Board approves four independent accrediting agencies for Iowa non‑public schools

The State Board of Education approved multiple independent accrediting agencies for Iowa non‑public schools at its Jan. 14 meeting after departmental review of their applications and Q&A with agency representatives.

Department staff summarized reviewer scores and processes: Apple Accreditation scored 94/103 in the department review and was recommended; Array Global scored 100/103 and was recommended; the Society for Classical Learning scored 92/103 and was recommended. Representatives from the agencies explained that accreditation includes on‑site verification visits, a self‑study period (commonly 12–18 months), complaint procedures, and in some cases reliance on volunteer verifiers and remote staff for initial years in Iowa.

Board members asked how the department obtains accrediting agencies’ site reports and how the state monitors compliance; department staff said it can request accreditor reports and has begun asking for noncompliance information and quarterly meetings with approved agencies. The board approved the agencies by voice vote.

Department staff said it will continue quarterly oversight meetings with approved accrediting agencies and that parents can be directed to the department’s website for accreditor contact information and complaint procedures.