Why Join NCA CASI?

Accreditation is a promise…

NCA CASI schools are committed to meeting high standards and to continually improving. They are schools who define much of their success by whether their students are learning or not. NCA CASI schools meet the NCA CASI's quality standards, engage in a process of continuous school improvement, and host external review teams to verify the quality of their school.

A school joins NCA CASI for many reasons…

Aspires to High Standards

• To demonstrate a commitment to developing a quality educational environment
• To be recognized as a school that meets quality standards that cross state and regional boundaries

Accountability

• To focus on improved student performance
• To enhance services to students through effective school improvement
• To demonstrate public accountability

Articulation

• To have all their schools in a coherent school improvement plan
• To promote k-12 program articulation

Curriculum and Instruction

• To get assistance in choosing effective programs
• To learn about effective interventions and teaching behaviors

Empowerment

• To involve staff and parents in making choices for the school
• To facilitate change

Assessment and Evaluation

• To identify and address needed change
• To impact student performance

Continuous Improvement

• To gain and sustain momentum in school improvement planning and implementation
• To increase community ownership in the schools by engaging them in the process

Why do schools remain members?

• They feel rewarded by the results
• School improvement implementation gets staff involved in continuous improvement efforts
• They prefer the NCA CASI assessment design to high stakes, single test assessment
• They value the articulation fostered by implementing the school improvement plan
• They value NCA CASI member service and school improvement tools
• They want to be a part of an organization that has been improving schools for 100 years

What is an NCA CASI school like?

NCA CASI schools come in all sizes and configurations. They have to meet local and state mandates as well as NCA CASI criteria. They have many differences, but there are some things that they have in common.

An NCA CASI school:

• knows itself
• defines its goals
• engages in continuous improvement
• implements change to enhance student learning
• documents and analyzes the growth of students
• measures its success in terms of student performance
• continuously learns and adjusts its processes and systems
• seeks objective review from peers
• assesses the quality of its programs and interventions
• presses for improved student performance

What's in it for the school?

In addition to the reasons described earlier, each accredited school has access to numerous NCA CASI resources, including: an NCA CASI state office; training, conferences, and workshops; handbooks, brochures, rubrics, and tools that explain and describe aspects of school improvement; and Ambassadors who are certified through a rigorous training program to provide hands-on support to schools with their improvement efforts. In addition, the NCA CASI website has a wide range of resources. Contracted customized training and research assistance are also available through the Research and Development Department.

Categories of Membership

Elementary
Middle
Secondary
Unit (K-12)
District or System
College Preparatory
Adult/Vocational
Postsecondary
Special Purpose

NCA CASI HOME : PROSPECTIVE