Preparatory Phase - International Education

For schools who are seeking re-accreditation or those deemed eligible to pursue the ACE Pathway during their first accreditation cycle, the ACE Preparatory Phase is the likely next step in the journey, when the focus in the report and subsequent visit shifts from the compliance-focused Foundation Standards to the developmentally focused core of ACE: The ten Learning Principles. As this shift occurs, the language of accreditation mirrors the shift by emphasizing a developmental and transformational process with learning at the center.

In keeping with the NEASC philosophy that “one size does not fit all,” there are several varieties of visits at the preparatory phase, such as whether the school is seeking accreditation for the first time and has recently successfully completed a Foundation Standards Visit or if the school is seeking re-accreditation. The size of the school community may affect the number of days, number of Visitors and type of report(s) that the school will submit. Furthermore, though most visits will be face-to-face, conditions may warrant a virtual visit, adding some additional complexity.