About the NCA Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement - The Accreditation Division of AdvancED

Background

Founded in 1895, the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI) is a non-governmental, voluntary organization that accredits 8,500 public and private schools and districts.  One of six regional accrediting organizations, NCA CASI accredits schools and districts  in 19 states, the Navajo Nation, and the Department of Defense Dependents' Schools worldwide. For over 100 years, our focus has been to advance the quality of education. Our Vision, Mission, and Values are available online.

Schools Served

NCA CASI accredits a range of schools from pre-kindergarten through post-secondary, including: early childhood, elementary, middle, secondary, adult/vocational, college preparatory, special purpose, unit (K-12), and non-degree granting post-secondary schools.

Creation of AdvancED – The Unification of NCA CASI, SACS CASI, and NSSE

In April of 2006, the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI), Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI), and National Study of School Evaluation (NSSE), came together to form one strong and unified organization dedicated to advancing excellence in education through accreditation, research, and professional services.

Known as AdvancED, the unified organization creates the world’s largest education community, representing 23,000 public and private schools and districts in 30 states and 65 countries and serving close to 15 million students.  The inclusion of NSSE, the research and development arm of the regional accrediting associations, brings to schools and districts greater access to NSSE’s products, services, and strong research base on the factors that impact student learning.

AdvancED serves as the parent organization for NCA CASI and SACS CASI, which act as the accreditation divisions of the unified organization.  Schools will continue to earn the NCA CASI or SACS CASI accreditation seals based on the region in which they reside.  The connection to AdvancED enhances the value, consistency, and meaning of the NCA CASI and SACS CASI accreditation seals.

Earning Accreditation

To earn accreditation, schools must:

1. Meet quality standards.  Click here to view the standards http://www.ncacasi.org/standard.  
2. Implement a school improvement plan focused on increasing student performance.
3. Host an external review team.
4. Document the results of their school improvement efforts.

Benefits of Accreditation

NCA CASI accreditation provides:

• A Mark of Excellence
  NCA CASI accreditation assures the public that the school is meeting high quality standards and implementing a school improvement plan focused on increasing student performance.
• A Proven Process for Increasing Student Performance
  NCA CASI helps schools increase performance for all students. A six-year study of schools actively involved in the NCA CASI school improvement process revealed that 79% achieved verifiable gains in student achievement.
• Transfer of Credits
  NCA CASI accreditation provides students with the assurance that credits earned in one NCA school will be accepted by another regionally accredited school if the student moves to another state.
• Access to Programs and Scholarships
  Accreditation can also benefit students as they participate in specific sports programs, apply for federal grants or scholarships, or pursue admission to colleges, technical schools, or military programs that require students to come from regionally accredited schools.
• A Vehicle to Meet State and Federal Requirements
  NCA CASI provides one, streamlined process that helps schools meet state and federal requirements while earning regional accreditation.
• Peer Review and Support
  NCA CASI coordinates peer review visits to every accredited school. This process offers teachers and administrators an opportunity to gain valuable input from their peers as well as visit, review and analyze the practices and plans of other schools. This process also protects the public trust, as all schools are examined by an outside team and have had their improvement plans reviewed by experts.
• Professional Development
  NCA CASI provides a range of professional development opportunities, including state school improvement workshops and our Annual Conference which has over 100 practitioner-led sessions focused on helping schools raise student achievement.
• Publications
  NCA CASI publishes a variety of tools, materials, handbooks, and documents designed to assist schools with the school improvement process. These include: the NCA CASI School Improvement Handbooks, NCA CASI School Improvement Software Suite, Journal of School Improvement, e-News, Raising Student Achievement Success Story Series, and others. Our directory of publications is online.

Contact Us
You may find more detailed contact information on our How to Contact Us page.