PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — The Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS) announced today that 156 schools and school systems in 15 states, as well as Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and 22 other countries have earned accreditation or reaccreditation, the gold standard for measuring and advancing school improvement.
“I am happy to congratulate the schools that achieved Middle States accreditation or reaccreditation,” said Christian Talbot, president of MSA-CESS. “Accreditation is a voluntary process that helps the entire school community, including administrators, teachers, parents and students, think about the future they want to create and set goals to help them get there. Earning accreditation shows that a school is committed to doing everything it can to support its students.”
Middle States accredits preK-12 public, private, parochial, and charter schools. In addition, MSA-CESS accredits non-degree granting career and technical post-secondary institutions and learning services providers.
Middle States accreditation is a multifaceted evaluation process that schools and school systems voluntarily use to demonstrate they are meeting a defined set of research-based performance standards.
The accreditation process begins with a self-study that is conducted by the school or school system and requires input from school leaders, teachers, parents and students. Following the self-study, a team of volunteer educators from Middle States member schools conducts a peer review.
The peer review team makes its recommendation for accreditation or reaccreditation to the Middle States Association Commissions, which voted on the recommendations at its biannual meeting, held in Philadelphia, Pa., this week.
A full list of schools and school systems that earned accreditation or reaccreditation is available here.
About Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS)
Based in Philadelphia, the Middle States Association is the worldwide leader in accreditation and school improvement. For over 130 years, Middle States has been helping school leaders establish and reach their goals, develop strategic plans, promote staff development and advance student achievement. With nearly 2,800 accredited schools and school systems in 44 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands and in over 110 countries, MSA-CESS is proud of its continuing legacy and its ongoing innovations to meet the challenges of improving education in the 21st century. For more information visit www.msa-cess.org.
