Accreditation

CPS has embarked on the reaccreditation self-study, which is central to CPS' accreditation by the Middle States Association ‐ Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools. There are a few different processes (protocols) available to schools as they engage in the reaccreditation process. CPS has selected Excellence by Design (EBD) as our accreditation protocol.  An important step in this process is measuring our current reality relative to 12 Middle States Standards for Accreditation. These standards and indicators take a holistic look at our entire school program, resources, and its environment from the perspective of all of the school’s stakeholders—parents, students, staff, alumni, and others. In order to be accredited, the school must meet or exceed the 12 Middle States Standards for Accreditation.

Schools use the accreditation process to demonstrate they are meeting a defined set of research-based performance standards. The goal is to gather as much data and input as possible, examine -- or “self-study”-- the school in a holistic way, and then chart a course for continuous school improvement.

 

Educational accreditation is a type of quality assurance process under which services and operations of educational institutions or programs are evaluated and verified by an external body to determine if applicable and recognized standards are met.

 

Excellence by Design (EBD) is an accreditation protocol that uses strategic planning as a vehicle for growth and improvement in student performance and in the school’s capacity to affect that growth. The protocol, developed by the Middle States Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA- CESS), links various planning and school growth and improvement efforts. Excellence by Design leads the school to establish objectives for improving student performance and organizational capacity based on its vision of a preferred future for its students. Therefore, Excellence by Design is a future-oriented and visionary process. In addition, the protocol provides for a continuous review of programs and services and of the results of student performance. It also allows diverse constituent groups to participate in charting the future of the institution.

 
PHASES OF THE EXCELLENCE BY DESIGN SELF-STUDY