Timeline

Submit Application ||= 2. Host Readiness Visit ||= 3. All Schools Accredited ||= 4. Host Quality Assurance Review ||= 5. Communicate QAR findings ||= 6. Act on findings ||= 7. Continue Quality Improvement Efforts ||= 8. Complete Accreditation Progress Report ||
 * = 1.
 * **October 2010[[image:checkmark.jpg]] ** || **May 23, 2011[[image:checkmark.jpg]] ** || **May 23, 2011[[image:checkmark.jpg]] ** || **Apr 21-24, 2013[[image:checkmark.jpg]] ** || Fall 2013 || Fall 2013 - Spring 2015 || Fall 2013 - Spring 2015 || Spring 2015 ||

Steps to Accreditation
AdvancED Education Service Agency (ESA) Accreditation provides a national protocol for education service agencies committed to systemic, systematic, and sustainable continuous improvement. The ESA Accreditation process invites agencies to collaborate in reviewing the quality of the agency’s systems and their services that support teaching and learning. The process supports, enhances, and stimulates growth and improvement throughout the agency.

 The steps of the AdvancED ESA are outlined below. For a more detailed overview of the steps, download ESA Accreditation: A Handbook for Agencies, which can be found at www.advanc-ed.org. As you progress through this process, the Office of Accreditation and your State Office are available to assist you.


 * **October 2010[[image:checkmark.jpg]] ** ||  || ===Applicant ===

__Step 1: Submit Application. __ __Step 3: Ensure that all schools operated by the agency are accredited or candidates for accreditation by NCA CASI or SACS CASI for AdvancED. __
 * The agency shall submit an application for ESA Accreditation and include the non-refundable application fee, plus the first year’s accreditation dues for the agency and any schools operated by the agency to AdvancED Finance Department, 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Upon receipt of the application, AdvancED sends the agency head a Readiness Letter describing the expectations for the Readiness Visit, along with a Self-Assessment of Readiness for Accreditation tool.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">The AdvancED Office of Accreditation, in cooperation with the State Office, assigns a contact person to provide support and assistance to the agency as needed. ||
 * ||  || __<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Step 2: Host a Readiness Visit. __
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">The Office of Accreditation and the State Office work with the agency to coordinate the Readiness Visit to the agency. The purpose of the visit is to determine the agency's capacity to pursue ESA Accreditation.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The agency completes the Self-Assessment of Readiness for Accreditation **<span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">January 4, 2011[[image:checkmark.jpg]] **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> prior to the Readiness Visit, **<span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">May 23, 2011[[image:checkmark.jpg]] **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Following the Readiness Visit, the AdvancED representative communicates the findings of the visit by completing the Readiness Report, sending it to the State Office and Office of Accreditation.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Following a successful Readiness Visit and receipt of the Readiness Report, AdvancED sends the Readiness Report and a Candidacy Letter to the agency head, along with a form requesting three possible dates for the External Review. The letter moves the agency into Candidacy status.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">For ESAs recommended to remain in Applicant status, the Office of Accreditation sends the Readiness Report to the agency with a cover letter highlighting the areas the ESA needs to address. ESAs can remain in Applicant status for no more than two years. ||
 * **<span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">n/a ** ||  || ===<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Candidacy ===
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">By the time of the External Review, all schools operated by the agency must be accredited or candidates for accreditation. The State Office works with the agency to develop a plan for bringing any schools that are not accredited or candidates into the process. ||
 * ||  || __<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Step 4: Schedule, prepare for, and host the External Review. __ **<span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Fall 2011 - Spring 2013 **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Schedule the visit.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">At least six months prior to the desired timeframe for the visit, the agency identifies and sends to the Office of Accreditation for AdvancED (PO Box 871008, Tempe, AZ 85287-1008) up to three dates (in preferred order) for hosting the Quality Assurance Review (QAR). The visit should be conducted within 18 months of entering candidacy. <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Feb 6 2012[[image:checkmark.jpg]]
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Upon receipt of the letter requesting to schedule the visit, AdvancED selects and communicates the dates for the visit to the agency. The QAR date confirmation letter provides detailed instructions for preparing for the review and includes the amount of the QAR visit fee that is assessed following the visit to help defray the costs of managing and coordinating the visit.


