IMPORTANT SUMMARY FOR REPORTING TO NATIONAL OFFICE

In light of the fact that this year’s National Accreditation Commission meeting will take place on July 25 & 26, 21012, it is imperative that schools and districts adhere to the dates associated with required actions and documentation.

Here is the path reports should take upon leaving a school - summarizing the paragraphs that follow.

Cumulative Annual Reports: Schools may email or send hard copy to District Office by May 15 (District office will review, so information can be included in the District Annual Report.)  
Self-Study Reports:  Schools send one (1) copy to National office and whatever number the District Office requests to the District Office. 
Visiting Team Reports should be sent to the District Office.  Schools should check with their Districts to determine if they want paper copies and/or electronic.
District forwards 2 paper copies of Visiting Team Report to National office by June 15.
District Report - Send to National Office by June 15 - Electronically or paper.  
REQUIRED DOCUMENTAION FOR NLSA ACCREDITATION AND REPORTING
NLSA requires extensive documentation for its schools. Listed below is a description of the required documentation and the mandated format for submission to the appropriate district office and the national office in St. Louis.

Accreditation Application  
Schools interested in becoming accredited or re-accredited may receive NLSA applications from their district office or the national office. The school completes the application and submits two copies of the application with the required fees to the district office. District officials assist the school in choosing its process, suggest an accreditation consultant for the school and forward two hard copies of the completed application and national fee to the national office in St. Louis.

It is strongly suggested that accredited schools re-apply no later than the end of the 4^th year (for schools involved with the 5 year cycle) in their accreditation cycle. It is also important to note that an accredited school is required to pay one fee per year. In the year of its application, the application fee replaces the annual fee.

Self-Study Report (SSR)
Due in the national and district office one month in advance of the team visit. (Submitted by the school using mail or parcel service.)

The self-study Report (SSR) is the comprehensive report that provides evidence that the school has successfully completed its self-study process. One SSR report is prepared by an accredited school for every accreditation (five-year) cycle. The format for a self-study report is described in detail in the Administrator’s Manual located on the NLSA CD.

The national office requires the receipt of one SSR one month in advance of the team visit. It is the school’s responsibility to email or mail one copy of the report to the national office in St. Louis.
The school also sends to its district office the number of copies of the SSR requested by the district.

The SSR is a critical evaluative manuscript, used at all levels of accreditation (visiting team, district and national). It provides the written record of the school’s self-study process. 
  
  
Visiting Team Reports (VTR)

Schools submit the requested number of reports to its district by the date required. The district accreditation commission then submits to the National Office by June 15 using mail or parcel service.
The Visiting Team Report (VTR) is prepared by the Visiting Team and contains the team’s accreditation recommendation as well as commendations and concerns identified during the team’s visit to the school.
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Schools are no longer required to submit the VTR to the national office. Candidate schools should send the number of requested reports by the requested date, as stated by their district, directly to their district accreditation commission for review and recommendation.

District accreditation commissions are responsible to collect all visiting team reports and forward two paper copies of the VTR for each candidate school to the NLSA office in St. Louis. VTRs must be received at the national office by June 15.

Cumulative Annual Report Forms (CAR) Due every year on or before May 15 to the district office.  (Electronic filing required)

This report delineates the school’s progress toward addressing the concerns listed in the visiting team report (SB) or progress toward accomplishing goals associated with the School Improvement Plan (OI). The format for the CAR is described in the Administrator’s manual on the NLSA CD.

The District Accreditation Commission is responsible to read every school’s CAR and give feedback and encouragement regarding the school’s ongoing progress. 
 
Accredited schools should send their CAR, via e-mail or mail as requested by their district, to their District Office no later than May 15. The District Commission, after reviewing the cumulative annual report, includes their findings in the Annual District Report. 

Annual District Reports 
Due in the national office by June 15. Prepared by the District Accreditation Commission.

Each district accreditation commission is responsible to present an Annual Summary of Accreditation Activities.  Annual district reports may be filed electronically or sent in paper form to the national office by June 15.