1. Accreditation Eligibility Standards

2. Accreditation Information Sheet

3. Accreditation Classifications/Status Benchmarks

4. Accreditation Overview Statement

5. Accreditation: The Six Step Process, Explained

6. Accreditation: How to get started, after understanding the program and process!

In order for an applicant for Accreditation to request candidacy, for their program, they must meet the requirements detailed, below.

It should be noted, that the Private Schools Accreditation Alliance, has developed a policy that does not impose any specific, pre-determined or rigid, fixed standards, to be come Accredited. We at NPSAA Accreditation believe that the uniqueness and diversity of the Private Schools Industry is what drives it and is largely responsible for its long-standing acceptance and success. Therefore, you are not required to demonstrate a specific student to teacher ratio, length of time in business or in-house library, etc. You will be required, through the NPSAA accreditation process, to demonstrate how your specific program uniquely addresses these and other common issues, in order that interested persons may comprehend your rationale as reasonable and form a basis to have confidence in and share your success, as a Private School educator, through interface as a parent, student, transfer institution, standardized tester, curriculum writer and others.

It is the mission of the New NPSAA Accreditation Process for Private Schools, to assist the candidate Private School in achieving accreditation for its program. All-the-while, seeking to avoid the pitfalls of frustration, excessive time-consumption and burden of expense felt by many who have engaged in the processes of other accreditation organizations, in the past.

1. The Applicant must be willing, through accreditation, to implement policies & procedures that will assure public acceptance and recognition of its program to the satisfaction of interested third parties who come to rely on accreditation as a measure of competency, in the field of primary through secondary and specific post secondary education programs.

2. The Applicant must currently operate an active, ongoing, educational program (startup operations may qualify) that functions in the Private, non-public arena. That is; not be a part of or be largely financially supported with funds reserved legislatively, by the State Department of Education, of any State, for public schools.

3. The business identity of the applicants program must be traceable. That is; maintain permanent records, have a valid address & telephone number, be able to offer printed materials to support its offering and provide copies of any required legal registration & possess the necessary licenses to operate legally, etc.

4. The applicant must be willing to delineate & document its programs, claims & offerings to the satisfaction of any reasonable and prudent committee of examiners.

5. The applicant must be willing to submit an application for accreditation along with the proper fees. That is; a detailed profile of its current program and offerings. The information must be complete in its entirety and reasonably verifiable.

6. The applicant must be willing to commit to the accreditation process, to its conclusion and submit requested materials, within the time frame allotted, including pay-as-you go, progressive remittence, invoice and late fees, or "Fast-Track" Accreditation, currently totaling $2,695 (including the site visit fee), however excluding any late fees, through "Provisional Accreditation", or additional enhancements.

7. The applicant must be willing to voluntarily offer their facility and responsible personnel for a site visit. Scheduled after "Provisional Accreditation" is achieved. After the site visit, the school may be eligible for the "Fully Accredited" Status.

Note: NPSAA Accreditation for Private Schools is currently a Two (2) Phase Process. Each Phase may may be going on at the same time. Phase one (I) is concerned with the Facility Evaluation "Self-Study. This First Phase, takes you through the "Provisional Accredited Status".

Phase two (II) is concerned with "Professional Development". After completion of Phase II you may advance to the "Fully Accredited Status". The Second Phase requires that at lease one (1) person who operates as a key administrator at the facility holds Credentials that indicate that she/he is qualified as a Professional Private School Administrator and she/he supervises Teachers who hold Credentials that indicate that each is qualified as a Professional Teacher in the field that she/he teaches. (options are listed immediately below).

To satisfy this requirement NPSAA allows a maximum of one year for the responsible person at the Private School to produce Professional Credentials from any recognized active entity that is authorized to issue such Credentials. Such as any State Department of Education, The Federal Government, Military Service, Professional Association, Other Accrediting Organizations and the like. Also, the requirement may be met by having the Administrator complete the NPSAA "Professional Private School Administrator Program". The Teacher(s) may complete the "NPSAA Professional Private School Teacher Certification Program". To learn the details about either of these programs refer to the NPSAA Home Page by selection below and then select either of the blue buttons labeled "Professional Administrator" or "Teacher Certification". (first, read the rest of this section).

Both of these programs are affordable, relatively easy to qualify for and are designed to offer a justly earned Professional Designation, independent of the State, for individuals who may otherwise not qualify for Professional Credentials in the field that they are employed. It is not a legal necessity that Private School Administrators and Teachers hold Professional Credentials. However, in the minds-eye of concerned Parents, Transfer Institutions and Other interested Third Parties, Students who attend a Private School that has Achieved an Accredited Status and whose Administrator and Teachers hold Professional Credentials, goes a long way to enhance your image and interactions with those who evaluate your Private School, its Administration and Staff.

