Schools at MCSD, and other districts across the state, must undergo a routine accreditation process to review programs, policies, and protocols every five years. This is important to ensure schools meet federal and state standards for public education.
The accreditation process must be conducted by a third-party entity identified by the Utah State Board of Education. COGNIA (formerly known as Advance Ed), the world’s largest accreditation organization, has managed the process for MCSD schools over the years and is the accrediting body most public and some private schools use in Utah.
An accreditation team of about a dozen expert educators works with school and district officials for several days to assess and evaluate current conditions. This includes interviewing educators, parents, and students, conducting dozens of classroom observations and reviewing a myriad of school and district documentation.
Once completed, COGNIA will issue a report that includes what works well and things that can be improved. But it also includes a system-wide accreditation designation. This status is important because it signals that the district and schools are compliant with regulations and working collaboratively toward the same learning goals.
But it’s important in other ways. Students attending an accredited school find it easier to obtain scholarships, federal loans, and participate in military programs. It also simplifies the transfer process when students leave one school to attend another.
Further, schools and districts with accreditation meet NCAA requirements for prospective student-athletes. And some private foundations also require that a student graduate from an accredited school to receive funding.
Click here for more information about the state accreditation process. You can also learn more about COGNIA certification services here.
