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Getting Started

Please note that the Guidelines under the “Organizing for Your Study” sub-page are soon to be revised.

What is the organizing structure for conducting the School’s self-assessment?

This varies depending on the characteristics of any school, including size, breadth of programs/services, etc. 

Typically, schools designate one large planning team, sometimes with prescribed internal coordinators, and representatives from each part of the school community on each of the working groups.

Accreditation processes can include Action Teams, or Goal Teams, or Standards Teams—these are the folks that gather and document information for the Self-Study and compile the narrative report on a specific Standard or goal.

It is critical that the process is as inclusive as possible, to engage and involve a wide spectrum of the school’s stakeholders.

What are the basic steps in organizing the Self-Study?

Contact the CEASD National Office to arrange the dates for the Site Visit at least six months before the visit. 

Spend 12-18 months developing the Self-Study. 

Develop a School Improvement Plan (SIP) based on the needs identified in the Self-Study. At least two of the goals in the SIP must be student achievement goals. Other organizational goals may also be developed. 

Several months before the site visit, the CEASD Accreditation Coordinator will appoint the Team Chairperson and team members for the visit, and will advise the school. 

The CEASD Team Chairperson and internal school accreditation coordinator/ liaison will plan the schedule for the team site visit. (Samples in the Guidelines appendices) 

Request Accreditation

Schools are required to complete a self-study using the CEASD and Regional Association approved protocol, develop a strategic plan or school improvement plan and verify compliance with the CEASD and Regional standards as part of the accreditation process. In joint accreditation visits the CEO of the CEASD school/program must inform the Regional Association of the joint visit at the initiation of the self-study. In the case of joint visits, as long as both sets of Standards are addressed, the school may develop one self-study.

  • During the course of the self-study process using both the CEASD and the Regional Association approved protocol, this Request for an On-Site Team is submitted to the CEASD National Office.
  • The National Office will select the Team Chair and members.
  • The On-Site Accreditation Team membership will be determined according to the size of the school and whether or not it is a joint accreditation visit.
  • CEASD Accreditation team members are not paid an honorarium. They contribute their professional service as an investment in the quality of education of deaf students. Thus, there can be no implication of bias in the objectivity of the accreditation process.
  • CEASD policy requires that the school cover travel, food and lodging expenses for the Team unless this is managed via a contract with the National Office. The On-Site Chair will contact the Head of School or the School Accreditation contact prior to the visit to coordinate arrangements and finalize schedules.
  • The team will be guided by the overall picture that the school presents: through review and verification of the Self-Study document, observation of environments and teaching teams, examination of records, interviews and any other necessary activities for data gathering and verification. Typically, On-Site Accreditation visits begin on Sunday afternoon.
The most convenient dates for the on-site visit are: