AccreditationProcedures For Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle/Junior High, and High Schools

As part of the accrediting process, GAC requires that schools seeking initial or continuing accreditation status complete application forms and pay membership fees before November 1. A penalty fee of $10 may be charged for late applications. A school official seeking information regarding accrediting procedures should study the following policies in order to determine which procedures to follow. The Executive Director is available for those administrators needing clarification or additional instruction.

1. Initial Accreditation Status. To establish eligibility for Preparation, Provisional, Accredited, or Accredited With Quality status, a school official must obtain an application from the Executive Director or from the GAC Website: coe.uga.edu/gac. The application and the GAC Bulletin contain instructions for those schools that intend to seek GAC accreditation. The Bulletin and application forms are available from the website or from the Executive Director. An on-site visit and a written recommendation by an approved GAC consultant are required every five years for a school to remain at this level of accreditation. The cost per school seeking initial accreditation status is $50.00. The consultant's fee is $200 per day, plus travel expenses. Travel expenses include mileage at the State rate and personal costs (motel and meals), if any. The consultant's fee and expenses are paid directly to the consultant by the school or school system.

2. Continuing Accreditation. During the years when an on-site visit is not required, each school or school system seeking Continuing Accreditation status must complete a continuing application form. The application form along with a certificate of accreditation will be mailed to each school or school system during the month of August. The application for Continuing Accreditation status and a check to cover the membership fee of $50.00 per school must reach the GAC office before November 1. A change in status from Preparation to Provisional, from Provisional to Accredited, or from Accredited to Accredited With Quality requires a consultant visit and positive recommendation, except when the school has been dropped in status because of deficiencies. For those dropped in status because of deficiencies, the previous level of accreditation may be restored by removing the deficiencies.

3. Fifth Year Report and On-Site Visit by a GAC Consultant. After five years of continuous accreditation, GAC requires an on-site visit by a consultant. Those schools requiring an on-site visit will receive an application from the Executive Director during the month of August. Before the on-site visit, a school official will send to the Executive Director the completed application form and a check to cover the membership fee of $50.00 per school. This material is due in the GAC office before November 1. A penalty fee of $10 may be charged for applications received after November 30. The consultant's fee for the on-site visit is $200 per day plus travel expenses. Travel expenses include mileage at the State rate and personal costs (motel and meals), if any. The consultant's fee and expenses are paid by the school or school system directly to the consultant.

4. Accreditation for Kindergarten. The school official has the option of requesting that the kindergarten be accredited as part of the elementary school or accredited as a separate unit. The school official chooses the accreditation status that would best reflect the quality of his or her school program. Regardless of the option chosen by the school official, an application form is required from the school requesting accreditation status for the kindergarten. A school official may choose to exclude the kindergarten from the elementary school accreditation report. If the kindergarten is not included with the accreditation report of the elementary school, the reference to the kindergarten will be excluded from the GAC report. If the kindergarten is accredited separately, a $50.00 membership fee is required for the kindergarten program for the individual school.

5. GAC Board Action on the Accreditation Process. The Executive Director makes a recommendation regarding the accrediting of the school to the full membership of the GAC Board. The decision reached on each application applies to the following school year. Schools dropped one step in status for deficiencies may be restored to original status the next year by removing the deficiencies for which the school was dropped in status.