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AboutNEASC
According to the New England Association of Schools & Colleges website, NEASC "is an independent, voluntary, nonprofit membership organization which partners with over 1500 public, independent, and international schools in the US and worldwide to assess, support, and promote high quality education for all students through accreditation, professional assistance, and pursuit of best practices. NEASC aspires to provide a process for meaningful, ongoing whole school improvement while honoring the unique culture and context of each institution [it] support[s]." [10]
NEASC is composed of three commissions that serve independent, international, and public schools. They also collaborate with the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), which was formerly part of NEASC.
NEASC's influence
NEASC prioritizes the accreditation process, rather than providing speakers and resources. According to their website, their standards for accreditation advance “educational quality and integrity,”[11] rather than promoting societal trends. In 2018 NEASC restructured itself to align with a US Department of Education mandate to become independent from the higher education-related commission. The result is that NEASC and NECHE (New England Commission of Higher Education) now work together covering K-16.
How does NEASC influence the educational culture at my child's school?
Is this why the lack of intellectual diversity, that has been happening on college campuses for years, is now trickling down to K-12 schools?
years of education experience
135
public, independent, and international schools
1500+
New England states
6
Accreditation Resources
NEASC provides a highly regarded accreditation standard through which schools engage in a self-reflection process and receive objective peer reviews. The goal is to uphold a high standard of excellence while also honoring each individual school's mission and culture. It appears that the majority of NEASC's focus and resources are meant specifically to support the accreditation process.
Growth and Policy Resources
In order to strengthen accreditation, NEASC seeks to serve "as a resource and support for ongoing, meaningful whole-school improvement and growth."[12] As a supplement to the peer-reviewed accreditation process, they provide a variety of resources in regards to health and safety, equity and inclusion, difficult discussions, and research and policy.
Higher Ed Collaboration
NEASC works closely with the New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE), who was formally part of NEASC. After becoming two separate entities in 2018, they continue to share office space and collaborate on their aligned missions. In fact, they state that the work of the three K-12 commissions "mirrors [NEASC's] work in higher education." [13]