CAIS/WASC Accreditation Update

The Berkeley School holds provisional accreditation from both the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).  Last week we learned the exciting news that TBS has been selected to participate in the beta-testing of a new, revised joint CAIS/WASC protocol as we begin our formal self-study this fall. We’ve been eagerly hoping to be selected for inclusion in this process since we first learned about it last year, as using the new protocol to guide our self-study will strengthen our institutional continuity when we re-enter the self-study process in three to six years (rather than having to switch to a new protocol at that time).

The two-year self-study process follows a highly structured timeline that engages broad participation from all members of our school community. We’ll be training and recruiting members of our faculty, staff, parents, students and Board to participate on various accreditation work this fall; reflect on, gather information for, and write the self-study document during the winter and spring; submit our completed documentation next fall; and then host a visiting committee in the winter of 2013-14, which will be followed by reception of our term of accreditation later that spring.

Accreditation has and will continue to bring many benefits to The Berkeley School, including the vigorous, thorough look at all aspects of our program, operations and governance and the development of an action plan that is at the core of the self-study; our access to fantastic professional development opportunities available only to CAIS-accredited schools; and the ability to list for and recruit highly trained, experienced faculty through the accrediting bodies.

The Self-Study Leadership Team for our accreditation work includes myself as Self-Study Coordinator, Sima Misra (Differentiated Curriculum Support and Community Engagement Coordinator), and TBS Board of Trustee member Dobee Snowber. If you're interested in getting involved in this important, please let me know!