

        schools and 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 a conference.  The school is expected to

       reimburse out-of-pocket expenses and a per diem.  The rate schedule is available through the TAAPS office.

O.    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 an online programmed curriculum

       exclusively) the standards do not specify which textbooks.  

P.    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

       member should ask itself, “Is this school actually doing what it says it does?”   

Q.    An important guideline in completing the self-study is to show quantitative evidence of compliance rather than a

       qualitative statement.   For example, the statement, “our library occupies 2,300 sq. ft., contains 7,100 volumes and

       1,215 reference and technical volumes and we employ a part-time librarian” is a much more desirable information

       statement than, “Yes, our library meets the TAAPS standards.”

R.    TAAPS’ purpose is to collaborate with schools to raise their standards.

S.    A school wishing to become accredited and not know 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.



General Schedule of the Visiting Team     

A.    The school’s self-study is accepted by the Standards Committee.

B.    A date will be set for the evaluation and a written confirmation of visit will be sent to the school several weeks prior to

       the actual visit.  

C.    The confirmation will give specific information with each team member including his/her address.  It will also contain

       information regarding travel arrangements, airport pick-up, hotel accommodations and other pertinent information.

D.    Send each member of the team a paper copy of the self-study.

E.    The visiting team will usually arrive the night prior to the visit.  Hotel arrangements shall have been confirmed with the

       team along with directions to the hotel and transportation if needed.

F.    The school may schedule a meeting with the team in order to get acquainted and answer any concerns either may have. 

       It is desirable, but not necessary to take the team to dinner for this first meeting.  The Director should feel free to bring

       anyone he/she would consider appropriate.  On the final accreditation visit, the team would like to meet members of

       the Board.

G.    General Schedule for the day of the visit:

       1.    The team will arrive between 8:30 and 8:45 a.m.
       2.    Plan a brief meeting with the Director and a tour of the facilities.
       3.    A room will be needed for the team’s materials and place to work.
       4.    The team will meet in this room from time to time to work and confer.
       5.    Each member of the team will have assignments and will visit classrooms, offices and the facility.
       6.    The team will want to review lesson plans, classroom curriculum, students’ work, methods of grading, etc.
       7.    Additional assignments (ex.  Financial records, teacher files, policies, etc. will be reviewed as requested.)
       8.    The team will return to the workroom at the end of the day and depart, after viewing the pick-up traffic.
       9.    The first evening of the visit is a working night for the team.
      10.   Upon the finalization of the visit, the Chairman of the team will give an oral exit review of their evaluation.
      11.   The team will state major commendations and recommendations.
      12.   The team cannot give judgments as to the status of accreditation the Standards Committee will issue.

      13.   The report will be sent to the Standards Committee for review and recommendations to the Board of Directors.

      14.   The written report and a Status of Accreditation will be mailed to the school.