Superintendent anticipates high marks on report

Over the 2017 – 2018 school year Fresno Christian is in the process of renewing its ACSI, Association of Christian Schools International accreditation and WASC, Western Association of Schools and Colleges accreditation. Fresno Christian is one of 20 double accredited schools.

The WASC accreditation is a requirement for high schools across the nation. This creates a uniformity between high school diplomas on a national level. Christian schools acquire an ACSI accreditation to prove validity in teaching and Biblical areas.

Superintendent, Jeremy Brown, elaborates on what accreditation is and what it means for this year at Fresno Christian.

“Accreditation, in general, is something we do every day whether it is an accreditation year or not,” Brown said. “What the year reflects is the documenting of the steps we have taken. It would be the equivalent of cleaning your room and then announcing to everyone that you have cleaned your room. You do it regardless but you announce it.”

Accreditation begins with a report of 130 pages written by the school. Once a report is completed, a visiting team evaluates the school based on the self-report. Brown states the effect that students have in the reporting process.

“The accreditation process is all about students,” Brown said. “At the end of the day the evaluators ask questions like, how are you preparing your students. For many students, it’s kinda odd  because you will have adults coming and walking around, and they think it is about the teachers but really it is about the students.”

Many students are misinformed on what accreditation is even though students are being evaluated too. Kyle Clem, ‘21, shares what he knows about the campus accreditation.

“I’m not quite sure what accreditation is,” Clem said. “I think it is when your grades count and colleges look at them to determine if you can go there. I did know that this was an accreditation year. A while ago I heard somewhere that colleges look at high school grades and not junior high.”

Campus math teacher, Angie Counts discusses how accreditation adds extra pressure to her job. 

“It does add pressure to me, I feel really bad though, the admin team has a huge load on their shoulders,” Counts said. “For me, it was feeling accountable for my part, but when I got together with my team I realized that it is a group effort and that together we can get it done.”

According to Superintendent Brown, Fresno Christian consistently earns a full six-year accreditation and is set to get good marks on this year’s evaluation.

For more articles read, COLUMN: Sophomore mourns over loss of friend, pt. 2. Also, check out 98th Fresno Veterans Day Parade seeks to honor veterans, recognize service.

This author can be reached via twitter @thejacobhyatt and via email: Jacob Hyatt.