You can state with confidence: "Our Private School is Fully Accredited by a National Accrediting Organization. Our Private School is Administered by a Professional Private School Administrator. Your Student will receive their education from Private School Teachers who are Certified in their subject specialty area(s)".

8. The applicant must recognize, as valid, and abide by the Private Schools Accreditation Alliance Code of Ethics.

9. NOTE: NPSAA OFFERS A COMPREHENSIVE "PRIVATE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION GUIDE" THIS VERY ORGANIZED GUIDE CONTAINS HUNDREDS OF PRE-PRINTED & READY MADE FORMS/CHECKLISTS, POLICIES & GUIDELINES. THIS GUIDE IS BASICALLY A "SINGLE RESOURCE" FOR ACCREDITATION! THIS COMPANION GUIDE MAY ASSIST YOU IN ACHIEVING THE ACCREDITED STATUS FOR YOUR PRIVATE SCHOOL AT AN ACCELERATED PACE. PRICE JUST $250.

THIS COMPANION GUIDE IS ESPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR THOSE WHO ARE SEEKING TO ENGAGE IN THE "FAST-TRACK" ACCREDITATION PROCESS OR THOSE WHO ARE STARTING A PRIVATE SCHOOL FOR THE FIRST TIME OR THOSE WHO ARE PROGRESSING FROM AN EARLY ELEMENTARY CHILDHOOD CURRICULUM TO A PROGRESSIVE GRADED CURRICULUM. USE THE FORMS AND POLICIES, AS IS, OR MODIFY THEM TO SUIT YOU SPECIFIC PURPOSE.

A. You read and abide by the "Code of Ethics" and display it in a prominent location at your facility.

B. You display the "Certificate of Accreditation" in a prominent location at your facility.

C. You display the "Letter of Accreditation" in a prominent location at your facility.

D. You may publicly proclaim your Accredited Status, at your pleasure.

E. You may Publish your Accredited Status, at your pleasure.

F. You may utilize the advertising accreditation logo "slicks" provided, in printed materials that concern your specific location, at your pleasure.

G. You may acquire then utilize the accreditation embossing seal for a $100 fee, to validate transcripts, test & assessments results, certificates & diplomas issued from your specific location.

H. You may refer inquiring parents, students, transfer institutions and other interested third parties to us for confirmation of your accredited status at 407-522-0124.

I. You may utilize our informal mediation services to give a fair and impartial audience to an inquiring third party concerning an issue regarding your accredited status.

J. You may avail yourself and your staff to our open-ended resource and referral services.

K. You may submit editorial for consideration to be published without compensation in the NPSAA Newsletter.

L. You may participate in the fee based NPSAA National Archive service to maintain a permanent record of your students transcripts and records.

M. You and your staff are eligible to attend fee paid pre-registered conferences, training sessions and workshops that are scheduled from time to time.

N. You may participate as a member of a "focus group" to discuss issues timely to the private schools education mission.

O. You may participate as a member of an accrediting site visit team from time to time. You volunteer your time. NPSAA pays pre-approved travel expenses.

P. You may mentor another Private School Administrator who may call on you for your opinion or expertise.

Q. You are required to submit an "Update School Profile" on an annual basis or at any time that something significant changes at your school such as change in Administration, Grades, Location and the like.

A. We require that you initiate a policy that assures positive identification of the
students that enroll in your program. We further require that the responsible party
submit a birth certificate, social security card, drivers license or other photo ID and
then, have a photo ID of the enrollee accompany a notarized statement of
authenticity, as part of their permanent records.

B. We require that you establish and maintain detailed attendance records for each
enrollee.

C. We require that you establish and maintain detailed transcripts of subject areas
mastered by the enrollee, to include a detailed description of each subject area. We
require that your course descriptions be coded and equivalent to or translatable by
other education institutions within your State both public and private.

D. We require that you establish and maintain standard and generally recognized
testing and assessment methods and maintain detailed records of same. i.e.; SAT
GED, Iowa Test of Basic Skills, Stanford Achievement Test, etc.

E. We require that the testing and assessment mechanisms be conducted in a
standardized and controlled environment assuring that the enrollee is in fact the
person who is taking the test and that the results of the accumulated tests are scored
or evaluated vis a process that shall not only insure unquestioned integrity in
scoring but be traceable and equivalent to those tests administered to the general
population and relied on by other recognized evaluators, who seek to measure the
mastery of any given enrollee to the equivalent subject material.

