New Private Distance Learning High School Seeking Accreditation

Hello,

I am in the process of opening a new online distance learning program and currently seeking legitimate accreditation. The 2 viable options for us right now are SACS and DETC. From my understanding, both of these bodies requires at least 2 years of operation before we can apply. This obviously presents a "catch 22" for us because we currently have no students enrolled.

My question is what would be the best course of action for a new school seeking accreditidation? We recognize proper accreditation is vital for the success of our business and would provide legitimacy to our program.

Thank you for any suggestions.

 

AALE is another option but the truth is the vast majority of highschools have nothing.

 

Determining if you state approval or not might be your first line of inquiry.

 

I don't think this is even remotely true. Most high schools are accredited by the appropriate divisions of the regional accreditors.

 

No there not, the vast majority are not. Chances are your high school is not......three nots!!!!

 

Check you school here if you live in the south..............................AdvancED - Find Accredited Institutions

 

High school approval/accreditation varies widely. Private for profit schools often go through DETC or Regional Accreditors with high school divisions to get accredited and prior to earning acreditation they often lose quite a lot of money because few people want to pay for a legitimate program that is not yet accredited. I have seen schools provide education for no charge just to get the students enrolled. Some high schools are charter schools, getting some funding from local school districts which require a lot of work, but do not always require that the school be in existence for two years because they have a lot of control over the start-up process. These are usually not for profit but can work with for profit management organizations. It is often less work to simply put in your time.

 

According to the National Center for Education Statistics 2009 Digest of Education Statistics, there are 24,426 high schools in the U.S. AdvancED, which is a partnership between the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, accredits 5745 high schools. The Western Association of Schools and Colleges accredits 4050 high schools. The Northwest Accreditation Commission accredits 1003 high schools. The New England Association of Schools and Colleges accredits 1263 high schools. The Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges accredits 1970 high schools.

In total, 14,031 of 24,426 high schools in the U.S. (57%) are accredited by regional accrediting organizations, including the high school I graduated from.

 

A check of 6 local districts around me shows only one to have it. So anyways you say I'm wrong, but in fact were both wrng, it might not be the majority but 43% is a lot.

 

Check in to CASI,

Council on Accreditation and School Improvement or Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement.

There is SACS CASI, NCA CASI etc

 

NCA CASI and SACS CASI are divisions of the previously-mentioned AdvancED.

 

SACS /CASI accreditation

Many Texas K-12 public schools are NOT regionally (SACS /CASI) accredited, including Dallas, Plano and Arlington Independent School Districts (ISD). Moreover, only seven of Houston ISD's (the largest district in Texas /seventh largest in the U.S. w/ 210,000 students) 39 high schools are SACS accredited. Many ISD’s rely on state accreditation by the Texas Education Agency. Dallas ISD notified SACS back in 2009 regarding the dropping its accreditation with the regional accrediting agency. DISD dropping its SACS accreditation | DALLAS ISD Blog | dallasnews.com Moreover, there is only one Open Public Charter School District in Texas that is accredited by SACS /CASI; conversely, several Texas non-RA charter school districts produce better student state-wide accountability /assessment results.