School Accreditation

What is Accreditation?

The accreditation process, as described in the Accreditation Guide, is a qualitative assessment of a school’s congruence between its stated mission, the AWSNA Principles for Waldorf Schools, and the AWSNA Policies and Practices for Waldorf Schools. Congruence is determined by observation, interviews, and document review.

The accreditation process begins with in-depth self-study conducted over approximately two years. This process engages faculty, staff, administration, board members, and families in examining the school’s identity, mission, policies, practices, and overall functioning. The self-study encourages shared reflection and results in a written report that provides evidence of how the school understands and enacts its work in relation to AWSNA accreditation criteria.

Peer review is a central element of the process. An experienced visiting team reviews the self-study and conducts an on-site visit that includes classroom observation, meetings with constituent groups, and review of school documents. The visiting team evaluates the degree to which the school’s self-study is congruent with what is experienced during the visit, offering an external, professional perspective on both strengths and areas of challenge.

A primary outcome of the accreditation visit is the identification of priorities for future growth and development. These priorities affirm effective practices, clarify areas needing focused attention, and provide guidance for the school’s planning and improvement over the accreditation cycle. In this way, accreditation supports schools in working consciously and constructively with their ongoing development.

As an ICAISA-recognized accrediting body, AWSNA’s accreditation process is regularly reviewed through peer evaluation, self-study, and external assessment, ensuring rigor, independence, and accountability. This framework emphasizes continuous improvement, reflective practice, and mission-aligned quality rather than checklist compliance, and affirms that AWSNA accreditation meets internationally recognized standards of credibility, integrity, and trust.

AWSNA accreditation is a cyclical and developmental process, intended to strengthen schools while honoring their independence and individuality. Schools that successfully complete the process may use the designation: “Accredited by the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America.”