F. We require that you provide a verbal explanation, if requested and in every
instance either the 407-522-0124 Voice Line and/or a written description (via a
published statement in your printed materials) offering the inquiring person the
opportunity to become exposed to the NPSAA Accreditation Alliance concerning its
Acceptance by others. We restate that Acceptance Statement for you, at this time.

Acceptance of the NPSAA Accreditation

In the United States, Accreditation is not a legal designation, rather a voluntary
process. Among those who have come to rely on Accreditation as a measure of a
Private Schools competency and professional dedication include Parents, Students,
Transfer Institutions, Curriculum Publishers, Grantors, Standardized Testing
Groups, the U.S. Military, Colleges & Universities, Etc. It is up to the individual or
Organization who relies on the Accredited Status of a Private School to accept,
recognize, list or acknowledge that schools accredited status, based on their own
internal policy. One Accrediting Organization is not legally designated as being
superior over another.

The State is generally prohibited from interfering with the operation of a private
school and does not necessarily imply approval, acceptance, acknowledgment, listing
or accredit the individual private school or the individual private schools accrediting
organization. There are several organizations, with widely variant quality standards
and program requirements, that accredit private schools. Consequently, the
acceptance of diplomas, transcripts and transfer credits for private school students
are according to the requirements of the receiving institution.

In 1985, several private school accrediting organizations worked with the U.S.
Department of Education’s Office of Private Education in seeking Federal
recognition of their accrediting programs. However, the Department’s General
ruled “there was not statutory authority for the Department to recognize any
elementary through secondary accrediting agencies, including regional associations
who accredit public schools.”

Therefore, requests for information about the current accredited status of a specific
private school or its accrediting organization should be directed to the private school
staff or its designated accrediting agency.

Requests for information concerning the acceptance of the accredited status of a
specific private school and the acceptance of its diplomas, transcripts and transfer
credits for any given purpose should be directed to the entity that seeks to rely upon
that accredited status for its own stated purposes. The accrediting agency operates
under the same freedoms of the United States Constitution as does the Private
School Industry and the Students freedom of choice of Education Alternatives.

For example: Information concerning the transfer of credits should be directed to
the intended receiving public or private schools admissions officer, or the U.S. Army
Recruiter or the local Community College Admissions office, etc., well prior, to
seeking enrollment in their specific offering.

In other words, your schools accredited status from any accrediting organization,
does not guarantee you or your students acceptance, in every instance. It does
demonstrate your voluntary commitment to self examination assisted by an independent third party and that is generally considered to be an enhancement to your mission, but not legally guaranteed.

Also, you should know that the Student, may petition for admission to any public
education entity and request to be accepted based on their documentation, i.e.,
transcripts, course descriptions, attendance records, diploma, standardized test
results and the like. The Student may also request to subject himself to standardized academic tests to confirm their mastery of the subject area(s) that they claim to have mastered, at the grade/education level or competency they claim to have achieved. These standardized and generally recognized and accepted assessments and tests may be administered by your private school, an independent private testing agency, a local Community College or University and in many instances, the Local Public School district and the like.

The National Private Schools Accreditation Alliance expressly makes no claims to the contrary declaring its acceptance, by any specific State or Public School District, for its various purposes. No State, Government Agency, Community College, Private or Public Transfer Institution, Parent, Military branch, etc., is legally obligated to accept at face value any Accredited Status issued by any Accrediting Organization.

G. We require that the responsible contact person, affirms that that they are authorized to contract on behalf of the private school candidate for Accreditation, that the entity seeks the Status of Fully Accredited Private School according to the standards of NPSAA and its Accreditation Alliance and acknowledges that there exists no verbal agreements between NPSAA and the private school entity that would be contrary to the published documents offered by NPSAA, in effect, at the time of the award of the "Fully Accredited Status".

H. We require that the responsible contact person notify NPSAA Accreditation of any significant change at the school concerning, Administration, Location, Program, Legal action brought against the school, its teachers & staff, contact information and the like within 5 days of such change or modification.

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1. Webster; "To approve officially, to attribute the inherent or distinctive characteristics".

A voluntary process of self-evaluation as measured against published standards or criteris and certified by an independent third party who qualifies as expert in the various fields evaluated.

By Law, the State does not act as an approval or accrediting agency for the Private (non-public) school industry. The process of Private School Accreditation is entirely voluntary. "If the State could regulate and control the Private School Industry, they would already being doing it".

Accreditation is a systematic process whereby a parent or interested transfer institution, etc. may be reasonably confident that the Accredited School and its responsible Administrator have been exposed to and practices the processes necessary and maintains the documentation required, to traceably promote the health, safety, physical, mental and educational development of the Student it serves.

