WASC: What a Student Needs to Know

Redwood High School is in the process of renewing its WASC accreditation. Despite its importance, many students don’t know what it is or how it impacts them.

By Ayla Ozturk

Accrediting Commission for Schools [ACS] Western Association of Schools and Colleges [WASC] accreditation is a cycle in which a school is evaluated to ensure the validity of students’ credits and transcripts.

In other words, WASC accreditation makes sure that the classes you have taken are up to standard and gives transcript credits value.

In addition to its actual meaning, the organization says WASC means “We Are Student-Centered.”

Accreditation is a process schools use to monitor student learning and set school improvement goals in the form of a schoolwide action plan.

Throughout the accreditation cycle, schools are expected to address the schoolwide action plan and demonstrate evidence of acceptable student achievement and school improvement. 

Schools assess their programs and how they affect student learning guided by the ACS WASC criteria and other accreditation factors.

There are six primary categories of criteria: organization for student learning, what students learn, how students learn, how assessment is used, student personal and academic support, and school culture and environment.

On Monday, March 20, a visiting committee came to Redwood and started their evaluation. They will be here until Wednesday, March 22.

Larry Herrera Jr. is a member of the visiting committee. He talks about the seriousness of WASC accreditation and how much it impacts a student’s education.

“There are certain schools that are run so poorly that the [committee] comes in and says, ‘This is not a viable educational environment.’ A college cannot give credits to the students that are getting grades at this school,” he says. “It’s very rare, but there’s been a few.”

The visiting committee can recommend one of six accreditation statuses:

Six-Year Accreditation Status with a Mid-cycle Progress Report

There is clear evidence that the school needs little, if any, additional support for high-quality student learning and the implementation, monitoring, and accomplishment of the schoolwide action plan, which includes the identified critical areas for follow-up.

Six-Year Accreditation Status with a Mid-cycle Progress Report and Visit

One-Day: There is clear evidence that the school needs additional support in strengthening student achievement by addressing the identified critical areas for follow-up. Based on the scope and seriousness of the issues and the size of the school, a one-day visit is recommended.

Two-Day: There is clear evidence that the school needs additional support in strengthening student achievement by addressing the identified critical areas for follow-up. Based on the scope and seriousness of the issues and the size of the school, a two-day visit is recommended.

Probationary Accreditation Status with an In-depth Progress Report and Two-Day Visit

One-Year: There is clear evidence that the school deviates significantly from the ACS WASC criteria in one or more critical areas requiring immediate attention and support.

Two-Year: There is clear evidence that the school deviates significantly from the ACS WASC criteria in one or more critical areas that must be addressed within two years.

Accreditation Status Withheld

There is clear evidence that the school does not meet one or more of the ACS WASC criteria and deviates significantly in critical areas that impact student learning and well-being, the school’s program, and supporting operations.

The accreditation committee then takes the visiting committee’s report, recommendation, and the school’s self-study to determine its accreditation status.

While these statuses are typical, schools can be accredited for up to seven years at a time with various conditions.

Redwood High School’s WASC Accreditation History

In 2005, Redwood High School received a six-year term with a mid-term review.

In 2011, the school received a three-year term with a two-day midterm review.

In 2014, progress was noted in all areas of the action plan, and Redwood’s accreditation was extended three additional years to 2017.

In 2017, Redwood received a six-year term with a mid-term review.

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