PRESIDENT UPDATE
This past year has been a period of continued growth and success for our accreditation agency. We are proud to have supported the academic missions of numerous educational institutions across our region, helping them maintain the highest standards of quality and student outcomes.
Over the last 12 months, our team has conducted in-depth reviews of 2,048 schools, assessing key areas such as curriculum, faculty qualifications, student services, and institutional resources. Through this rigorous evaluation process, we were able to reaffirm the accredited status of most institutions while also identifying opportunities for improvement in others.
Accreditation is crucial for ensuring academic excellence and preserving the trust of students, parents, and the wider community. Our agency remains deeply committed to this vital work, and we look forward to continuing our collaborative partnerships with educational leaders in the year ahead.
The pages that follow provide a detailed account of our activities, achievements, and our exciting future goals. I invite you to review this report and join us in celebrating accreditation's positive impact on students' lives throughout our region, as we look forward to even greater achievements in the future.
Barry R. Groves, President
CHAIRPERSON UPDATE
It is an honor and a privilege to serve as the Chairperson of the ACS WASC Commission. The Commissioners represent a variety of institutions and organizations, all united by a shared commitment to ensuring that every student receives an academically challenging, high-quality education within an inclusive, supportive, and positive learning environment. Together, we collaborate with the WASC leadership team and staff members to implement a dynamic and innovative Strategic Plan. This forward-thinking, visionary plan is designed to provide all students at our accredited schools with learning opportunities that will prepare them for success in both college and careers.
As a leading educational agency, WASC is proud to partner with over 5,500 schools worldwide to make our mission a reality for students and their families. Our mission states:
“WASC advances and validates quality, ongoing school improvement by supporting its private and public elementary, secondary, and postsecondary member institutions. We engage these schools in a rigorous and relevant self-evaluation and peer review process that focuses on equity, inclusion, and access to high-level, rigorous learning opportunities for all students.”
We are tremendously grateful for our schools working tirelessly to reflect this mission through their schoolwide learner outcomes, assisting all students achieve academic excellence.
We would also like to express sincere appreciation to the thousands of educators who volunteer their time and expertise to serve as members and chairs of our WASC visiting committees. Their dedication to giving back to our educational communities is invaluable.
Through the collective efforts of many, the lives of students across the globe are being further enriched, promoting equity, inclusion, and access for all.
Odie J. Douglas, Chairperson
WASC COMMISSION
The purpose of the WASC Commission is to foster excellence in elementary, secondary, adult, postsecondary institutions, and supplementary education programs. The Commission encourages school improvement through a process of continuing evaluation and recognizes institutions through granting accreditation to the schools that meet an acceptable level of quality in accordance with the established criteria.
2025 Commission Meetings 2025 Commission Meetings
Winter: January 27-28, 2025
Spring: April 28-29, 2025
Summer: June 23-24, 2025
WASC COMMISSIONERS
Officers
Odie J. Douglas, Ed.D., Chairperson
Linda Norman, Vice Chairperson
Association of California School Administrators
Ward Andrus, Ed.D.
Moohay Choe, Ed.D.
Caroline Cota, Ed.D.
Kevin Collins, Ed.D.
Odie J. Douglas, Ed.D.
Christine McCormick, Ed.D.
Eric Mooney, Ed.D.
Association of Christian Schools International
Matt Hannan
California Association of Independent Schools
Jeff Davis, Ed.D.
California Association of Private School
Organizations
Toby Elmore
California Congress of Parents and Teachers, Inc. (PTA)
Carol Green
California Department of Education
Cindy Kazanis
Monique McWayne
California Federation of Teachers
Julie Cruz
California School Boards Association
Christopher (Kit) Oase, D.A.
California Teachers Association
Marty Fricke
Charter Schools
Jason Sample
David Sciarretta, Ed.D.
East Asia Regional Council of Schools
Gregory Hedger, Ed.D.
Hawaii Association of Independent Schools
David Gaudi, Ed.D.
Hawaii Government Employees’ Association
Janice Blaber
Hawaii Private Teacher
Melissa Handy
Hawaii State Department of Education
Andrea Fukumoto
Esther Kanehailua
Hawaii State Teachers Association
Karin “Kalena” D. Hansen del Rey
National Lutheran School Accreditation
Christy Wood, Ed.D.
Pacific Islands
K. Erik Swanson, Ph.D.
Pacific Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
Berit von Pohle, Ed.D.
Postsecondary Education
Jennifer Owens
Public Members
Laura Stefanski
Livingston (Jack) Wong
Western Catholic Educational Association
Gregory Dhuyvetter
Anna-Lisa George
Linda Norman, Ed.D,
Teresa Schwabauer
STRATEGIC PLAN
The Strategic Plan continues to guide our commitment to excellence in accreditation and our support for member institutions. This year, our four strategic goals have driven a number of initiatives designed to enhance training, optimize IT systems, uphold high standards in teaching and learning, and provide exceptional service. We are listening closely to our member institutions and responding to their needs through meaningful updates. For example, our training modules have shifted to an asynchronous model that now includes certificates and badges for completion, making professional development more accessible and rewarding.
Our standards are also undergoing rigorous review to ensure alignment with the quality assurance expectations of colleges and universities. These efforts, along with ongoing exploration of additional resources and systems, reflect WASC’s dedication to continuous improvement and responsive, high-quality support for our member schools.
EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND ACCESS
The WASC Commission, composed of diverse representatives, adopted an Equity Statement in spring 2021, which laid the groundwork for a transformative approach emphasizing equity, inclusion, and access across all accreditation processes. Now, in 2024, WASC continues to prioritize these principles, integrating them into every aspect of school evaluation and support. Guided by this Equity Statement, WASC commits to continuous reflection and improvement in our protocols, materials, and training to better serve all students and uphold educational justice.
Recent reviews of the WASC Focus on Learning framework reaffirm the essential components of the WASC improvement process, emphasizing equity, inclusion, and access as a central pillar.
Commissioner Eric Mooney WASC Equity Chairperson
2023-2024
OUTSTANDING ADVISOR SATISFACTION
We are thrilled to share exceptional results from our 2023-2024 customer satisfaction survey of California self-study coordinators. The survey, which evaluated WASC advisors' performance, demonstrates our unwavering commitment to excellence in educational accreditation services.
Survey Highlights
Our advisors consistently achieved remarkable scores ranging from 4.5 to 5.0 on a five-point scale across all measurement categories. These outstanding results not only surpass our strategic goal of achieving a minimum rating of 4.0 but also reflect the dedication of our advisory team to maintaining the highest standards of service.
Strategic Success
This achievement marks an important milestone in WASC's five-year strategic plan, specifically in our focus on customer satisfaction. As an organization deeply committed to educational excellence, we understand that exceptional customer service is fundamental to supporting our partner institutions effectively. The survey results validate our ongoing efforts to provide top-tier support to educational institutions throughout their accreditation journey. We remain committed to maintaining these high standards while continuously seeking ways to enhance our services further.
WASC extends its gratitude to all participating self-study coordinators for their valuable feedback and continued partnership in advancing educational excellence.
WASC Directors/Advisors gathered in August 2024 for a productive meeting, focusing on their shared commitment to excellence in education and accreditation
REIMAGINING ACCREDITATION
WASC has launched an ambitious two-year initiative to reimagine and revitalize the school accreditation process. This comprehensive effort aims to develop a more effective, relevant, and forward-thinking approach to ensuring educational quality and continuous improvement in schools across the region. Stay tuned for coming information. As the educational landscape continues to evolve rapidly, WASC recognizes the importance of adapting its accreditation practices to meet the changing needs of schools, students, and communities.
