Accreditation
What is accreditation? Accreditation is an assurance to families attending a school that that school is held accountable to meet a preset list of standards in all aspects of its operation, from educational quality and delivery, to student health and safety, appropriate use of technology, and many more factors.
One of the best analogies that illustrates the importance of accreditation is the home inspection. Home Inspections are highly recommended for home buyers to ensure that the house they are buying is free of issues and defects in systems, structure and foundation prior to finalizing their purchase by hiring a professional trained to look for these things. The same rings true for accreditation. In order for a school to become accredited, a group of educational experts inspects every aspect of a school, and if the school demonstrates they are effectively and efficiently operating their school and providing their students a quality education, that school receives accreditation.
So what if a school is not accredited? Would you buy a home without a home inspection? We wouldn't either.
In addition to the accountability that accreditation provides, colleges frequently are looking for a school's accreditation status when factoring admissions decisions, and the state independent athletic association, VISAA, requires schools to be accredited in order to participate in state championship level athletics.
We highly encourage any family to ask about and factor accreditation into their decision when visiting private schools.
Williamsburg Christian Academy is accredited by both the Association of Christian Schools International (ASCI) and AdvancED. Links to both of these accreditation organizations are provided on the logos below (the following are excerpts from each organization's website):
Association of Christian Schools International:
ACSI provides a highly regarded accreditation program for secondary, elementary, and standalone and attached preschools. ACSI has partnerships with all of the U.S. regional accreditation agencies. Also available is a web-based recognition program of school improvement for schools not ready to enter the formal accreditation process. In addition, ACSI approves Christian college and university teacher and administrator schools of education that include the needed coursework to qualify for ACSI teacher and/or administrator certification.
Who:
ACSI member schools seek accreditation to validate their quality and verify that they are striving for excellence based on a solid Christian philosophy of education foundation.
What:
Accreditation and school improvement assist member schools in changing for the better in an orderly and systematic way. They bring a vigorous dynamic into the school by engaging every school constituent in a process of organizational appraisal.
Why:
- It documents that the school is true to its own foundational statements (mission, vision, core values, goals)
- It affirms that the school meets standards of quality established by the international school community
- It provides validation of the credibility of the school through a peer-review process
- It promotes accountability to the school community
- It improves instruction targeting increased student achievement
- It promotes ongoing instructional improvement through a continuous process of self-assessment and systematic school development
- It encourages the evaluation of biblical and spiritual integration of the school
- It transfers credits between schools and between nation's school systems
Recognitions:
ACSI accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, I-20 and I-17 forms. Various U.S. state, national, and international recognition. Endorsement to administer College Board/ACT exams on the school site. Recognition of early education accreditation status in several states, allowing the program to receive higher reimbursement rates for subsidized children.
International Baccalaureate:
In addition to its standard accreditation through ASCI, WCA is also an IB World School and is fully authorized to implement the Diploma Program. WCA is also currently a candidate for both the Primary Years Program, and the Middle Years Program. The following is selected material about IB authorization and the process of becoming an IB World School.
Becoming an IB World School means joining over 5,000 schools worldwide in delivering IB programs, and becoming part of a community of educators that is growing and developing constantly. The IB’s unique implementation is strengthened through our relationships with schools, governments, and international organizations globally.
The IB is proud of its commitment to providing challenging and unique programs of education to schools around the world. The authorization process backs up this commitment. As a result of the process, parents and students can be confident that each IB World School, no matter where it is located, is held to the same high standard.
The authorization process is school-focused and aims to promote a culture of school readiness by allowing schools to determine their own readiness schedule, based on the satisfactory completion of authorization process milestones. Schools work with members of the IB’s Development team to complete their projected timeline.
Successful accreditation is true evidence of quality for an academic institution and highly valued recognition of the overall standards of teaching and learning within that organization. The International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) is one of the world’s most prominent international accreditation organizations. The International Baccalaureate offers a continuum of international education. The programs encourage both personal and academic achievement, challenging students to excel in their studies and in their personal development. The accreditation process is both rigorous and comprehensive, and aimed at not only affirming current practice but also providing a framework for ongoing development and improvement.
