AdvancED recently launched the new AdvancED Accreditation Protocol and new components for the AdvancED Adaptive System of School Improvement Support Tools (ASSIST).  These tools and protocols, coupled with the AdvancED Accreditation Standards launched last fall, mark a new generation of accreditation and school improvement.  The new AdvancED Protocol creates a stronger alignment between internal and external diagnostic review, stakeholder feedback, and student performance results.  The result is a performance-based accreditation process that provides each institution with a comprehensive analysis to drive continuous improvement. 

Additional components of ASSIST also have been released.  In addition to the school improvement planner launched last fall, ASSIST now provides the tools to guide your next internal and external review for accreditation, including Surveys, Student Performance Diagnostic and Stakeholder Feedback Diagnostic tools. 

If you will be hosting an External Review (formerly Quality Assurance Review) in 2012-13, you are required to use ASSIST to submit a Self-Assessment, Executive Summary, and Assurances.  As in the past, you will continue to be required to submit a school improvement plan.  ASSIST offers a high quality school improvement planner, or you may submit an existing plan by attaching it in the Assurances section of ASSIST.

Even if you don’t have an External Review scheduled in the coming year, you can begin exploring and using the new offerings.  If you have questions about the AdvancED Accreditation Standards, Accreditation Protocol, or ASSIST, please contact our office.

Ms. Elizabeth Britt of Advanced Academics, Inc. received the AdvancED Oklahoma Excellence in Education Award for 2011-12 for her work in continuously promoting and advancing excellence in education in the state of Oklahoma and across the nation through her professional career and extensive work with the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI) and AdvancED. Congratulations! 

Of course you are and we want to help you display your pride in your school’s or system’s achievement by providing you with an accreditation seal that you can display.  Schools and systems that have achieved accreditation through the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI), Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC), and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI) can obtain the latest accreditation seal to display at their school or school system.  These seals supersede the use of prior AdvancED, NCA CASI, NWAC, or SAC CASI logos or seals that may have been used in the past and should be used in all marketing materials moving forward. 

AdvancED developed a Communications Kit tailored especially for schools and school systems to promote their accreditation in their community.  In this kit, you can find the seal along with other resources and tools to help you spread the word about your commitment and dedication to student achievement.  If you are unsure how to access the Communications Kit for the accreditation seals, press release templates, and accreditation brochures, contact your state office.  Don’t delay; start using these tools today.