The National Private Schools Accreditation Alliance recognizes that there exist a number of fine accrediting organizations and the individual private school facility has the option of choosing which accrediting organization to use or may choose multiple accrediting organizations.

We at NPSAA Accreditation, feel that our mission is different than the others who accredit private schools, in that we recognize that it is the uniqueness and diversity of the private school industry that drives the industry and this uniqueness and diversity is directly responsible for its success. Therefore, we have no pre-conceived notion which would limit your formula for success, nor do we expect you to meet any pre-conceived rigid set of standards. We warmly welcome you as you are!

What we do, is strive to identify and assist you in delineating your distinctive characteristics, then communicate that inherent identity in a meaningful way, to interested parents, transfer institutions, grant organizations, the Government, curriculum writers, standardized testers and others who rely on accreditation as a traceable measure of your private schools commitment, to the effective education of its Students.

We are here to assist you in becoming accredited every step of the way. We at NPSAA Accreditation put an end to the idea of having you jump through endless hoops to become accredited. We at NPSAA Accreditation eliminated the notion that accreditation is expensive, time consuming and a frustrating process that takes years to accomplish, through nerve wracking uncertainty. We allow a maximum of one (1) year to complete the process from start to finish although, you may finish the entire process in a matter of weeks should you dedicate your resources to the task and choose the "Fast Track" method.

To provide Parent and Student Assurance regarding the overall Quality of the Private School

To preserve the Uniqueness of the individual Private School and its Educational Program

To maintain the Highest Standards for the Private School Educational Industry

To bring about the Highest Public Esteem for the Private School Educational Industry

To promote Devotion to the Private Schools Educational Mission

To better know and understand Self and School

To seek out and accept Objective Evaluation

To provide well deserved Recognition to the Individual and School

To be Student Oriented always

To Plan for the Future with Diligence and Optimism

To provide external Evaluation, Consultation and Visitation

To establish acceptable criteris for Student Transfer

To establish acceptable criteria for Student Assessment

To demonstrate Traceability regarding Grades, Attendance, Curriculum and Advancement

To provide a Learning Experience for the Staff and Administration

To promote Professional Development

To enhance the Learning Process

To minimize incidents of mis-understanding between the School & Parents/ Students while transferring.

To successfully address the inevitable incidents conflict Resolution to the satisfaction of all concerned

We at NPSAA, believe that our Accreditation Alliance provides a Quick, Easy and Affordable route to Private School Accreditation without jumping through endless hoops. We seek to preserve the uniqueness of the Individual Private School and its Educational Program and promote the notion of Voluntary Participation in the Accreditation Process, which publicly demonstrates the Private Schools commitment to the Educational Profession, through an independent third party, without Government interference.

NPSAA Accreditation provides a highly visible and tangible source of professional recognition and assures public confidence and accountability toward the Accredited School. NPSAA Accreditation provides an avenue for periodic self-analysis which enhances the above stated purposes and helps educators meet their goals and responsibilities through organized, structured and published processes.

We at NPSAA feel that Accreditation is not and should not be a regulatory process. Private Schools should voluntarily demonstrate high standards of professional conduct involving their educational practices and business ethics.

In the United States, Accreditation is not a legal designation, rather a voluntary process. Those who have come to rely on Accreditation as a measure of a Private Schools competency and professional dedication include Parents, Students, Transfer Institutions, Curriculum Publishers, Grantors, Standardized Testing Groups, the U.S. Military, Colleges & Universities, etc. It is up to the individual or organization who relies on the Accredited Status of a Private School to accept, recognize, list or acknowledge your schools accredited status, based on their own internal policy. One accrediting organization is not legally designated as being superior over another.

In 1985 several private school accrediting organizations worked with the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Private Education in seeking Federal recognition of their accreditation programs. However, the Department's General ruled "there was not statutory authority for the Department to recognize any elementary through secondary accrediting agencies, including regional associations who accredit public schools".

Many Private Schools seek recognition and the acceptance that may come through Accreditation and the ability to display the accreditation documents, validate their transcripts with the accreditation seal, the pride that comes from publicly promoting the schools accredited status and have that status verified by an independent third party.

The State is generally prohibited from interfering with the operation of a private school and does not necessarily imply approval, acceptance, acknowledgment, listing or accredit the individual private school or the individual accrediting organization. There are several organizations, with widely variant quality standards and program requirements, that accredit private schools. Consequently, the acceptance of diplomas, transcripts and transfer credits for private schools is according to the requirements of the receiving institution.

