Accreditation and Schools: Why is it Important?
When it comes times for parents and students to look into educating their children outside the public school system for K-12 or higher education, accreditation becomes an important criterion. In the United States and elsewhere in the world, accreditation is a yard stick by which to measure the accountability, quality and overall standards of education available at an institute.
What is accreditation?
Accreditation indicates the education provided by a school meets a certain standard of quality, and that the institution can give credentials that will allow students to go to other reputable schools or gain accreditation for a professional practice.
Who accredits schools?
School accreditation is under the auspices of various independent, private educational agencies. These organizations study applications, carefully vetting them and the schools they represent. They set the standards for acceptable accreditation. Professionals form part of the Accrediting Commission for both review and evaluation visits. The agencies have the right to accept or deny applications for accreditation. The U.S. Department of Education does not accredit organizations, but is required to publish a list of reputable accrediting agencies.
What is the purpose?
Accreditation is a means of creating a basic standard for evaluation of education. This:
- Sets a basic quality norm
- Promotes improvement in the education systems at institutions
- Makes the accredited institutions accountable
- Creates a sense of confidence in the education system
What does it ensure?
- Ensures the education a student will receive is of a certain level and that a student won’t waste time on money on a degree that will not be accepted
- It helps employers, students, government, parents and other members of the general public recognize a reputable education and institution
- Accreditation aids students in separating unqualified educational institutions and training from those accepted by employers and institutions offering higher education alike
- It can help institutions determine their basic level of education and work to improve it if need be
- Acts as a safeguard for international students, who can attend without fear of attending a school that will not be recognized schools
Conclusion
If you want your child to receive the best education possible, you have to look beyond what the school offers. You have to make sure it has the right credentials. Always check for formal accreditation. This will ensure the hard work and money spent on schooling receives the right rewards.
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