FORWARD
Each year, Christian schools are asked this question,
"Are you an accredited school?" This question will become more
important in the next few years due to the major changes taking place in the
Educational System and the voucher programs being proposed by State and Federal
governments.
National Association of Private Schools has been organized
in order that Private and Christian schools can give an affirmative answer to
the question of accreditation. Accredited status is earned through academic,
technical, and overall excellence. An experienced educational peer group
evaluates each school, professional educators who appreciate and understand the
uniqueness of your educational program and ministry.
Schools earning accreditation through National Association
of Private Schools will appreciate the attainment of status and recognition.
Accreditation is a tribute to the fact that the staff and faculty of your
school are effectively motivating students and operating a high quality
educational program.
In the Private School sector accreditation is optional.
However, many schools have seen the need for this status and have asked for a
specialized accreditation program; a program geared to the Private School. They
see this recognition as both a necessity and an advantage to their school.
Community and Constituency will appreciate this commitment to excellence.
INFORMATION
National Association
of Private Schools
NAPS is an association of Private Schools and Educators
organized to assist Private and Christian Schools establish third-party witness
to the credibility of their performance.
STANDARDS
Standards will be qualitative, in contrast to quantitative.
That is, approval will be determined more by the quality of achievement than by
the number of tools used in the process.
ACHIEVEMENT
Measurements of achievement will be made by educational and
spiritual peers: professional educators who are also members of the family of
faith...the kind of people whose approval a Christian school seeks. Although
there is often no relevance in the judgments of one who is alien to a system,
there is relevance in the approval of one’s peers. Inasmuch as peers will make
possible, on-site visits most closely related, both philosophically and geographically.
Each school, upon receiving their accreditation, may be
asked to evaluate other schools by on-site evaluation.
ACCREDITATION
NAPS accreditation will be largely determined by a
comparison between a school’s published claims and it's actual achievements:
truth-in-packaging so-to-speak. For instance, if a school claims to produce one
year of academic growth in each student, there should be documents on file to
prove that result. "Does the school accomplish what it promises?"
will be the polar star of the NAPS inquiry.
AFFILIATION
NAPS will, at the appropriate time, cooperate with other
agencies whose affiliation would be beneficial to our common purpose. NAPS will
be listed in State Capitals and in other trans-national agencies already in operation.
DOCTRINAL STATEMENT
Every Accredited Christian
School must subscribe to the following in faith and practice.
1. God is the eternal Creator, Sustainer, and Provider of
all things. He created the universe, man and all things in it.
2. Jesus Christ is the only-begotten, virgin-born Son of
God; He lived a sinless life, shed His blood for our sin, rose from the grave,
ascended into heaven, and will return to the earth. He is the Lord and only
Mediator, our Savior.
3. The Holy Spirit convicts of sin, righteousness and
judgment; in believers he effects the new birth, indwells, fills, empowers,
instructs and guides.
4. Salvation is received by God’s Grace through personal
faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
5. All men will be resurrected in the body; the saved unto
life; and the lost unto damnation.
6. Believers have spiritual unity in the Lord Jesus Christ.
7. The Bible is the inspired, only infallible, authoritative
preserved Word of God.
ORGANIZATIONAL SCOPE AND PURPOSE
The National Association of Private Schools was established
to recognize Educational Institutions which have achieved a level of excellence
and expertise and have established a credible reputation in the educational
community.
Each accredited member school’s basic educational program
must be consistent with academic success. Accreditation standards must be met
on a yearly basis.
MEMBERSHIP FEES
(Schools that desire membership but not accreditation)
Application Fee ...................................... $
95.00 (due upon receipt of application)
Certificate Fee ......................…………... $ 30.00 (due
upon receipt of application)
Annual Membership ............................... $ 95.00
(yearly thereafter)
(Accredited Member Schools have membership with
accreditation and their yearly accreditation fees.)
REQUIREMENTS OF ACCREDITATION
Each educational institution approved for accreditation must
submit the following:
1. EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY AND MISSION STATEMENT
A one-page explanation of the schools educational philosophy and mission
statement. The schools educational philosophy and mission must hold to the
belief, instruction and practice of traditional Biblical values and basic
educational skills. These are central in helping a child to learn respect for
the qualities of life needed to attain true success and to be a productive
citizen of the United States.