Requests for information about the current accredited status of a specific private school or its accrediting organization should be directed to the school staff or its designated accrediting agency.

Requests for information about the acceptance of the accredited status of a specific private school for any given purpose should be directed to the entity that seeks to rely upon that accredited status for its stated purpose. The accrediting agency operates under the same freedoms of the United States Constitution as does the Private School Industry.

For example: Information concerning the transfer of credits should be directed to the receiving school's admissions officer. Information concerning the schools participation in a specific State Program as an accredited school should be addressed to the specific programs director, in that particular State.

The National Private Schools Accreditation Alliance expressly makes no claims to the contrary declaring its acceptance, by any specific State or Public School District, for its various purposes. No State, Government Agency, Community College, Private or Public Transfer Institution, Parent, Etc., is legally obligated to accept at face value any Accredited Status issued by any Accrediting Organization.

In other words, your schools accredited status, does not guarantee you acceptance, in every instance. It does demonstrate your voluntary commitment to self examination by an independent third party and that is generally considered to be an enhancement to your mission, but not guaranteed.

We at NPSAA Accreditation contact the Department of Education in all 50 States every year and request to be recorded on their list of Accrediting Organizations.

We at NPSAA Accreditation contact the Department of Education in all 50 States every year and request to be listed in their Education Directory.

We at NPSAA Accreditation contact the Department of Education in all 50 States every year and request to be listed on their web site.

We at NPSAA Accreditation contact the Department of Education in all 50 States every year and offer to place our Accreditation Process "on file" in its entirety for interested persons to view.

"The United States has no Federal ministry of education or other centralized authority exercising single National control over private educational institutions in this Country. The States assume varying degrees of control over private education, but , in general private schools are permitted to operate with considerable independence and autonomy. As a consequence, American educational institutions can vary widely in character and quality of their programs.

In or to insure a basic level of quality, the practice of accreditation arose in the United States as a means of conducting nongovernmental, peer evaluation of educational institutions and programs. Private educational associations of regional or national scope have adopted criteris reflecting the qualities of a sound educational program and have adopted procedures for evaluating institutions or programs to determine whether or not they are operating at basic levels of quality". (www.ed.gov)

"Under the United States Constitution, parents have a fundamental right to direct the education of their children. In 1925 the Supreme Court recognized that liberty, protected by the Fourteenth Amendment, includes the right to choose a private education. Confronted with an Oregon statue mandating public school attendance, the Supreme Court ruled the statute unconstitutional. In the words of the court, the fundamental theory of liberty upon which all governments in this Union repose excludes any general power of the State to standardize its children by forcing them to accept instruction from public teachers only. The child is not the mere creature of the State, those who nurture him and direct his destiny have the right, coupled with the high duty, to recognize and prepare him for additional obligations." (268U.S. at 535)

The National Private Schools Accreditation Alliance include the following uncompensated contributors listed by profession, who serve at large, however, others may serve as circumstances dictate:

Medical and behavioral experts on children an adolescents

Professional engineers skilled in building, structures, layouts and safety concerns

Leisure time consultants

Age appropriate educational materials consultants

Public relations, medis and image consultants

Parents of young children and adolescents

Educational facility operators

Quality control, time management and documentation specialists

Professional administrators

Employee benefits & insurance consultants

When you request information to begin the Accreditation process for your school we provide you with information which outlines the various steps required, the time frame allotted for each step and a schedule of activities necessary to insure that the process maintains its integrity through timely compliance.

The philosophy of "pay as you go" insures that you are not totally paying for services not fully received and that you may budget your time and spread out the financial commitment in affordable installments. Extensions of time to complete each step may be granted upon request, initiated by you, however, proper remittance must be paid when due or you will be billed a late fee of $50 per incident, if invoiced.

In addition, the accreditation process must be totally completed, including the visitation, within one year of initiation. An extension of time may be granted upon request, initiated by you, however, a $350 fee and a new school profile update must be submitted, to stay in the process, each year.

Any School that voluntarily withdraws from the accreditation process or who otherwise fails to maintain continuity of progress must start over from the beginning with no prior credit for work completed or fees paid. No exceptions!

