Article I. Eligibility for Membership and Affiliate Membership
A. Any Texas Christian preschool, elementary, middle, or
high school, or system of schools is eligible to seek accreditation by ACTABS.
The combination of grades offered must be contiguous and consistent with the philosophy
of the school.** B. Types of membership:
1. Regular Membership - A Christian school seeking accreditation and membership must maintain one or more of the following:
a. Affiliation with a church which is affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas
b. Affiliation with a church which is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention
c. Affiliation with a local association of churches affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas
d. Affiliation directly with the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
** 2. Affiliate Membership -
A Christian school not meeting the membership requirements of I.
B.1 (above) may become accredited and an affiliate member of ACTABS provided it meets all other standards. An affiliate member pays dues, may attend meetings of ACTABS, has advisory, however, does not have voting rights.
C. Any school seeking accreditation must be a member in good standing of the Texas Association of Baptist Schools.
** D. The entire school, consisting of all grades currently offered (K-12 with preschool optional), must be evaluated for accreditation initially, and all grades must have been operating successfully for at least two (2) years prior to the site visit. If an accredited school adds grades, the new grades must operate successfully for a minimum of one (1) year. The new grades will remain unaccredited until a request by the school is made for a team visit and approval by a majority vote ofACTABS. The accreditation of the rest of the school will remain in effect while the new grade is undergoing the accreditation process.
** E. Provisional High School Accreditation POLICY FOR ACTABS ACCREDITED SCHOOLS PROVISIONAL HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM ACCREDITATION An ACTABS accredited (K-8) school may seek provisional accreditation for a high school (9-12) program contingent upon meeting the established ACTABS Accreditation Standards and the additional guidelines listed below. Permanent accreditation for each high school grade may be granted upon successful completion of that grade as indicated in the Annual Report. Provisional high school accreditation status cannot exceed three years. A school seeking provisional accreditation must follow the Guidelines for Applicant School Administrators (Section II of the Accreditation Manual). An accreditation team visit must be scheduled during the first year of operation of the high school program. The visiting team will make a recommendation to the Standards Committee. The application must include a letter from the school governing body stating commitment to and support of a high school program which meets ACTABS Standards.
A. INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM
1. Plan for implementation of a four year high school. Should include time schedule for adding grades, classes, staff, extra-curricular activities, etc. Enrollment projections. Description of available resources and facilities.
2. The 9 -12 program must meet minimum state graduation requirements.
3. Curriculum guides for each proposed course must include the state essential elements and the following:
a. Rationale
b. Philosophy
c. Goals
d. Objectives
e. Course Description Upon completion of teaching each course, the curriculum guides must further include: student activities, teaching strategies, evaluation procedures, other resources, and bibliography.
B. ADMINISTRATION / FACULTY
1. Qualifications for administrators and faculty must meet ACTABS Standards (Article IV. A-B, and Article VI. A-G).
2. Adequate guidance counseling services must be provided for the high school program.
C. FINANCES
1. A broad-based financial plan must indicate sufficient resources to support a high quality educational program. (Article VII)
D. FACILITIES
1. Adequate and appropriate classroom space must be provided for a high school program.
2. Appropriate library and media resources must be available to support the high school program.
3. All facilities must meet ACTABS Standards as outlined in Article V.
E. LONG RANGE PLANNING FOR IMPLEMENTATION
1. A long range plan for full implementation of a four year high school program must be submitted prior to the accreditation team visit. This plan will include the following:
a. a rationale explaining the need for a high school program
b. a time schedule for adding grades, classes, staff, extra-curricular activities, etc.
c. enrollment projections
d. a description of the possible student market -- where the students will come from Accrediting Commission of Texas Association of Baptist Schools Application for Provisional High School Program Accreditation Name of School Date of Application Current Grades in School Current Enrollment Member of ACTABS since Date of Most Recent Accreditation Visit As an ACTABS accredited (K-8) school we are seeking provisional accreditation for a high school (9-12) program. We are in compliance with the established ACTABS Accreditation Standards and we are submitting the additional documentation as required on page two of this application. In addition, we are submitting a letter from our school's governing body stating their commitment to and support of a high school program which meets ACTABS Standards. We understand that an accreditation team must visit our school during the first year of operation of the high school program aud additional years as deemed necessary. The visiting team will make a recommendation to the Standards Committee who will determine the status of our Provisional Accreditation. We understand the Permanent Accreditation for each high school grade may be granted upon successful completion of that grade as indicated in our Annual Report. Signature of School Administer Date.
F. School Systems: Systems of schools will be accredited as a unit, and any portion of the system that fails the accreditation process will cause the system to remain unaccredited. The entire system, consisting of all grades at all campuses currently offered (K-12 with preschool optional), must be evaluated for accreditation initially, and all grades at each campus must have been operating successfully for at least two (2) years prior to the site visit. If an accredited system adds additional grades or campuses, the new grade/campus must be operated successfully for a minimum of one (1) year. The new grade/campus will remain unaccredited until a request is made by the school for a team visit and approval by a majority vote of ACTABS. The accreditation of the rest of the system will remain in effect while the new grade/campus is undergoing the accreditation process.
** G. Eligibility Maintenance: To maintain eligibility for membership after initial accreditation, an accredited school within two years of initial accreditation, must appoint and insure training of two commissioners who attend a training seminar at TABS Conventions, submit the Annual Report showing evidence that any deficiencies are being addressed, have an interim visit, and have a full accreditation visit a minimum of every 10 years. Consistent absence from annual ACTABS and TABS meetings and/or consistent violations of the standards will jeopardize accreditation.
