NAPCIS Accreditation Process

Accreditation Overview

NAPCIS Accreditation exists to support faithful schools in the Catholic tradition who are seeking to demonstrate their excellence to the broader community. NAPCIS Accreditation confirms the institution’s self-assessment and its commitment to the highest standards of Catholic education. NAPCIS recognizes and honors the practice of subsidiarity and respects the prerogatives of the program’s governing authority, be it the Bishop or the Board, in driving, determining, and ensuring excellence in all aspects of operations.

NAPCIS Accreditation incorporates aspects from the Dicastery for Culture and Education’s instruction The Identity of the Catholic School for a Culture of Dialogue (59.f), where school visitations are required at least every five years focusing on the areas of:

  • The quality of the curricula.
  • The ecclesiality of the school (manifested in its communion with the particular and universal Church).
  • The pastoral activity of the school.
  • The conformity of the educational project of the school with the doctrine and discipline of the Church.
  • The administration of the temporal goods of the school.

The visitation is divided into three phases:

  1. The preparatory phase (The self-study).
  2. The visitation proper (Virtual and in-person visitation).
  3. Implementation of any provisions or recommendations (Accreditation and recommendations).

Concurrent Newman Guide Schools Recognition

The Catholic identity section of the NAPCIS Accreditation process has been synchronized with the Newman Guide Schools application resulting in concurrent approval as a Newman Guide School.

Expedited Newman Guide Recognition

It is possible to attain Newman Guide School status before completing full NAPCIS accreditation. Once certain policies and lesson plans are submitted, you can request advanced screening by the Newman Guide. Please notify the NAPCIS director if you would like to pursue this fast-track option.

Accreditation Process

  1. Complete the Candidacy application online.
  2. Interview with NAPCIS administration to ensure the likelihood of success and discuss process and timing.
  3. Once candidacy is granted pay the annual fee.
  4. Complete the online self-study.
  5. Pay the $750 accreditation fee.
  6. Once NAPCIS determines that the necessary self-study responses and artifacts are uploaded, the date for the virtual and in-person visitation is set.
  7. NAPCIS approves a review team and provides them online training.
  8. Virtual introductory meeting with reviewers and NAPCIS administration. Each reviewer assigned a section of the standards.
  9. Over a two week-long period, reviewers conduct structured and taped online interviews with key stakeholders to ensure standards are met. (e.g., Principal, board members, business manager, pastor, and selected support staff, faculty, and parents).
  10. One reviewer makes a one-day site visit to confirm building and student safety, orderliness, and culture, sits in on at least 4 randomly selected classes, and meets with selected students.
  11. Reviewers complete a compliance checklist and any recommendations or commendations.
  12. Virtual final meeting with reviewers, NAPCIS administrator, and the head. Any noncompliance element will have the opportunity for correction under the guidance of NAPCIS administrators. To request a variance from a standard, the head of school must state in writing the reason for the request and how the program intends to meet the standard. Variances must be approved by the NAPCIS executive director.
  13. Once all standards are in compliance, the NAPCIS executive director will make a final accreditation determination.
  14. Re-accreditation in five years.

Annual Reports

Programs are required to submit annual reports and notify NAPCIS immediately of major program changes, changes to the head of school, a major financial downturn, or a major public scandal affecting the institution.

Self-Study Overview

General Information collected:

Contact Information

  • Institutional phone number, address.
  • Primary website.
  • Athletic website (if any).
  • Social media accounts (if any).
  • Year founded.
  • Head of School (Name, email, direct phone number, years of service).

Current Enrollment

  • Full-time enrollment totals by grade (includes half-day PreK or K).
  • Maximum capacity for on-site students.
  • Any part-time, online, or hybrid enrollment.
  • Percentage of Catholic students.
  • Number of students coming into the Catholic Church during the last school year.
  • Student demographics: American Indian/Native Alaskan; Asian; Black/African American; Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander; White; Hispanic/Latino; Other.

Staffing

  • Religious staffing (full and part-time, male, female, clergy).
  • Number of full-time (>30 hours/week) teachers and administrators.
  • Percentage of full-time teachers who are practicing Catholics.
  • Number of part-time teachers (<30 hours/week).
  • Percentage of part-time teachers who are practicing Catholics.
  • Number of school counselors.
  • Percentage of school counselors who are practicing Catholics.
  • Number of athletic coaches and assistant coaches.
  • Percentage of coaches and assistant coaches who are practicing Catholics.

 Affiliations and Governance

  • Sponsorship (parish, diocesan, independent, religious community).
  • Diocese/archdiocese in which the program is located.
  • Governing authority. (Parish, Diocese, Order, Board, Other)
  • Governing Authority percent Catholic
  • Other accrediting agencies.

Educational Programs

  • Advanced Placement, Classical, College Preparatory, Dual (college) credit, STEM, Traditional.
  • Most recent test scores on religious knowledge (ACRE, ARK).
  • Most recent average percentile rank or scaled score for math (K-8).
  • Most recent average percentile rank or scaled score for Reading/Language Arts.

Graduation Requirements and College Entrance Information  (Grades 9-12 only).

  • The percentage of graduates accepted into a college or university, and the number of recent graduates entering religious life.
  • Number of credits required for graduation.
  • College entrance test information (SAT, ACT, CLT).

Review Team Recommendations

  • Submit the names and information of four proposed reviewers.
    • Reviewers may not be directly related to the program (e.g., no current or former employees, parents, alumni, or related to them).
    • NAPCIS can recommend online reviewers.

Instructional or Program Artifacts 

  • List of all full and part-time faculty with grades and subjects taught and qualifications (degree level and subject), and license (if any, license not required), religious affiliation, and indicate if the teacher has had formal catechetical training or college-level theology.
  • A general course of studies or curriculum guide that outlines the academic program.
  • A list of assigned novels (chapter books for all grades).
  • An academic calendar.
  • A summary of standardized test results.
  • Catholic religious education (ARK, ACRE) scores (if available).

Lesson Plans

  • Lesson plan integrating faith, life, and culture.
  • Lesson plan linking a topic across two or more academic disciplines.
  • Lesson plan showing the integration of faith and reason.
  • Lesson plan demonstrating Catholic standards for English.
  • Lesson plan demonstrating Catholic standards for history/social studies.
  • Lesson plan demonstrating Catholic standards for mathematics.
  • Lesson plan demonstrating Catholic standards for science.

Operations

  • List of all full and part-time staff with position, qualifications, and religious affiliation.
  • Current tuition and fees and refund policy.
  • Current and previous years’ budgets.
  • Most recent income and expense statement.
  • Fire Department certificate and Health Department certificate.
  • Evidence of insurance (including vehicle insurance).
  • Bylaws and Incorporation documents.
  • List of board members with religious affiliation.
  • IRS Tax Exemption Letter (Unless Diocesan).
  • Organizational chart.
  • Faculty contract (blank).
  • Faculty annual evaluation form (blank- should include a Catholic element)

Handbooks

  • Faculty/Staff or Personnel Handbook.
  • Student/Parent Handbook. (Including a policy on reporting child abuse.)
  • Athletic Handbook or Athletic Policy (if separate).
  • Emergency handbooks (if separate).

These handbooks should include evidence of the following policies, which should generally accord with the Cardinal Newman Society Policy Guidance.

  • Policy on Literature and Arts.
  • Policy on Human Sexuality.
  • Policy on Human Sexuality Programs.
  • Policy on Admissions.
  • Policy on Faith and Moral Expectations for Employees.
  • Policy on Athletics.
  • Policy on Secular Academic Materials and Programs.
Standards of Excellence