NAIS Commission on Accreditation

Assuring the Highest Standards for Accreditation

2009 Review of the PNAIS Accreditation Process

PNAIS was visited by a team of representatives from the NAIS Commission on Accreditation from October 18, 2009 through October 23, 2009.  The Commission subsequently reviewed the team's findings during their February 2010 meeting.  PNAIS will respond to the major recommendations by September 2012.  Our current work on addressing these recommendations is leading to a total revision of our Self Study Manual, which we aim to complete by September 2012.  You may learn more about the Commission itself and download both the Review Committee's Report and the PNAIS Self Study below.

Report of the NAIS Review Committee Regarding the Accreditation Program of PNAIS

  2009 NAIS Review Committee Report

NAIS Commission on Accreditation

The National Association of Independent Schools believes that accreditation is an appropriate and effective system of accountability for independent schools as long as the process recognizes their distinctive missions, respects their diversity, maintains high standards in every area of program and practice, and provides public assurance of quality. The Commission on Accreditation was created by the NAIS Board in 2001 at the request of its member state and regional associations.

The member associations of the Commission are accountable to one another through a process patterned on the school accreditation model. Over the course of a ten-year cycle, associations prepare a self-study, demonstrating compliance with The Criteria for Effective Independent School Accreditation Practices, host a visit from peers on the Commission, and engage in follow-up activities designed to improve the accreditation process. As with school accreditation, this serves two purposes: institutional improvement and quality assurance.

Learn more about the origin and goals of the NAIS Commission on Accreditation here:

  NAIS Commission on Accreditation Overview

In Preparation for Review by the NAIS Commission on Accreditation

Download sections of the 2009 PNAIS Self Study for the NAIS Commission on Accreditation here:

  Association Demographic Information
  Criteria for State and Regional Associations (pgs. 1-113) part 1
  Criteria for State and Regional Associations (pgs. 1-113) part 2
  Criteria for Standards (pgs. 114-136)
  Criteria for Self Study (pgs. 137-141)
  Criteria for Visiting Team (pgs. 142-182)
  Criteria for Association Review (pgs. 183-189)
  Association Financial Information