1. Regular Membership - A Christian school seeking accreditation and membership must maintain one or more of the following:
a. Affiliation with a church which is affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas
b. Affiliation with a church which is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention
c. Affiliation with a local association of churches affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas
d. Affiliation directly with the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
** 2. Affiliate Membership -
A Christian school not meeting the membership requirements of I.
B.1 (above) may become accredited and an affiliate member of ACTABS provided it meets all other standards. An affiliate member pays dues, may attend meetings of ACTABS, has advisory, however, does not have voting rights.
C. Any school seeking accreditation must be a member in good standing of the Texas Association of Baptist Schools.
** D. The entire school, consisting of all grades currently offered (K-12 with preschool optional), must be evaluated for accreditation initially, and all grades must have been operating successfully for at least two (2) years prior to the site visit. If an accredited school adds grades, the new grades must operate successfully for a minimum of one (1) year. The new grades will remain unaccredited until a request by the school is made for a team visit and approval by a majority vote ofACTABS. The accreditation of the rest of the school will remain in effect while the new grade is undergoing the accreditation process.
** E. Provisional High School Accreditation POLICY FOR ACTABS ACCREDITED SCHOOLS PROVISIONAL HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM ACCREDITATION An ACTABS accredited (K-8) school may seek provisional accreditation for a high school (9-12) program contingent upon meeting the established ACTABS Accreditation Standards and the additional guidelines listed below. Permanent accreditation for each high school grade may be granted upon successful completion of that grade as indicated in the Annual Report. Provisional high school accreditation status cannot exceed three years. A school seeking provisional accreditation must follow the Guidelines for Applicant School Administrators (Section II of the Accreditation Manual). An accreditation team visit must be scheduled during the first year of operation of the high school program. The visiting team will make a recommendation to the Standards Committee. The application must include a letter from the school governing body stating commitment to and support of a high school program which meets ACTABS Standards.
A. INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM
1. Plan for implementation of a four year high school. Should include time schedule for adding grades, classes, staff, extra-curricular activities, etc. Enrollment projections. Description of available resources and facilities.
2. The 9 -12 program must meet minimum state graduation requirements.
3. Curriculum guides for each proposed course must include the state essential elements and the following:
a. Rationale
b. Philosophy
c. Goals
d. Objectives
e. Course Description Upon completion of teaching each course, the curriculum guides must further include: student activities, teaching strategies, evaluation procedures, other resources, and bibliography.
B. ADMINISTRATION / FACULTY
1. Qualifications for administrators and faculty must meet ACTABS Standards (Article IV. A-B, and Article VI. A-G).
2. Adequate guidance counseling services must be provided for the high school program.
C. FINANCES
1. A broad-based financial plan must indicate sufficient resources to support a high quality educational program. (Article VII)
D. FACILITIES
1. Adequate and appropriate classroom space must be provided for a high school program.
2. Appropriate library and media resources must be available to support the high school program.
3. All facilities must meet ACTABS Standards as outlined in Article V.
E. LONG RANGE PLANNING FOR IMPLEMENTATION
1. A long range plan for full implementation of a four year high school program must be submitted prior to the accreditation team visit. This plan will include the following:
a. a rationale explaining the need for a high school program
b. a time schedule for adding grades, classes, staff, extra-curricular activities, etc.
c. enrollment projections
d. a description of the possible student market -- where the students will come from Accrediting Commission of Texas Association of Baptist Schools Application for Provisional High School Program Accreditation Name of School Date of Application Current Grades in School Current Enrollment Member of ACTABS since Date of Most Recent Accreditation Visit As an ACTABS accredited (K-8) school we are seeking provisional accreditation for a high school (9-12) program. We are in compliance with the established ACTABS Accreditation Standards and we are submitting the additional documentation as required on page two of this application. In addition, we are submitting a letter from our school's governing body stating their commitment to and support of a high school program which meets ACTABS Standards. We understand that an accreditation team must visit our school during the first year of operation of the high school program aud additional years as deemed necessary. The visiting team will make a recommendation to the Standards Committee who will determine the status of our Provisional Accreditation. We understand the Permanent Accreditation for each high school grade may be granted upon successful completion of that grade as indicated in our Annual Report. Signature of School Administer Date.
F. School Systems: Systems of schools will be accredited as a unit, and any portion of the system that fails the accreditation process will cause the system to remain unaccredited. The entire system, consisting of all grades at all campuses currently offered (K-12 with preschool optional), must be evaluated for accreditation initially, and all grades at each campus must have been operating successfully for at least two (2) years prior to the site visit. If an accredited system adds additional grades or campuses, the new grade/campus must be operated successfully for a minimum of one (1) year. The new grade/campus will remain unaccredited until a request is made by the school for a team visit and approval by a majority vote of ACTABS. The accreditation of the rest of the system will remain in effect while the new grade/campus is undergoing the accreditation process.
** G. Eligibility Maintenance: To maintain eligibility for membership after initial accreditation, an accredited school within two years of initial accreditation, must appoint and insure training of two commissioners who attend a training seminar at TABS Conventions, submit the Annual Report showing evidence that any deficiencies are being addressed, have an interim visit, and have a full accreditation visit a minimum of every 10 years. Consistent absence from annual ACTABS and TABS meetings and/or consistent violations of the standards will jeopardize accreditation.