2. INTERNAL ACCREDITATION STUDY REVIEW
Upon accreditation, each year, the school must submit the Internal
Accreditation Study questionnaire for yearly accreditation. The school must
also maintain an updated Accreditation Verification Binder, which was required
at the time of accreditation for review at any time.
3. EDUCATIONAL CERTIFICATION STATEMENT
A full explanation of required topics, which give credibility to the school
program.
4. CONFIRMATION OF CREDIBILITY
Confirmation of Credibility is to be provided by each school by sending
required items of certification in a Verification Binder, which prove the
school’s educational credentials and credibility.
EDUCATIONAL CERTIFICATION STATEMENT REQUIREMENTS
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION STATUS
The statement of educational institutional status gives the
official name of the institution, its purpose, general services and
certification of its desire to meet the traditional basic state and national
course guidelines for education in the United States.
BUSINESS STATUS
The statement of business status gives the name of the
institution, its business address, and where it is registered in the state.
ADMINISTRATION AND STAFF
The statement of administration and staff gives the
educational qualifications and experience of the administrator and staff, of
the school or institution. All administrators and educational staff personnel
must have been trained and hold some certificate from an educational training
agency for their school to be considered for accreditation.
THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM
The statement of the educational program gives general
information concerning the school program and curriculum used by that school.
CONFIRMATION OF CREDIBILITY
The following items are to be submitted to confirm the
credibility of the school institution applying for accreditation:
1. A copy of the school’s letterhead, and an envelope.
2. A copy of the institution’s registration document if
registered.
3. A copy of staff diplomas and certificates of
training.
4. A copy of the institution’s brochure and enrollment
information.
5. A copy of the institution’s educational program.
6. A copy of the school’s educational policies and
procedures.
7. A copy of the school’s course requirements for
graduation.
8. A list of the items to be found in the institutions
student cumulative folder.
9. A copy of a graduated student’s high school
transcript.
10. A copy of the High School Diploma issued by the
school.
11. Photographs of the educational and office
facilities.
12. Three (3) letters of recommendation for
accreditation.
13. A List of the basic curriculums used by the
institution.
NEW SCHOOL
ACCREDITATION
Schools
may apply for accreditation during their first year of operation. However, such schools will not receive
accreditation until after the completion of the first year of operation.
GENERAL GUIDELINES
The accreditation of any member school is subject to review
and may be removed for any violation of confirmation.
Unanimous consent is required by the Executive Board to
change accreditation requirements. Rules or organizational changes may be made
by a majority vote of the Executive Board.
SCHOOLS APPLYING FOR ACCREDITATION
Accredited schools will maintain an Evaluation-Check File
with documentation proving:
• Compliance with the laws applicable to them (and accepted
by their peers).
• Academic achievements promised and produced.
• Yearly re-affirmation of the above.
A copy of the Evaluation-Check File will be maintained in
the NAPS office.
The National Association of Private Schools reserves the
right to withdraw membership or accreditation from any member, member school,
or accredited school that departs from the scope and purpose of the association.
SCHOOL ACCREDITATION FEES
Application Fee: $95.00 (Due
with application)
Accreditation Fee $325.00 (Due
upon accreditation)
T O T A L : $420.00 (First year)
Annual Renewal Fee: $ 195.00
N.A.P.S.
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
EXECUTIVE BOARD
The Executive Board is the voting body
of the National Association of Private Schools. The Executive Board may elect
or appoint such offices or persons as needed to conduct the business of the
organization. In the case of a resignation or vacancy in an organizational
office, the Executive Board majority may elect a new Officer or Executive Board
Member.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors is made up of the Executive Board
and additional directors appointed as deemed necessary for the operation of the
association.
ADVISORY COUNCIL
The Advisory Council is the Legal and Professional support arm of the National
Association of Private Schools. The Executive Board appoints the Advisory
Counsel.
ACCREDITATION COUNCIL
Charter Members are held to be members of the Accreditation Council and such
qualified individuals as may from time to time be appointed. The Accreditation Council's
function is advisory to the Board of Directors.
Copyright © 1998, The National
Association of Private Schools
