NCA CASI is a non-profit organization, accrediting over 9000 schools divided up into 8 categories: Elementary, Middle, Secondary, College Preparatory, Vocational/Adult, Special Purpose, Unit (K-12). Those 9000 schools are spread out over 19 states and also include the Department of Defense Dependents’ Schools overseas. At its heart, NCA CASI is an accreditation, evaluation, and school improvement organization. To become a member of NCA CASI, a school must meet NCA CASI’s standards, conduct a self-study, and adopt a model of continuous school improvement (also known as seeking an endorsement) that focuses on improving student performance.

NCA CASI standards and their application will enhance learning, but there are other benefits to membership. NCA CASI membership.

• Helps schools to focus on improving student performance
• Increases the effectiveness of the school improvement process
• Provides school recognition that is useful in the college admissions process
• Promotes staff development
• Involves schools as partners in the formation of regional standards
• Assists the school by promoting essential school conditions such as programs, services, staffing, finances and instructional resources.

CASI membership protects the public’s trust. Schools that are NCA CASI members have been examined by an outside team made up of their peers, and have had their school improvement plan reviewed by experts.

Stages of School Improvement

A school may be at different stages of development within each capacity. Therefore, the performance accreditation framework has four stages that recognize increasing readiness to engage in school improvement. The school or system is expected to document progression in these stages over time. The stages are:

Stage 1 - Emerging Capacity for Improvement. The school has implemented its improvement plan and is able to document enhanced student performance for at least one goal.

Stage 2 - Developing Capacity for Improvement. The school has implemented its improvement plan and is able to document enhanced student performance for some of the goals.

Stage 3 - Increasing Capacity for Improvement. The school has implemented its improvement plan and is able to document enhanced student performance for all of the student performance goals. The school demonstrates continued growth relative to the NCA Standard.

State 4* - Exemplary Capacity for School Improvement. The school has implemented its improvement plan and credentials individual students in academics, career awareness, and employability skills. The NCA model for Stage 4 is Transitions.

*Festus Schools are in “Stage 4”