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Kansas Statute charges the Kansas State Board of Education with the accreditation of schools, a process that provides official recognition of the school as having met a defined set of standards. Current accreditation regulations in Kansas are based on a school district accreditation model called Kansas Education Systems Accreditation (KESA), which was approved in 2016.
All public schools in the state of Kansas are required to participate in the state accreditation process. On the other hand, private schools are not required to do so. However, ALL private schools are required, through Kansas Statute to register with KSDE. Private schools operating in Kansas that do participate in the state's accreditation process are referred to as "Accredited Private Schools." Private schools that do not participate in the state accreditation process are referred to as "Non-Accredited Private Schools (NAPS)." Click here for more information about NAPS in Kansas.
Kansans are demanding higher standards in academic skills, as well as employability and citizenship skills, and the need to move away from a “one-size-fits-all” system that relies exclusively on state assessments. This new vision for education calls for a more student-focused system that provides support and resources for individual success and will require everyone to work together to make it a reality. Through KESA schools are to focus on results and process to improve student learning.
The State Board receives recommendations concerning accreditation (K-12) from the KSDE Accreditation Review Council, (Be sure to link the right group to this.) a group of representatives from all facets and levels of education and from all regions of Kansas.
The KESA Guidance Document is being updated to contain a summary of the KESA process along with the latest reports that will be available in the Authenticated Application. Additionally, new resources will be included to assist you in your accreditation journey.
The KESA Accreditation Criteria was developed for the Accreditation Review Council (ARC) to help make an accreditation recommendation to the State Board of Education. It is comprised of eight (8) sections. Each section corresponds to a question in the ARC's executive summary recommendation of accreditation report to the State Board of Education. The document is being provided so that systems and their outside visiting team can have a clear understanding about the measures the ARC is using to make an accreditation recommendation.
The Kansas State Department of Education does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities. (more information...)
To accommodate people with disabilities, on request, auxiliary aides and services will be provided and reasonable modifications to policies and programs will be made. To request accommodations or for more information please contact the Office of General Counsel at gc@ksde.org or by 785-296-3201.