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APPLICANT REQUESTING CANDIDACY

CANDIDATE

CANDIDATE ACCEPTED

CANDIDATE IN PROGRESS

CANDIDATE UNDER REVIEW

CANDIDATE SUSPENDED

CANDIDATE REVOKED

CANDIDATE RE-APPLIED

CANDIDATE RE-INSTATED

PROVISIONALLY ACCREDITED

FULLY ACCREDITED

ACCREDITATION UNDER REVIEW

ACCREDITATION SUSPENDED

ACCREDITATION REVOKED

ACCREDITATION RENEWED

ACCREDITATION INACTIVE

ACCREDITATION WITHDRAW - VOLUNTARY

ACCREDITATION WITHDRAW - ADMINISTRATIVE

CANDIDATE WITHDRAWN

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In the United States public authority in education is constitutionally reserved to the States. The system of voluntary non-governmental evaluation, called Accreditation has evolved to promote both the regional and National approaches to the determination of educational quality.

Although Accreditation is basically, a private, voluntary process, accrediting decisions are used as a consideration in many formal actions by governmental funding agencies, scholarship commissions, foundations, the military, employers, counselors, transfer institutions, potential students and others.

Accrediting agencies, therefore come to be viewed as quasi-public entities with certain responsibilities to the many groups which interact with the educational community.

The Accreditation process requires Private Schools to examine their goals. activities and achievements; to determine internal procedures for action on recommendations from the accrediting agency. Since Accreditation Status is reviewed on a periodic basis, recognized schools are encouraged to maintain continuous self-study and improvement mechanisms.

The Accreditation process is continually evolving. The trend has been from quantitative to qualitative criteria, from the early days of simple check-lists to an increasing interest and emphasis on measuring the outcomes of educational experiences.

The process begins with the Private school "self-study". A comprehensive effort to measure progress according to previously accepted objectives. The self-study considers the interests of a broad cross-section of constituencies, students, faculty, administrators, alumni, trustees and in some circumstances the local community.

The resulting report is viewed by the appropriate accrediting commission and services as the basis for evaluation by a "site visit team" from the accrediting agency. The site visit team normally consists of professional specialists selected according to the nature of the private school and members representing specific public interests. The visiting team assesses the private school and its programs in light of the self-study and adds judgments based on its own expertise and its external perspective. The team prepares an evaluation report and any response the school may wish to make are forwarded to the accrediting commission. The review agency uses these materials as the basis for action regarding the accreditation status. Negative actions may be appealed according to the established procedures of the accrediting agency.

Although accreditation is granted for a specific term, accrediting agencies reserve the right to review substantive change in the school offering and ensure the following; excellence in education, encourage improvement through self-study and review, assure clearly defined and appropriate objectives, maintain conditions under which achievements can reasonably be expected and protect Private Schools against encroachment which might jeopardize their educational effectiveness or academic freedom.

The Private School industry in the United States derives its strength and excellence from the unique and diverse character of its many individual Private Schools. Such qualities are best sustained and extended by the freedom of those institutions to determine their own objectives and to experiment in ways and means of education within the framework of their respective authority and responsibilities.

The public, as well as, the educational needs must be served simultaneously in determining and fostering standards of quality and integrity in Private Schools and such specialized programs as they offer. Accreditation conducted through non-governmental agencies, provides a major means for meeting those needs.

Through NPSAA, the National Private Schools Accreditation Alliance is a non-governmental organization that works to foster and facilitate the roll of Accrediting Agency in promoting and insuring quality and diversity in Private School Education.

The goal of NPSAA is to recognize the uniqueness and diversity of the individual Private School and assist that school in becoming accredited on its own merits. We at NPSAA are unique in that we offer no pre-conceived notions or judgments regarding the individual private schools teacher to student ratio, length of time in business, amount expended on materials or teaching aids and the like. NPSAA is dedicated to assisting the Private School in becoming accredited in order that its personnel and students may enjoy the recognition and many of the well deserved benefits that are associated with accreditation and the schools demonstrated dedication to the private schools education mission.

We at NPSAA, encourage you to carefully explore all of the information & materials that we offer, before deciding if NPSAA Accreditation, is right for your Private School.

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NPSAA OFFERS A COMPREHENSIVE "PRIVATE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION GUIDE" THIS VERY ORGANIZED GUIDE CONTAINS HUNDREDS OF PRE-PRINTED & READY MADE FORMS/CHECKLISTS, POLICIES & GUIDELINES. THIS GUIDE IS BASICALLY A "SINGLE RESOURCE" FOR ACCREDITATION! THIS COMPANION GUIDE MAY ASSIST YOU IN ACHIEVING THE ACCREDITED STATUS FOR YOUR PRIVATE SCHOOL AT AN ACCELERATED PACE. PRICE JUST $250.

