Superintendent Joel Applegate announced today that Cozad Community Schools earned continuing accreditation from the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI), an accreditation division of AdvancED. Cozad High School has been accredited since 1932 and accredited as a district or system since 2011.
Shannon Vogler, director of AdvancED for Nebraska shared “Seeking regional accreditation speaks to the districts commitment to system driven continuous improvement and their students. It demonstrates their intent to not settle for average, but reach for a higher standard of education quality,.”
NCA CASI provides nationally-recognized accreditation, the purpose of which is continuous school improvement focused on increasing student performance. To earn accreditation, schools must meet NCA CASI’s high standards, be evaluated by a team of professionals from outside the school and implement a continuous process of school improvement. Accreditation is granted on a five-year term.
“Accreditation demonstrates to our students, parents and community that we are focused on raising student achievement, providing a safe and enriching learning environment, and maintaining an efficient and effective operation staffed by highly qualified educators,” stated Superintendent Applegate.
NCA CASI accreditation is recognized across state lines, which not only eases the transfer process as students move from accredited school to accredited school, but also assures parents that the school is meeting nationally accepted standards for quality and successful professional practice.
Dr. Mark Elgart, president and CEO of AdvancED, the parent organization of NCA CASI, stated, “NCA CASI Accreditation is a rigorous process that focuses the entire school on the primary goal of creating lifelong learners. Cozad is to be commended for engaging in this process and demonstrating a commitment to continuous improvement.”
Parents and interested community members can learn more about accreditation at www.advanc-ed.org.