Western Association of Schools & Colleges - WASC ACS

WASC Accrediting Commission for Schools

ACS WASC accredits K-12 schools and non-degree granting postsecondary institutions

Accrediting Commission for Schools
Western Association of Schools and Colleges

The Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACS WASC) is one of six regional accrediting associations in the United States. The Accrediting Commission for Schools, WASC, extends its services to over 4,500 public, independent, church-related, and proprietary pre-K–12 and adult schools, works with 16 associations in joint accreditation processes, and collaborates with other educational organizations.

The ACS WASC accreditation process fosters excellence in elementary, secondary, and adult education by encouraging school improvement. WASC accreditation recognizes schools that meet an acceptable level of quality, in accordance with established, research-based WASC criteria.

ACS WASC Executive Director Position

Our long-serving and highly respected ACS WASC Executive Director, Dr. David Brown, is retiring. We are now accepting applications for the Executive Director position. The application deadline is June 10, 2013 at 4:00 pm PDT. Please see below for details.

Executive Director Job Announcement	Executive Director Application
Executive Director Application Directions and Information

For information regarding Senior Colleges and Universities click here.
For information regarding Junior Colleges click here.

Recent WASC News
WASC Overview Video
Training Webinars

Effective July 2012, WASC has adopted a new approach to grant accreditation status. We believe the focus on status, rather than terms, will better support high-quality learning for all students as well as the achievement of each school's improvement needs. The WASC Accreditation Status Explanation includes the new ballot for Visiting Committees as well as explanations for the new status options.
UC Riverside Extension Accreditation Class, Data-Driven Self-Analysis of Student Performance, June 18 and 19, 2013. Click here for more information.
ACS WASC Executive Director Search Survey:
Our long-serving and highly respected ACS WASC Executive Director, Dr. David Brown, is retiring in January 2014 and we are beginning the process to identify a successor. We would appreciate input from the WASC family to help us identify the characteristics you would like to see in our next Executive Director as well as a list of priorities to address. Please help us by participating in the survey linked below — it is short and quick, we promise. Your input is appreciated. To access the survey, click: Accrediting Commission for Schools, WASC Executive Director Search Survey.
WASC recently partnered with EDI to work with international schools in the Middle East that meet WASC criteria for accreditation.
CAL GRANT APPLICATION CODE INFORMATION:
Your school's WASC accreditation code is available on our website.
Click here to access the Directory of Schools webpage. Find your school, then double click on your school's name. The WASC code will be listed immediately below your school's grade span.
2012 Golden Jubilee WASC Words: Read our annual WASC newsletter to learn more about the WASC organization.
VC Chair templates are now available in Google Drive (Docs), click here for more information about Google Drive (Docs).
WASC Website Survey: We would appreciate your feedback; please click here to take WASC Website survey.
Committees are now being formed for spring 2014 WASC visits. Please visit our Serving on a Visiting Committee page for information on volunteering.
Self-Study Full Visits California (only) Visiting Committee expenses are now reimbursed directly by the visited school.
Older Posts...

WASC has prepared a video that emphasizes the philosophy and criteria that is foundational to our school improvement focus. The video is seven minutes in length and would be appropriate for staff, school board members, and other stakeholders in the school communities.

We hope that you enjoy this brief production which we believe effectively reinforces the ongoing nature of the enhanced focus WASC self-studies and action plans can bring to improved student learning.

Postsecondary School Part Two Self-Study Training for 2014 Schools
Training Recording and Training Handout
Hawaii WASC Accreditation Visiting Committee Chair Training for 2012–13 Visits
Training Recording and Training Handout
Hawaii WASC Accreditation Visiting Committee Member Training for 2012–13 Visits
Training Recording and Training Handout
Post Part Three Training Webinar
Training Recording and Training Handout
Visiting Committee Chair Training for 2012-13 Visits
Training Recording and Training Handout

College Career Readiness Programs: Questions to consider for visiting committees:
Click here to view video.
Supplementary Education Center/Program Training for 2012-13 Visits
Training Recording and Training Handout
Postsecondary Training for 2012-13 Visits
Training Recording and Training Handout
Visiting Committee Member Training for 2012-13 Visits
Part 1 for all Visiting Committee Members:

Training Recording and Training Handout

Part 2 Primarily for New Members (contains in-depth information about prewriting, conducting meetings, and questioning strategies):

Training Recording and Training Handout
New Chair Orientation for 2012-13 Visits
Training Recording and Training Handout
Midterm (Mid-cycle) Training for 2012-13 Visits
Training Recording and Training Handout
Limited-Term Revisit Training for 2012-13 Visits
Training Recording and Training Handout
Three-Year Term Revisit (Mid-cycle) Training for 2012-13 Visits
Training Recording and Training Handout
Initial Visit Training for 2012–13 Visits
Training Recording and Training Handout
WASC Expectations for Annual Follow-up Webinar for 2012-13 Visits
Training Recording and Training Handout
Chair Update on Accreditation Status Explanation for Fall 2012 Visits
Training Recording and Training Handout
Fall Chair Training Webinar for Fall 2012 Visits
Training Recording and Training Handout
Overseas Self-Study Training for Schools with Self-Study Visits in 2013
Training Recording and Training Handout

News from our Executive Director

Updates from David Brown, Executive Director, Accrediting Commission for Schools

In Memoriam —Jess Whipple

	As They See It...

	"The greatest value of the WASC protocol is that it ensures equity and fairness to all students in all schools. Parents, teachers, staff members and students participate in a process that enables them to critically self examine their school plan, set their own goals and assess if their goals are reached for continuous improvement."
	Susie Chow, Former WASC Commissioner, California Federation of Teachers

	WASC Volunteers

	Serving on a WASC team is one of the most valuable professional development experiences for an educator. For additional information click here.

	WASC Accreditation and Process Overview Information

	WASC Accreditation Flyer

	WASC Process Overview Presentation

	Events

	WASC Training Schedules

	Commission Meetings

	Webinars

	Collaboration Room and Webinar Login

View WASC Privacy Statement

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