Accreditation
What is accreditation? Accreditation is an assurance to families attending a school that that school is held accountable to meet a preset list of standards in all aspects of its operation, from educational quality and delivery, to student health and safety, appropriate use of technology, and many more factors.
One of the best analogies that illustrates the importance of accreditation is the home inspection. Home Inspections are highly recommended for home buyers to ensure that the house they are buying is free of issues and defects in systems, structure and foundation prior to finalizing their purchase by hiring a professional trained to look for these things. The same rings true for accreditation. In order for a school to become accredited, a group of educational experts inspects every aspect of a school, and if the school demonstrates they are effectively and efficiently operating their school and providing their students a quality education, that school receives accreditation.
So what if a school is not accredited? Would you buy a home without a home inspection? We wouldn't either.
In addition to the accountability that accreditation provides, colleges frequently are looking for a school's accreditation status when factoring admissions decisions, and the state independent athletic association, VISAA, requires schools to be accredited in order to participate in state championship level athletics.
We highly encourage any family to ask about and factor accreditation into their decision when visiting private schools.
Williamsburg Christian Academy is accredited by both the Association of Christian Schools International (ASCI) and AdvancED. Links to both of these accreditation organizations are provided on the logos below (the following are excerpts from each organization's website):
Association of Christian Schools International:
ACSI provides a highly regarded accreditation program for secondary, elementary, and standalone and attached preschools. ACSI has partnerships with all of the U.S. regional accreditation agencies. Also available is a web-based recognition program of school improvement for schools not ready to enter the formal accreditation process. In addition, ACSI approves Christian college and university teacher and administrator schools of education that include the needed coursework to qualify for ACSI teacher and/or administrator certification.
Who:
ACSI member schools seek accreditation to validate their quality and verify that they are striving for excellence based on a solid Christian philosophy of education foundation.
What:
Accreditation and school improvement assist member schools in changing for the better in an orderly and systematic way. They bring a vigorous dynamic into the school by engaging every school constituent in a process of organizational appraisal.
Why:
- It documents that the school is true to its own foundational statements (mission, vision, core values, goals)
- It affirms that the school meets standards of quality established by the international school community
- It provides validation of the credibility of the school through a peer-review process
- It promotes accountability to the school community
- It improves instruction targeting increased student achievement
- It promotes ongoing instructional improvement through a continuous process of self-assessment and systematic school development
- It encourages the evaluation of biblical and spiritual integration of the school
- It transfers credits between schools and between nation's school systems
Recognitions:
ACSI accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, I-20 and I-17 forms. Various U.S. state, national, and international recognition. Endorsement to administer College Board/ACT exams on the school site. Recognition of early education accreditation status in several states, allowing the program to receive higher reimbursement rates for subsidized children.
International Baccalaureate:
In addition to its standard accreditation through ASCI, WCA is also an IB World School and is fully authorized to implement the Diploma Program. WCA is also currently a candidate for both the Primary Years Program, and the Middle Years Program. The following is selected material about IB authorization and the process of becoming an IB World School.
Becoming an IB World School means joining over 5,000 schools worldwide in delivering IB programs, and becoming part of a community of educators that is growing and developing constantly. The IB’s unique implementation is strengthened through our relationships with schools, governments, and international organizations globally.
The IB is proud of its commitment to providing challenging and unique programs of education to schools around the world. The authorization process backs up this commitment. As a result of the process, parents and students can be confident that each IB World School, no matter where it is located, is held to the same high standard.
The authorization process is school-focused and aims to promote a culture of school readiness by allowing schools to determine their own readiness schedule, based on the satisfactory completion of authorization process milestones. Schools work with members of the IB’s Development team to complete their projected timeline.
Successful accreditation is true evidence of quality for an academic institution and highly valued recognition of the overall standards of teaching and learning within that organization. The International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) is one of the world’s most prominent international accreditation organizations. The International Baccalaureate offers a continuum of international education. The programs encourage both personal and academic achievement, challenging students to excel in their studies and in their personal development. The accreditation process is both rigorous and comprehensive, and aimed at not only affirming current practice but also providing a framework for ongoing development and improvement.