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Work with the External Review Lead Evaluator and Associate Lead Evaluato <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">r.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">AdvancED appoints a Lead Evaluator for the visit approximately three months prior to the visit. Team members and an Associate Lead Evaluator are also appointed. To the extent possible, some team members will be from outside the state including the ER Lead Evaluator. AdvancED provides the agency with the names and contact information for all team members.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The ER Lead Evaluator and Associate Lead Evaluator work with the agency to ensure that the agency is prepared to receive the ER Team.


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Prepare for the visit.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The agency prepares for the visit by notifying the agency’s community, making available evidence to share with the team to demonstrate adherence to the standards, coordinating individuals to be interviewed by the team, making appropriate logistical arrangements for the team members, coordinating the visit schedule with the ER Lead Evaluator, and ensuring that the agency and members of the governing board are accessible for the visit.


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Complete the Accreditation Report.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The agency completes the Standards Assessment Report involving all constituents and stakeholders in the agency’s service area. The Standards Assessment Report engages the agency in a comprehensive review of each of the seven AdvancED standards. It serves to prepare the agency for the Quality Assurance Review and becomes the basis of the review team's work. The agency may share and receive feedback on the report with the State Office contact person.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The agency submits the Standards Assessment Report to the Office of Accreditation for AdvancED (PO Box 871008, Tempe, AZ 85287-1008) and the QAR Team Chair approximately six weeks prior to the scheduled Quality Assurance Review Visit. **<span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Feb 2013 **<span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[[image:checkmark.jpg]]


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Host the QAR Team and receive the team report. <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Apr 21-24 2013[[image:checkmark.jpg]]
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The agency hosts the visit and receives the oral exit report. It is expected that the oral exit report will be delivered to the governing board and agency head at a public meeting of the board.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The External Review Lead Evaluator prepares the written report of the visit and submits it to Office of Accreditation for AdvancED (PO Box 871008, Tempe, AZ 85287-1008) for review by an AdvancED Reader who reviews the report to ensure quality.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The final report is submitted to the agency, State Office, and External Review Lead Evaluator. The ER Team's recommended accreditation status is submitted to AdvancED for national review and action.

__<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Step 6: Act on the findings. __
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Submit payment of the invoice for team member reimbursement and the ESA Accreditation External Review fee.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Within 30 days of the conclusion of the visit, the agency will receive the written report of the External Review Team and an invoice for the travel reimbursement of team members and the ESA External Review fee. This fee is assessed once every five years to defray some of the costs associated with preparing and coordinating the visit. ||
 * **<span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Fall 2013 ** ||  || __<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Step 5: Communicate the External Review Team's findings to the community. __
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Upon receipt of the written report, the agency communicates the External Review Team's findings to the governing board and community.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">When the agency's accreditation status is reviewed and acted upon at the national level, the agency communicates its final accreditation status to the community. ||
 * **<span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Fall 2013 - Spring 2015 ** ||  || ===<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Accredited (Ongoing Steps) ===
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">The agency acts on the report recommendations as part of its continuous improvement efforts. ||
 * **<span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Fall 2013 - Spring 2015 ** ||  || __<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Step 7: Adhere to the AdvancED standards and engage in quality continuous improvement. __
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">The agency and any schools it operates must maintain adherence to the AdvancED standards and regularly self-assess itself against the standards.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">The agency and any schools it operates must engage in continuous improvement.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">The agency provides AdvancED with accurate and up-to-date contact information and demographics for the agency and its schools.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">The State Office provides support and professional development opportunities to assist the agency in its continuous improvement efforts. ||
 * **<span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Spring 2015 ** ||  || __<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Step 8: Complete the Accreditation Progress Report (APR). __
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Two years following the External Review, AdvancED sends a letter to the agency head requesting an Accreditation Progress Report detailing the agency’s progress in addressing the recommendations from the External Review Team Report.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">The agency completes the report and submits it to the Office of Accreditation for AdvancED (PO Box 871008, Tempe AZ 85287) for review and action at the national level.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">The final accreditation action is transmitted to the agency and State Office.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">The agency shares its accreditation status with its constituents and other stakeholders.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">The agency continues to meet the AdvancED standards, engage in continuous improvement, and host Quality Assurance Reviews once every five years. ||