Benefits of Accreditation

A school's own claim to excellence, however well justified, will always be open to question in the absence of an objective verification of quality. The school's possession of accredited status can be very reassuring to parents and is an indication to the school community and to other individuals and establishments that the school offers an education of quality.

 

 

To some extent this is already a feature of many schools, but not at a level to which self-evaluation is taken during the writing of the Self-Study. Schools receiving accreditation tend to agree that this introspection proves to be the most valuable aspect of the entire process. Also of significant benefit is the opportunity for school staff to meet collaboratively to discuss issues, to identify concerns, and to propose improvements.

 

 

In some schools it is quite possible to go from year to year feeling that staff members in other areas are vague acquaintances at best and that the concerns of other sections are of little interest to them. It is the common experience of schools undergoing evaluation that the accreditation process is a unifying element in a school.

 

 

The opportunity to receive a detailed, objective evaluation conducted by fellow professionals who have been trained in the evaluation process and who are familiar with evaluation standards and the nature and concerns of American/International schools.

 

 

The self-study document, the Visiting Team Report, the Two and Five-Year Reports serve as planning (short and long range) guides for the school as it maps out its direction for the years ahead.

 

 

It may be that board members, teaching staff, administration, students or parents have felt the existence of certain needs for some time. The Visiting Team Report will serve to guide staff, board and administration in establishing priorities and developing action plans.