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In order for an applicant for accreditation to request candidacy, for their program, they must meet the requirements detailed below:
NPSAG Private School Accreditation Program
It should be noted, that the NPSAG, Inc. has developed a policy that does not impose any specific, predetermined or rigid, fixed standards, to become accredited. We at NPSAG believe that the uniqueness and diversity of the Private Schools Industry is what drives it and is largely responsible for its long-standing acceptance. 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 accreditation process, to demonstrate how your specific program uniquely addresses these and other common issues, so that interested persons may comprehend your rationale as reasonable and form a basis to have confidence in and share your success, as a private schools educator, through interface with a parent, student, transfer institution, standardized tester, curriculum writer, and others.
NPSAG Mission
It is the mission of NPSAG 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 the burden of expense felt by many who have engaged in the processes of other accreditation organizations in the past.
Accreditation Process
- The applicant must be willing, through accreditation, to implement policies and 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.
- The applicant may be opening or currently operating an active, ongoing educational program that functions in the private, non-public arena. That is, it must not be a part of or largely financially supported with funds reserved legislatively by the State Department of Education for public schools.
- The business identity of the applicant’s program must be traceable. That is, maintain permanent records, have a valid address and telephone number, be able to offer printed materials to support its offerings, and provide copies of any required legal registration and necessary licenses to operate legally.
- The applicant must be willing to delineate and document its programs, claims, and offerings to the satisfaction of any reasonable and prudent committee of examiners.
- 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.
- The applicant must be willing to commit to the accreditation process to its conclusion and submit requested materials within the time frame allotted.
- The applicant must be willing to voluntarily provide access to its facility and responsible personnel for a site visit evaluation. This evaluation will be conducted by a team of three (3) NPSAG representatives. The institution is responsible for providing airfare, hotel accommodations, and transportation for the visiting team. Site visits are conducted once every five (5) years as part of maintaining accreditation standards.
Note: NPSAG Accreditation for Private Schools is a Three (3) Phase Process.
Each phase may occur simultaneously.
Phase One (1) is concerned with the Facility Evaluation “Self-Study.” This first phase guides the school through Provisional Accreditation Status.
Phase Two (2) is concerned with “Professional Development.” After completion of Phase Two, the school may advance to Fully Accredited Status. This phase requires that at least one individual at the facility holds credentials indicating qualification as a Professional Private School Administrator, and that he/she supervises teachers who hold credentials demonstrating they are qualified as professional educators in their respective fields.
To satisfy this requirement, NPSAG allows a maximum of one year for the responsible individual at the Private School to obtain professional credentials from a recognized entity authorized to issue such credentials, including but not limited to State Departments of Education, Federal agencies, Military institutions, Professional Associations, or other Accrediting Organizations. This requirement may also be fulfilled by completing the NPSAG Professional Private School Administrator Program, and teachers may complete the NPSAG Professional Private School Teacher Certification Program.
Both programs are affordable, accessible, and designed to provide a professionally earned designation. While it is not a legal requirement for private school administrators and teachers to hold professional credentials, doing so significantly enhances credibility with parents, transfer institutions, and other educational stakeholders.
Phase Three (3) consists of a Site Visit Evaluation conducted by a team of three (3) NPSAG representatives. The institution is responsible for providing airfare, hotel accommodations, and transportation for the visiting team. Site visits are conducted once every five (5) years to ensure continued compliance with accreditation standards.
You may confidently state:
“Our Private School is Fully Accredited by a National Accrediting Organization. Our school is administered by a Professional Private School Administrator, and our students are taught by certified teachers in their respective subject areas.”