Accreditation is a formal independent verification that a program or institution meets established quality standards and is a competent to carry out specific conformity assessment tasks may include, but are not limited to testing, inspection or certification. The definition of accreditation means official recognition, or something that meets official standards. In education field, accreditation is done for quality management and public accountability.
The accreditation providing organization has designed some standards, norms and procedures which are supposed to be followed by the institution which is looking forward to accreditation. The standards are designed after a lot of brainstorming, understanding the processes and thinking about everything in detail. A 360 degree analysis is done in order to decide quality standards and norms. When any educational institute decides to apply for an accreditation by a certain organization, it performs self examination first. After that, the institute finds out if there are any improvements yet to be done and works on the same. When the institute is satisfied on its own quality, it applies for the accreditation.
The accreditation providing organization has a group or a committee of experts in the education and other related fields, which visits the institute and examines it in detail. The committee closely observes the institute and evaluates it on the basis of different criterion. The committee gives the report to the institution and informs if there are some improvements which should be done before the accreditation is given. The institute performs the required changes. For the final approval, the committee hands over the report to the higher authorities of accreditation providing organization. The higher authority can also visit the institute if they feel that it is necessary. These authorities take the final decision of whether to give the accreditation to the institute or not. Most of the times, the accreditation is an ongoing process where continuous improvement is appreciated. Some new standards and criterion can always be added in the predesigned standards.
Accreditation helps the institutes in their quality management. The standards and norms set by the accrediting body are designed in such a way that every detail is well thought and well studied. In case of educational organizations, the curriculum, facilities in the institute, infrastructure and safety norms, qualification of the staff etc; all these factors are studied by the accreditation providing organization. So when an educational institute receives the accreditation, it helps the institute to build trust among all its stakeholders; like teachers, students and parents. While finding a school or a college for their children, parents can easily trust an institute which has received an accreditation. Accreditation also provides self disciplinary approach and tools for the management of the institute.
Pre primary school accrediting organizations function in the same way that other educational accrediting bodies do. The accrediting organizations conduct a thorough evaluation of an applicant school’s entire operation. The areas evaluated and the expected standards vary, but the evaluation will generally include facilities, curriculum, and faculty credentials. At the early childhood level, accreditation standards may also include areas such as relationships, assessment of developmental progress, and health. If the school meets the accrediting body’s predetermined standards, accreditation is granted.
At all levels the application process is quite rigorous, and nearly any institution applying for accreditation for the first time will discover standards that aren’t being met. If an institution or program is pretty well on the right track toward accreditation, the accrediting body will often offer guidance or recommendation about areas to improve during the candidacy year. If the institution makes the needed improvements during that year, they are granted member or accredited status. Of course, this process varies slightly from program to program.
Research shows an immediate correlation between high-quality early learning and children’s positive long-term outcomes in life, including increased educational attainment, healthier lifestyles, and more successful careers.
PPSACI Accreditation helps schools, teachers and other staff at pre primary school develop a shared understanding and commitment to quality.
The accreditation process results in increased staff morale, greater staff retention, and a more positive, energetic work atmosphere overall – enabling schools to supply a solid foundation for all children’s success in life.
PPSACI Accreditation helps families recognize quality pre primary school education and feel comfortable knowing that their children are receiving a high-quality, research-based education which will prepare them for future success.
PPSACI Accreditation offers access to continuous quality-improvement, the newest research on best practices, training, technical assistance, visibility on family-focused studies and much more.