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Home Principals Handbook Accreditation

Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC)

The mission of the Northwest Accreditation Commission is to advance excellence in education through the process of accreditation. Accreditation promotes continual school improvement leading to greater student achievement. The Northwest Accreditation Commission, formerly the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools, accredits distance education, elementary, foreign nation, high, K-12, middle level, post-secondary non-degree granting, residential, special purpose, supplementary education and travel education schools.

The Northwest Accreditation Commission is one of the nation's six acknowledged accreditation agencies. The geographic territory of the Commission consists of the states of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington and other worldwide geographical areas designated from time to time by the Board of Trustees.

DOWNLOAD THE NEW NWAC LOGO HERE.

Announcement: NWAC Merges with AdvancED

Nortwest Accreditation Commission is announcing their merger with the Accreditation Division of AdvancED. Read the announcement letter for details.

What Does Accreditation Mean?

When the Accreditation Commission accredits a school, it is certifying that the school has met the prescribed quantitative and qualitative standards of the Commission, within the terms of the school's own stated mission and beliefs. It is also certifying that the school has undergone a self-study and validation by an outside team of peers, upon application for membership, and once every six years thereafter. Each member school must also be involved in a continual school improvement process (SIP) that must be reported as part of the school's peer-reviewed oral progress report to the Commission.

Accredited schools are members of one of the nation's six regional accrediting bodies. Being an accredited member implies that the school subscribes to a process of voluntary self-regulation that is a constructive experience designed to improve the quality of that member school.

Membership

Accreditation is an important aspect of school effectiveness. Accreditation in Washington state is closely aligned to the School Improvement Process of the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and the School Improvement Plan (SIP) required by the State Board of Education.

• Member Schools of the Northwest Accreditation Commission (list)

Brochures and Resources:

• Northwest Accreditation Commission Brochure (PDF)
• Why Be Northwest Accredited?
• Washington State Self-Study Accreditation Model (PDF)
• Resources for Self-Study (PDF)

Membership Documents:

• Application for Membership 
• Core Standards for Accreditation   
• Operating Procedures
• Oral Report Procedures

Annual Update Reports Required:

• K-12 Schools
• Residential Schools
• Special and Supplemental Schools/Programs   
• Online/Distance Education Schools/Programs
• Third-party Schools (ACSI, ACTS, CSI, NOSA, PNAIS, SDA, WCEA, NAEYC)

Benefits 

In addition to the intrinsic benefits that the school receives, the public also obtains the following assurances:

• Regional Accreditation assures transferability of credits among other regionally accredited schools.
• Citizens are assured of accountability and value for their tax dollars in light of the fact that their school is meeting regional standards (see links below).
• The community in general is more attractive to prospective incoming families and businesses when it can be reported that its schools are accredited.
• Accreditation assures the public that an outgoing process of evaluation will be a permanent feature of school improvement practices.
• Through school, the public can receive information regularly on the extent to which their school is meeting standards.
• Accreditation provides general justification for public confidence in a member school. It does not affirm that the school is perfect in all aspects, but it does promise that the school has the resources, leadership and vitality needed for ongoing improvement.
• Accreditation gives evidence to its public that the school is meeting expectations and fulfilling standards that transcend local and state requirements.
• Accreditation assures that other schools, colleges and universities will accept student credits.

Questions regarding membership may be made directly to Joe Pope, Northwest Accreditation Commission, Washington State Director, at 253.318.3861 or joepope@awsp.org, or to Sandie Cannady at sandie@awsp.org. 

Online Learning Programs

• Northwest Accreditation Commission Approved Online Learning Programs
• Online Standards

Northwest Accreditation Commission Consultant Contact Information: