Accreditation Overview

The purpose of CLSA accreditation is to assist schools in the proper implementation of the Classical Core Curriculum and in the achievement of the high academic standards implicit in the classical Christian model of education; to promote the understanding of classical Christian education among school staff, teachers, and parents; and to provide external verification and accountability of the academic integrity of member schools.

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The Benefits

• External validation of academic integrity
• Professional development services providing on and off-site training for teachers, staff, and directors
• Online student and teacher resources
• Assistance in increasing online exposure for your school
• Assistance with marketing your school in your community
• Assistance with education resources

The Process

This is an overview; please contact your school representative for more detailed information.

1. Complete the accreditation application and submit $150 application fee.
2. School will complete a self study and submit required documents within two months of initial application.
3. Review of the self study by CLSA Representative(s).
4. CLSA will schedule an on-site visit.
5. On-site visit will last one to two days and consist of observation of all classes.
6. The observation team will meet with school leadership to review on-site observations.
7. CLSA will prepare the Narrative Report and Growth and Improvement Plan, then issue it to the school.
8. Within two months of receiving the Narrative Report, the school will submit a Growth and Improvement Plan to the CLSA.
9. If the Growth and Improvement Plan is approved, formal accreditation will be granted.
10. Initial accreditation must be renewed after three years, at which time steps 2-6 must be completed again. For the self study, only new or updated documentation must be resubmitted. Subsequent accreditations will take place every five years. The CLSA may require that a renewal is conducted in a shorter time frame depending on the particular school’s circumstances. The CLSA reserves the right to suspend, limit, or terminate the accreditation of a school that fails to meet its standards.

The Requirements

• Philosophical – Evidence of a clear understanding among faculty, staff, and board members of the nature and purpose of a classical Christian education.
• Academic & Curricular – Verification that the school’s mission and curriculum is in full alignment with the Latin-centered Classical Core Curriculum and that its core objectives are understood by school leadership and the wider school community. possesses a clearly articulated statement of the academic goals at every level and a clear process of ensuring the achievement of those goals.
• Pedagogical – Traditional, teacher-directed instruction in a classroom environment conducive to learning and a process by which those methodologies are communicated to teachers and verified by administrative staff.
• School Culture – That the classical Christian goals of the school work themselves out in an obvious and meaningful way in staff, faculty, and students and in the relations between them.
• Assessment – Demonstration of the value-added benefit of the school’s academic program through some form of assessment (e.g., standardized test scores).
• Professional development – Participation in professional development programs that contribute to the understanding of classical Christian education and the ability of teachers and staff to implement it.
• Administrative – Evidence that the school has the resources needed to accomplish its stated goals.
• Doctrinal – A doctrinal statement consistent with that of CLSA.
• Membership – Partner membership with CLSA.

The FAQs

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