Accreditation

Required Documents for ACTABS Accreditation Process

To start the accreditation process with ACTABS, applicant schools need to have the following documents and materials prepared:

1. Pre-Accreditation Survey
   • Complete the Pre-Accreditation Survey.
2. Site Visit Preparation
   • Arrange a site visit from an ACTABS consultant.
3. Pre-Candidacy Status
   • Obtain Pre-Candidacy status after the site visit and consultant evaluation.
4. Self-Study Preparation
   • Prepare a comprehensive written self-study including:
     • Eligibility:
       • State name of school, mailing address, church affiliation, name, and title of head administrator.
       • State grades offered and division of grades.
       • Evidence of TABS membership.
       • Brief history of the school including the number of years each grade offered.
     • Philosophy:
       • Published Philosophy.
       • School’s goals.
       • Evidence of church’s support of the school.
     • Organization & Governance:
       • Definition of the role of the pastor.
       • Corporate status of the school.
       • Church authorization for the school.
       • Selection and authority of the school board or committee.
       • Procedure for making policy decisions.
       • Chain of command or organizational chart.
       • Explanation of the financial relationship between the school and church with supporting documentation.
       • Copy of board minutes and board policies.
       • Policies that govern the board.
       • Copy of teacher manual.
       • Copy of student-parent handbook.
     • Administration:
       • Evidence that individual board members are not involved in day-to-day school operations.
       • Copy of official job description for the head administrator of the school.
       • Copy of the chain of command in emergency situations.
       • Copy of academic records, degrees, and years of experience of all administrators.
       • Copy of degrees of counselors, business managers, and chaplains.
       • Current enrollment figures by grade.
       • List of all counselors.
       • All school health records.
       • List of health requirements of the Texas Department of Health with the latest copy of the letter of compliance.
       • Copy of the letter concerning asbestos compliance.
       • Sampling of permanent records, including grades and standardized test scores.
     • Facilities:
       • Map of the school campus showing all classrooms, restrooms, play areas, lunchroom, and gym.
       • Copies of any health, safety, or other permits.
       • Total number of usable volumes in the school library.
       • Listing of periodicals received and dates of acquisition.
       • Listing of audio-visual aids with numerical breakdowns within categories.
       • Listing of equipment for school communications, record-keeping, and instructional needs.
       • Description of food services program.
       • Traffic flow chart.
       • Location and security of permanent records.
       • Working arrangements for dual-use facilities.
       • Outlines of handling safety concerns, such as storage of chemicals, disaster plans, and fire drill procedures.
     • Faculty:
       • List of all teachers showing degrees, years of teaching experience, and salary.
       • Access to teacher records.
       • Copies of evaluation instruments used for teacher evaluation.
       • Copy of contracts used for employment of professional school personnel.
     • Finances:
       • Copy of current year’s salary schedule.
       • Copy of how the budget process works.
       • Copy of current year’s budget, fee structure, etc.
       • Copy of the most recent financial statement.
       • Copy of the most recent audit of the school’s finances.
       • Statement of the church’s willingness to underwrite the school if necessary.
       • List of all support staff with position and salary.
     • Students:
       • Copy of student admissions policy.
       • Statement of the school’s compliance with the basic rights in the admission process.
       • Copy of results of student standardized testing.
       • Copy of the follow-up study of the academic performance of graduates.
       • Copy of the school’s system of reporting to parents.
       • Copy of the school’s mandatory attendance rule.
     • Curriculum:
       • Copy of the current year’s school calendar.
       • Copy of the daily schedule for each grade/class.
       • Description or outline of the school’s Bible program.
       • Evidence that the “essential elements” are included in the curriculum.
       • Copies of published material describing the school’s curriculum.
       • List of graduation requirements (if applicable).
5. Self-Study Notebooks
   • Assemble at least five copies of the Narrative Response Notebook and the Documentation Notebook, each including:
     • Narrative Response Notebook:
       • Title Page
       • Table of Contents
       • School Board list
       • Faculty & Staff list
       • Time Line for ACTABS Self-Study
       • Responses to Standards: Eligibility, Philosophy, Organization & Governance, Administration, Facilities, Faculty, Finances, Students, Curriculum.
     • Documentation Notebook:
       • Title Page
       • Table of Contents
       • Documentation for each of the nine areas: Eligibility, Philosophy, Organization & Governance, Administration, Facilities, Faculty, Finances, Students, Curriculum.
6. Submit Self-Study
   • Submit the completed self-study to the Standards Committee for approval.

Contact ACTABS to request a full list of requirements.

Start the Accreditation Process