Understanding the WASC Accreditation Cycle
WASC accreditation is based on a six-year accreditation cycle, with a full Self-Study visit occurring every six years. A school beginning the accreditation process with WASC following the required initial visit can be granted either candidate or initial accreditation status, each of which carries a maximum term of three-years.
At the end of the initial accreditation or candidacy period, the school must conduct a full Self-Study review and undertake a full Self-Study WASC accreditation visit. These are the general guidelines for schools located in California, Hawaii, and the Pacific Islands; accreditation terms, lengths of visits, and size of committees may vary for schools located overseas and for some schools with joint WASC affiliations. Please feel free to contact the WASC Office for further information regarding these types of schools.
The Commission grants a term of accreditation that shows a strong correlation to existing student achievement results and growth and current programmatic and operational actions based on the WASC criteria and accreditation term factors as noted in the content of the visiting committee report and the term recommendation of the visiting committee.
As a result of the full Self-Study WASC accreditation visit, the following accreditation terms may be granted:
Please see below for further explanation of the different types of WASC accreditation terms.
Six-Year Term
This is an accreditation term of six years with a written progress report due at the three-year mark to the school’s governing board demonstrating that the school has:
- addressed the critical areas for improvement through the schoolwide action plan.
- made appropriate progress on implementation of the schoolwide action plan.
- improved student achievement relative to the expected schoolwide learning results.
The next accreditation action will be the full Self-Study to take place at the six-year mark.
Six-Year Term with a Midterm Review Required
This is an accreditation term of six years with a written progress report and a one-day, on-site review by a two-member committee to be completed during the third year of the six-year term. The progress report and review visit shall focus on demonstrating that the school has:
- addressed the critical areas for improvement through the schoolwide action plan.
- made appropriate progress on implementation of the schoolwide action plan.
- improved student achievement relative to the expected schoolwide learning results.
The following may be imposed if it is determined as a result of the midterm review that insufficient progress has been made toward the schoolwide critical areas of concern:
- The school must submit a revised progress report and action plan which reflects adequate progress toward the schoolwide critical areas of concern.
- An additional one-day visit to take place the following year.
No additional term is granted as a result of the required Midterm Review. The next accreditation action will be the full Self-Study to take place at the six-year mark.
Three-Year Term
This is an accreditation term of three years with a written progress report and a two-day visit by a two- to five-member committee during the third year. The progress report and revisit shall focus on demonstrating that the school has:
- improved the critical areas for improvement through the schoolwide action plan.
- made appropriate progress on implementation of the schoolwide action plan.
- improved student achievement relative to the expected schoolwide learning results.
The Commission may grant a term of accreditation of one year, three years, or denial as a result of the Three-Year Term Visit.
Limited Term (One or Two-Year Term)
This is an accreditation term of one or two years with a written progress report and revisit to serve as a warning that, unless prompt attention is given to these recommendations, accreditation may be denied. The progress report and revisit shall focus on demonstrating that the school has:
- improved the critical areas for improvement through the schoolwide action plan.
- made appropriate progress on implementation of the schoolwide action plan.
- improved student achievement relative to the expected schoolwide learning results.
The ongoing term options available as a result of the Limited-Term visit depend on the school’s history and where the school’s current term is in relation to the WASC six-year cycle.
- Current One-Year Term: Schools that currently have a one-year limited term can receive a one-year term, a two-year term, or a denial of accreditation, depending on where they are in the six-year cycle. Once a school has received a limited term they are automatically required to have a Three-Year Term Revisit three years after their last full self-study and they also need to have a Full Self-Study Visit at the six-year mark. Term options for schools that received a one-year term as a result of a previous one-year term (two consecutive one-year terms) would be either an additional one-year term or a denial of accreditation.
- Current Two-Year Term: Schools that currently have a two-year limited term as a result of a full self-study visit can receive either a one-year term or a denial of accreditation. Unless the term of accreditation is denied, a school receiving a recommendation for a one-year term will automatically be scheduled for a Three-Year Term Revisit the year following this revisit
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