Middle States Accreditation at
North Allegheny Intermediate High School

What is accreditation?  
Accreditation is the affirmation that a school provides a quality of education that the community has a right to expect and the education world endorses.

Why become accredited? 
Accreditation is a means of showing confidence in a school's performance. When the Commission on Secondary Schools accredits a school, it certifies that the school has met the prescribed qualitative standards of the Middle States Association within the terms of the school's own stated philosophy and objectives.

What is the purpose?
The chief purpose of the whole accreditation process is the improvement of education for youth by evaluating the degree to which a school has attained worthwhile outcomes set by its own staff and community. Accreditation is accomplished by conducting a comprehensive self-evaluation of the total school every ten years. Through the accreditation process, the school seeks the validation of its self-evaluation by obtaining professional judgment from impartial outsiders on the effectiveness of the total school operation. The intent throughout the process is not merely to focus on shortcomings; but rather to seek remedies for inadequacies and to identify and nurture good practices.

What programs are accredited?
Accreditation of a secondary school is on an institutional basis. The entire school, not just one program, is covered by the accreditation.

What are the benefits of accreditation? 
The following are some of the many benefits of accreditation:

• greater clarity of purpose
• stronger internal relationships
• wider professional participation
• more effective methods of planning for school improvement
• improved consistency between educational purpose and practice

What are accreditation standards?
Middle States representative members conduct periodic reviews of the standards to be used for all accredited members. These standards are not to be confused with learning, curriculum, or content standards established by each state for the schools within its jurisdiction. Composed of those features of a quality educational institution, accreditation standards vary depending on the type of institution or accreditation desired. All member institutions are required to conduct a self-evaluation of those standards as part of the accreditation process, and the standards are the lens through which accreditation decisions are made.

Foundational Standards: Standards addressing best practices in the components of a school that provide the foundations for quality in the education program, services, and results in terms of student learning.

Standard 1: Philosophy/Mission

Standard 2: Governance and Leadership

Standard 3: School Improvement Planning

Standard 4: Finances

Standard 5: Facilities

Standard 6: School Climate and Organization

Operational Standards: Standards addressing best practices in delivering the education program, services, and activities to the students.

Standard 7: Health and Safety

Standard 8: Educational Program

Standard 9: Assessment and Evidence of Student Learning

Standard 10: Student Services

Standard 11: Student Life and Student Activities

Standard 12: Information Resources and Technology

What is required?  

Introductory Information

Section A: The Context of the Institution

Section B: Self-Assessment of the MS Standards

Section B.1. The Standards Self-Assessment Process

Section B.2. Relationship of the standards to the content

Section B.3. The standards Self-Assessment Report

Section C: The Planning Process

Section C.1. Accreditation for Growth Commitment Form

Section C.2. Composition of the Planning Team

Section C.3. Planning Team Operation

Section C.4. Planning Team Feedback

Section C.5. Role of the Administration

Section C.6. Role of the Governing Body

Section C.7. Role of the Internal Coordinators

Section C.8. Role of the External Facilitator (optional)

Section C.9. Communication and Awareness Activities

Section C.10. Action Plan Teams (optional)

Section C.11. Implementation Teams (optional)

Section C.12. Annual Review Process

Section D: The Content of the Plan

Section D.1. System/District's Strategic Goals and Plan (Optional)

Section D.2. Mission

Section D.3. Beliefs

Section D.4. Profile of Graduates

Section D.5. Internal Scan (optional)

Section D.6. External Scan (optional)

Section D.7. Student Performance Objectives

Section D.8. Non-Accreditation for Growth Objectives (optional)

Section D.9. Action Plans