North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI) - AdvanceED

Joplin High School has been accredited by the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI) since 1915. NCA CASI was founded in 1895. The NCA CASI is a non-governmental, voluntary organization that accredits 8,500 public and private schools in 19 states, the Navajo Nation, and the Department of Defense Dependents’ Schools worldwide. For over 100 years, NCA CASI has been dedicated to advance the quality of education.

In the spring of 2006, Joplin High School again received full accreditation status after a Missouri NCA reviewer visited JHS and assessed the school improvement plan, progress on school goals, services for students and staff, and the processes in place to improve professional practice and ultimately student achievement.

To earn accreditation, schools must:

• Meet quality standards. (Click here to view the standards.)
• Implement a school improvement plan focused on increasing student performance.
• Host an external review team.
• Document the results of their school improvement efforts.

Recent changes…

In April of 2006, the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI), Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI), and National Study of School Evaluation (NSSE), came together to form one unified organization, called AdvanceED, dedicated to advancing excellence in education through accreditation, research, and professional services.

AdvancED serves as the parent organization for NCA CASI and SACS CASI, which act as the accreditation divisions of the unified organization. Schools continue to earn the NCA CASI or SACS CASI accreditation seals based on the region in which they reside. According to AdvancED, the new arrangement will “enhance the value, consistency, and meaning of the NCA CASI and SACS CASI accreditation seals.”

Sources: NCA and AdvanceED Web sites:
North Central Association (NCA CASI) – www.ncacasi.org
AdvancED – www.advance-ed.org