MEMBERSHIP CRITERIA
Any proprietary school or legal entity that is of good character and dedicated to the purposes of the corporation may apply for accreditation by the corporation within three years of its acceptance into membership. Any individual or entity owning more than one proprietary school shall nevertheless be entitled to only one membership in the corporation.
A proprietary school seeking membership shall have the following characteristics:
- Be a privately owned, tax-paying proprietary school
- Have a written anti-discrimination policy communicated to the public
- Be an academic school consisting of any grades PK-12 whose educational program is consistent with the standards set forth for accreditation
- Abide by the compulsory attendance laws of the state in which the school operates.
- Shall at all times adhere to the goals, articles, bylaws, rules, and regulations of this corporation
There are three categories of membership. These categories are Candidate Member, Pre-Accreditied Member and Accredited Member:
CANDIDATE MEMBER
A Candidate Member is a status that indicates an institution has achieved initial recognition by the association and is committed to seeking accreditation. Candidate Membership is a prerequisite for becoming an Accredited Member and has a maximum term of three years. At the discretion of the Board of Directors, terms may be extended for unusual and exceptional circumstances. Requirements of the Candidate Membership status are:
- The school must be in operation under current ownership for a minimum period of two years.
- The school must submit written application which includes, among other things, grade span of school, student population summary, tuition schedule, and philosophy and goals or aims of the school. One copy each of the school brochure or catalog and report card of pupil progress are to be appended.
- The school must meet the association's standards for membership.
- The school must conduct and submit a self-study of the total school program within three years of its acceptance into the association.
PRE-ACCREDITED MEMBER
A Pre-Accredited Member is the Candidate Member that has begun the accreditation process by filing with the corporation an Eligibility Checklist and Letter of Intent. The school has also paid the accreditation fee of $850.00 and understands that it is responsible to pay for the expenses of the visiting committee that conducts the required site visit. (Note: There is only one fee per organization. No additional fee is charged for additional sites other than visiting committee expenses.)
During the pre-accreditation phase the school must conduct a self-study under NIPSA supervision. The self study will address all phases of the school operation and will involve all segments of the school community. The self-study will include:
- Philosophy and goals
- Organization and leadership
- Curriculum
- Instruction and learning
- Pupil Services and student activities
- School staff
- Parent community
- School plant
- Finances
- A completed school improvement plan (SIP)
- Dormitories and dormitory life (Boarding schools)
ACCREDITED MEMBER
An Accredited Member is a status of membership that indicates the school is substantially accomplishing its stated goals and objectives and has given evidence it is committed to continued growth and the pursuit of excellence. Only an Accredited Member may sit on the Board of Directors. Requirements of the Accredited Membership status are:
- The school must currently be in good standing (including payment of all dues and student assessment fees).
- A visiting committee will have performed a site visit to verify the self-study and will recommended accreditation to the Board of Directors who comprise the accrediting committee.
- The Board of Directors will have approved the recommendations and commendations of the visiting committee.
- Accredited Members shall file a yearly report; shall report any significant changes in management, location or leadership personnel; and shall report on the status of recommendations made by the visiting committee during the third year after accreditation is granted.
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