APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP

Download Application (129 KB Word document ) or PDF

Download Initial Visit Template

Northwest Association of Accredited Schools Membership Process
There are three phases to Northwest Accreditation:

• Application
• Provisional Accreditation: it is during this time (up to three years) that a school completes its first self-study. The school cannot vote on resolutions or by-law changes during this period.
• Full Accreditation

Northwest Accreditation Process:

• The school makes application to the Association office (the form can be downloaded from the Northwest Accreditation web site www.northwestaccreditation.org) and submits the $100.00 application fee ($200.00 for schools regulated by the International and Transregional Division, schools in Idaho, and $350.00 for schools in Washington which includes a $250.00 Initial Visit fee).
• A letter is sent to the school with some general information and the name, address and phone number of the state or division chair whom they should contact for additional information for their particular state.
• The school is asked to complete an initial report form for the response team to review.
• Working with the state chair, the school hosts an initial visit team of two persons for a one-day visit. The team reviews the initial report form and its contents, tours the facility and works with the representative to determine if the school can meet the standards within the provisional accreditation period of three years.
• The school submits an annual report form to the state chair by October 15 of each year. (The initial report format mirrors that of the annual report to help the school know what areas of the standards it needs to focus on during the provisional accreditation period.)
• During the first three years of provisional accreditation and every six years thereafter a school completes a comprehensive self-study.
• The state or division chair and committee present the names of the schools/centers recommended for accreditation to Northwest Association commissioners at the annual business meeting in December of each year. Accreditation is retroactive to the beginning of that school year. In special circumstances schools can be approved by commissioners at the June meeting of the Commission on Schools.
• The school reports the progress of implementation of the self-study, especially the school improvement plan, in Standard VIII as a part of the annual report each year. This helps to assure on-going school improvement.