Executive Director Dr. Elaine Swafford announced Tuesday that Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy (CGLA) has been awarded initial accreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI), an accreditation division of AdvancED.
This action was taken at the AdvancED Accreditation Commission meeting held on June 26, meeting of the AdvancED Accreditation Commission.
As an accredited institution, CGLA is among 10 schools in the Hamilton County District that have
earned accreditation. SACS CASI provides nationally-recognized accreditation, the purpose of which is continuous school improvement focused on increasing student performance. To earn accreditation, schools must meet SACS CASI’s high standards, be evaluated by a team of professionals from outside the school and implement a continuous process of school improvement.
“Accreditation demonstrates to our students, parents and community that we are focused on raising student achievement, providing a safe and enriching learning environment, and maintaining an efficient operation staffed by highly qualified educators,” said Dr. Swafford.
SACS CASI accreditation is recognized across state lines, which not only eases the transfer process as students move from accredited school to accredited school but also assures parents that the school is meeting nationally accepted standards for quality and successful professional practice.
Dr. Mark Elgart, president/CEO of AdvancED, the parent organization of SACS CASI, said, “SACS CASI accreditation is a rigorous process that focuses the entire school on the primary goal of creating lifelong learners. Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy is to be commended for engaging in this process and demonstrating a commitment to continuous improvement.”
Parents and interested community members can learn more about accreditation at www.advanc-ed.org.