THIS COMPANION GUIDE IS ESPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR THOSE WHO ARE SEEKING TO ENGAGE IN THE "FAST-TRACK" ACCREDITATION PROCESS OR THOSE WHO ARE STARTING A PRIVATE SCHOOL FOR THE FIRST TIME OR THOSE WHO ARE PROGRESSING FROM AN EARLY ELEMENTARY CHILDHOOD CURRICULUM TO A PROGRESSIVE GRADED CURRICULUM. USE THE FORMS AND POLICIES, AS IS, OR MODIFY THEM TO SUIT YOU SPECIFIC PURPOSE.

Note: You will be prompted by NPSAA to move on to each successive step through out the Accreditation process. We will assist in keeping you "on-track" by way of, notices and natural interaction.

Step 1. You request a customized Accreditation Application set. ($45 fee must accompany the request)

Step 2. Action: The Accreditation Application set is mailed to you within 10 days of receipt of your request and you are requested to return the completed application form to the organization Alliance within 10 days.

Result: Your Accreditation Application will be accepted if it is 100% complete and the information is reasonably verifiable.

Progressive Remittance: $350 is due with completed Accredited Application, $400 is due if we find it necessary to bill you.

Step 3. You request the Facility Evaluation and Educational Program Certification Survey. A rather lengthy set of documents containing the "Self-Study". The core of the Accreditation Process, known hereafter as the "Survey".

Progressive Remittance: $500 is due with the request for the self study pack. $550 is due should we find it necesary to bill you.

Action: You will be mailed the complete comprehensive "Survey" within 10 days of receipt of your request. You are requested to complete the "Survey" within 30-60 days, then return the survey to the Accreditation Alliance for evaluation.

Result: The "Survey" will be accepted if it is 100% complete, all support materials attached and the information is reasonably verifiable. Your completed survey should be educationally age appropriate for your schools program and be within generally accepted standards for a quality educational facility as outlined by addressing the issues offered within the survey.

Progressive Remittance: $500 is due with the completed survey, $550 is due if we find it necessary to bill you.

Step 4. Accreditation Alliance Evaluation of your completed "Survey".

Action: The completed Survey is received and evaluated by the Accreditation Alliance. The Accreditation Alliance will report its findings within 30 days.

Result: You will be informed by mail as to the Accreditation Alliance findings through an Evaluation Critique and recommended for "Provisional Accreditation". The Accreditation Alliance will then issue a request for visitation letter to schedule a convenient time for a site visit.

Step 5. Professional Private School Administrator Certification program.

Action: You request the Professional Private School Administrator Certification Package along with the required book of Forms, Policies and Procedures and submit the appropriate remittence of $500.

Result: You return the completed Administrator Package and we issue your Professional Certificaton Documents within 10 days.

Step 6. You request a team of representatives from the Accreditation Alliance to visit your facilities for a tour and personal critique of your unique educational program.

The progressive remittence due at this time is $800.

Action: You complete and return a facility tour request for your Private School. You are requested to schedule the site visit within six months of receiving notice of "Provisional Accreditation".

Result: A team of representatives from the Accreditation Alliance will schedule a date and time to visit your School. The visit is relaxed and should take approximately 2 hours. Note: Site-visits may require several Months lead time to schedule.

Note:The shared cost approach for site visits permits us to visit several schools in your area and reduce the overall cost of the Airfare, Car Rental, Hotel and Meals by spreading it over several schools, therefore saving several thousand dollars to you and the other schools). The site visit representatives are not authorized to schedule a visit without all outstanding balances including late fees being current and paid in full.

After the scheduled site visit, you may be eligible (see phase two below) to be awarded a (Certificate of Provisional Accreditation" or "Certificate of Full Accreditation", Personalized "Letter of Accreditation" and "Code of Ethics" document, valid for one year. You will receive a Customized "Press Release" & "Photograph" of the presentation of your Accreditation Documents. In addition you are eligible to receive on going "support" vis Voice telephone, facsimile, e-mail and website resources. You may choose to re-certify your Accredited Status annually, by fully completing a brief "Update Profile" which will be automatically mailed to you each Year, approximately 90 days prior to the expiration of the current Accreditation Document. Annual re-certification fee is currently $350.

NOTE: An update profile and its associated fee is required at any time some significant change takes place at the school. Such as change in Administration, Location, Program, contact information and the like.

Result: Congratulations. Total time: approximately 12 weeks to 9 months (pending your Accreditation method, response and turn around time) plus, you enjoy immediate recognition, benefits and confirmation regarding your progress in the Accreditation Process.

Note:NPSAA Accreditation for Private Schools is a Two (2) Phase Process. Each Phase may be going on at the same time. Phase One (I) is concerned with the Facility Evaluation "Self Study". This First Phase, takes you through the "Provisional Accredited Status".

