Eligibility Criteria

All organizations to be considered for ACS WASC affiliation must meet the conditions listed below. Applicants will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis in determining eligibility.

● Schools must meet the legal requirements of the jurisdiction in which they are located in order for their application for ACS WASC affiliation to be considered.

● Schools must be in at least the second semester of operation, with students, teachers, and administration in place.

● School enrollment must reach a minimum of 6 full-time students.

● School’s program must include at least two grade levels. One exception would involve a new high school that opts to begin only with grade 9.

● Have developed and published a clear statement of purposes together with plans for a curriculum to carry out those purposes.

● Have a management system that provides appropriate direction and oversight for the overall program.

● Have employed a chief administration officer who is qualified for the position.

● Have an organization, facilities, course offerings, and staffing acceptable for the school’s stage of development.

● Have an overall plan including objectives for student achievement and assessment plans to measure progress toward those objectives.

● Have an admissions policy compatible with the school’s stated objectives.

● Have a written curriculum appropriate to the organization’s purpose.

● Have a qualified instructional staff.

● Have plans to provide access to appropriate extracurricular and enrichment activities, if appropriate.

● Have developed an adequate financial base to give reasonable assurance of continuing financial stability.

How to Get Started

Step 1. Complete and Submit the ACS WASC Application

Interested schools and supplementary education centers/programs should complete the online ACS WASC Application. A $500 nonrefundable application fee is required and must be submitted at the same time as the ACS WASC Application. Payment may be made by check or PayPal. International schools may also pay by wire transfer. Checks should be made out to the Accrediting Commission for Schools, WASC and mailed to the ACS WASC office: ACS WASC, 533 Airport Boulevard, Suite 200, Burlingame, CA 94010. Additional information is available on the Getting Started tab of the ACS WASC website (www.acswasc.org) or by contacting ACS WASC. If you have any questions regarding the accreditation process, please feel free to contact the ACS WASC office.

Step 2. Complete and Submit the Initial Visit Report

The completed application will be reviewed to determine whether the school is eligible for ACS WASC accreditation. Eligible schools will complete an Initial Visit Report. Once approved, the school will be provided access to the ACS WASC School Portal which will provide initial visit materials and the initial visit report template for completion. The initial visit report should be submitted via the Action Card on the ‘Reviews/Visits’ page of the School Portal.

Step 3. Initial Visit Fees

An initial visit will be scheduled, and the school will be invoiced an initial visit administrative fee. Following the visit, the school will also be invoiced for the actual expenses of the visiting committee.

Step 4. On-site Initial Visit

A visiting committee will be sent to the school to review the information contained in the Initial Visit Report and to gather additional information. A mutually acceptable date for the visit will be selected by the school and the chairperson of the visiting committee.

Step 5. Commission Action

The visiting committee will provide a report and recommendation to the ACS WASC Commission. The Commission will make a final determination whether to grant Initial Accreditation, Candidacy, or to withhold accreditation.

Step 6. Notification

The Commission meets at the end of January, April, and June. The school will be notified in writing of the Commission’s action and will receive a copy of the visiting committee report. Schools will be required to pay ACS WASC membership fees for the year in which they are granted initial or candidacy status and every year thereafter.

Apply Here:

Application

Frequently Asked Questions

Does WASC accredit online schools?

WASC has significant experience in working with online schools. These include schools offering US, Canadian and British curricula as well as schools offering supplementary programs.

Does WASC accredit schools offering supplementary programs?

WASC works with schools that offer supplementary programs. Students in Supplementary Education Programs (SEP) need to be enrolled in full time education in another school.

Does WASC work with multi campus schools?

WASC works with multi campus schools. Please request further information from WASC

Does WASC work with groups of schools?

WASC has a program for working with groups of schools. Please request further information from WASC.

Does WASC accredit programs or sections of a school?

WASC accredits schools not programs. All programs that a school has in place at the time of a self study are included. It is preferable to include all divisions of a school in the accreditation process.

Does it matter if my school does not follow a US school calendar?

No it does not matter. We work worldwide and with schools located in different hemispheres and with different start dates for the school year.

How long does it take to be accredited?

To a large extent a school can determine how quickly it would like to move through the accreditation process. Considerations are the developmental stage of the school, staff members’ knowledge and experience of accreditation and the number of developmental projects that the school is currently undertaking. The following is a guide to the time it takes to move through the various stages to accreditation

➔ Application

The accreditation process begins by making an application to be affiliated with WASC. This process takes approximately 2 weeks.

➔ Initial Visit

After application a school completes an Initial Visit Report and if the report suggests readiness for a visit it hosts a school visit. This process takes around 2- 4 months. If the report suggests that some areas of the school need additional development, then a bespoke training is held. After the Initial Visit a school may Receive initial accreditation for a period of 3 years

Be granted candidacy status for WASC accreditation

Be required to do additional development before being awarded candidacy status

➔ Self Study

If a school is granted candidacy status it enters the self study process. This includes an in depth self study followed by a self study visit. A candidate school has a maximum of 3 years to complete the self study. Some schools choose to take less time- around 12 months to 1 year.

How much does the process cost?

Please refer to our fee schedule. WASC believes in providing access to accreditation for schools committed to ongoing school improvement. Thanks to its large portfolio of schools WASC is able to remain cost effective.

Will our school receive support during the process?

WASC has developed a comprehensive and unique coaching program which is included in its fees. After application a school is assigned a consultant who will train school personnel in WASC expectations, how to complete the Initial Visit Report and will give input into the draft report. The school will also be given a toolkit to support it align with WASC criteria. Personalized support continues throughout the self study process through in-school tailor made training sessions to support the school’s identified developmental needs and through scheduled online trainings.

What other benefits will our school receive as part of the WASC process?

WASC offers networking opportunities through its interactive online platform. This affords schools the chance to connect with schools that are working on similar stages of the accreditation process. The online platform also gives access to resources related to the WASC accreditation process and WASC events that support a school’s development.

WASC member schools will also have access to our bank of resources that support schools through the accreditation journey. They will also have access to special training events related to accreditation and run by specialists in the field.

Schools receive personalized support in the form of training and coaching by the school’s assigned consultant throughout the WASC accreditation process. This support is included in the fees.

Once a WASC member has experience they will be given the opportunity to train as a WASC Visiting Committee member. This affords excellent opportunities for professional development and personal portfolio development.

Is WASC well recognized?

WASC is one of the 6 original US regional accrediting agencies and works under the auspices of the Office of Overseas Schools and the California Department of Education. It is highly respected around the world and is licenced to operate as an overseas agency through the Hague Apostille agreement signed in 1961. In California, public high schools need to be accredited by WASC if students are to gain admission to California state universities.

Why is accreditation important?

Accreditation:

● Is a powerful framework for school improvement and change. Our process is based on current research in the field of school change and adult learning.

● Builds ownership for continuous school development

● Offers opportunities for staff development and professional growth

● Offers opportunities for networking with fellow international educators

● Supports student entry into universities overseas- in particular N. America

● Offers reassurance to parents that the school is a quality school

● Offers reassurance to potential teachers that the school has robust systems and programs in place

● Can support the school work with local authorities.