Hosting A Visit

The Self Study

Over the course of twelve to eighteen months schools pursuing accreditation engage in a Self Study process structured around NWAIS Standards and Indicators.  The resulting document represents a comprehensive study outlining the ways in which the school is fulfilling its mission as well as the school’s self-identified strengths and weaknesses.  A successful Self Study process can result in:

• Increased awareness within the school community of the history and operations of the school
• Renewed understanding and commitment to school mission and values
• Greater cohesiveness within the school community
• Greater clarity regarding goals and strategies for achieving goals
• Increased assurance of the quality and viability of the institution

The Accreditation Visit

Hosting a visiting team is a memorable and important step in the NWAIS accreditation process. When the school has completed its Self Study, they share this document with a Visiting Team comprised of administrators and teachers from peer schools.  The Visiting Team’s visit involves looking at the school through three lenses:

• Congruence – Does the Self Study accurately reflect the day to day experience at the school?
• Standards – Do the schools practices and policies fulfill the criteria outlined in NWAIS Standards and Indicators?
• Synthesis – Offering the school a coherent picture of what the team has read, seen and heard
• The Visiting Team does not determine whether or not the school receives accreditation, but instead offers Observations, Commendations, Recommendations and Suggestions to the school’s growth.