Phase Two (II) is concerned with "Professional Development". This Phase takes you to the "Fully Accredited Status:. This Second Phase requires that at least One (1) person at the facility holds Credentials that indicate that she/he is qualified a a Professional Private School Administrator and she/he supervises Teachers who hold Credentials that indicate that each is qualified as a Professional Teacher in the field that she/he teaches. (options are listed immediately below).

To satisfy this requirement NPSAA Accreditation allows a maximum of six months for the responsible person at the Private School to produce Professional Credentials from any recognized active entity that is authorized to issue such Credentials. Such as any State Department of Education, The Federal Government, Military, Professional Association, Other Accrediting Organization and the like. Also,the requirement may be met by having the Administrator complete the NPSAA "Professional Private School Administrator Program". The Teacher(s) may complete the NPSAA "Professional Private School Teacher Certification Program". To learn the details about either of these programs refer to the NPSAA Homepage by selection below and then select either of the blue buttons labeled "Professional Administrator" or "Teacher Certification". (first, read the rest of this section)

Both of these programs are affordable, relatively easy to qualify for and are designed to offer a justly earned Professional Designation, independent of the State, for individuals who may otherwise not qualify for Professional Credentials in the field that they are employed. It is not a legal necessity that Private School Administrators and Teachers hold Professional Credentials. However, in the Minds-eye of concerned Parents, Transfer Institutions and Other interested Third Parties, Students who attend a Private School that has Achieved an Accredited Status and whose Administrator and Teachers hold Professional Credentials goes a long way to enhance your Schools image and interactions with those who evaluate your Private School, its Administration and Staff.

You can state with confidence: "Our Private School is Fully Accredited by a National Accrediting Organization. Our Private School is Administered by a Professional Private School Administrator. You Student will receive their education from Private School Teachers who are Certified in their Subject Specialty Area(s).

A. $350 annual re-certification fee to be paid at time of the update profile submission, $400 if billed.

B. Extensions in time may be granted for each step, however the progressive remittence remains due within the time frame allotted for each step.

C. Accreditation is not assignable, transferrable, nor applied to multiple locations or multiple programs within a location.

D. Accreditation for multiple locations or programs is discounted, if scheduled and processed together.

E. Abandonment of the accreditation process requires re-application from the beginning with no credit for previous work submitted and all fees must be prepaid.

F. Schools who take longer than 12 months to complete the process are required to submit an update profile for their school and pay a $350 fee, $400 if billed.

G. Replacement documents are $50 each, prepaid.

H. Returned checks are subject to a $50 fee and are to be replaced with certified funds.

I. There are no refunds granted.

NPSAA OFFERS A COMPREHENSIVE "PRIVATE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION GUIDE" THIS VERY ORGANIZED GUIDE CONTAINS HUNDREDS OF PRE-PRINTED & READY MADE FORMS/CHECKLISTS, POLICIES & GUIDELINES. THIS GUIDE IS BASICALLY A "SINGLE RESOURCE" FOR ACCREDITATION! THIS COMPANION GUIDE MAY ASSIST YOU IN ACHIEVING THE ACCREDITED STATUS FOR YOUR PRIVATE SCHOOL AT AN ACCELERATED PACE. PRICE JUST $250.

THIS COMPANION GUIDE IS ESPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR THOSE WHO ARE SEEKING TO ENGAGE IN THE "FAST-TRACK" ACCREDITATION PROCESS OR THOSE WHO ARE STARTING A PRIVATE SCHOOL FOR THE FIRST TIME OR THOSE WHO ARE PROGRESSING FROM AN EARLY ELEMENTARY CHILDHOOD CURRICULUM TO A PROGRESSIVE GRADED CURRICULUM. USE THE FORMS AND POLICIES, AS IS, OR MODIFY THEM TO SUIT YOU SPECIFIC PURPOSE.

We realize, that when at first, you develop a new relationship it is sometimes reassuring to speak to someone with whom the party has had some contact, business relationship and experience. Therefore, the reference may be in a position to answer your question as to the quality, reliability and integrity of the Organization.

NPSAA has a policy to offer such references on a random selection & rotating basis, from a broad geographic area. While we appreciate that you may desire to speak to a peer, we do not select references from your immediate geographic area, nor do we offer a complete listing of private schools that we accredit, for our mutual interests. We recognize that unfortunately, there are those whose acts are in total disregard of conscience, ethical principles or the rights of others, when seeking such information.

NPSAA is pleased to confirm the accredited status of any Private School that we may have a relationship, if initiated by an independent third party. NPSAA Accredits Private Schools. NPSAA, does not promote individual Private Schools or provide a listing of Accredited Private Schools.

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