Accreditation Candidacy

Accreditation candidacy is at least one year, with a three-year maximum. To assist you best in completing the self-study and navigating questions about other standards, indicators, and requirements, an annual report provides an informative status report of progress to our offices.

• Candidacy Standards Checklist
• Candidacy Annual Reporting Steps, Forms, and Guidelines
• Late Submissions
• Candidacy Term Extension Request

Steps in the Process, Forms, and Submission Guidelines:

1. Candidacy Standards Checklist
2. Download and save the Candidate Status Accreditation Annual Report to your computer.
   Note: In order to not lose any information entered as you work, save the document to your computer before entering information and frequently throughout the completion of the annual report. If you click a link within the document, be sure to save your changes first.
3. Complete the annual report information for your program/school.
4. Reference, review, and/or complete accompanying forms:
   1. Request for Waiver For Non–Degreed Teacher (if applicable);
      review Appendix T for early educators
   2. Curriculum Guides, Appendix H
   3. Financial Checklist, Appendix J
   4. For the ACSI Certification Report, Appendix F, see the multi-level forms below. Download, save, and complete each type of certification report below to complete Appendix F.
      
      Administrators
      Full-Time Faculty
      Part-Time Facutly
      Nondegreed Faculty
5. Email report and forms to your regional office by the due date.

Note: If submitted by the specified date, no annual fee is assessed. Please contact your regional office for the candidacy annual report due date for your area.

Late Submissions:

Include a payment of $200 when mailing the signature page to your regional office. Payments can be a check made payable to ACSI or by credit card form.

Payment Submission Options:

• Call your regional office to make a credit card payment.
• Fax the completed credit card slip to your regional office.
• Mail the completed credit card slip or check to your regional office.

Note: Please, for the safety of your information, do not send the completed credit card slip via email. 

Candidacy Term Extension Request Process:

In most situations, a school/program will have no difficulty in completing the self-study process and hosting a team visit within the three years allotted for candidacy. However, in some instances, an event within the school/program, precipitates the need to extend the candidacy period beyond the three-year allocation.

An extension request may be included with your Candidate Status Accreditation Annual Report. A formal letter or memo, signed by the Chief School Administrator or Early Education Director should include:

• Reason(s) for request (be as specific as possible)
• Length of extension requested
• Summary of discussions with consultant/chair person
• Target date to complete self-study

The regional commission will review your request and inform you of their decision.