Maintaining Accreditation

Achieving AMS accreditation opens the door to an exciting and rewarding new journey—one that can help your school build an ever-stronger, ever-closer community. Here are some of the basics about keeping the accreditation active. The full details in the AMS School Accreditation Handbook, included with the School Accreditation Packet. 

Accreditation Term

If the school follows the AMS self-study protocol, the accreditation term is 7 years.

Reaccreditation

AMS recommends that that the school apply for reaccreditation approximately 18 – 24 months prior to your accreditation expiration date. This will enable the school to begin the self-study no later than 12 months before the expiration date. The school will be required to write a new self-study report for each accreditation term.

Between Accreditations

To maintain accreditation, the school must abide by these requirements every year:

• Submit an Accredited Schools Annual Report by June 30

• Pay an accreditation fee by June 30

• Maintain AMS school membership

• Be in full compliance with AMS Accreditation Standards

• Document how the school is acting on recommendations from the visiting team

• Maintain efforts to reach the goals in the strategic plan

Non-compliance could result in revocation of accreditation or a school being put on probationary status. The Accreditation Handbook has full details.

Substantive Changes

If the accredited school experiences any of the following substantive changes during the school year, the school must file a Substantive Change Form with us within 30 days. Email, let AMS know of the change, and AMS will send the appropriate form. Or, if the change occurs at the end of the school year, include the details in the Accredited School Annual Report.

• Change of ownership

• Change of legal status (i.e., non-profit to for-profit or vice-versa)

• Resignation or turnover of 51% or more of the governing body

• Addition of a program or age level

• Relocation or change in facilities, or addition of a satellite campus or building

The changes will be reviewed and may require submission of additional documentation and/or an onsite visit by an AMS staff member or appointed representative to the site affected by the substantive change. If a visit is required by the AMS School Accreditation Commission, the school is responsible for any costs incurred.