Rethinking Accreditation for Emerging Models
At Stand Together Trust, we believe in the transformative power of permissionless education—an environment where entrepreneurial educators can innovate freely and bring diverse options to families without unnecessary red tape. This vision drives our efforts to reshape educational systems, creating conditions for bold new models to thrive and ensuring every child has access to flexible, high-quality learning experiences tailored to their needs.
As we’ve talked to founders, policymakers, parents, and advocates, an elephant in the room has always been the topic of accreditation. Each group sees some value in the process but typically knows little about its history and original purpose, nor how it operates currently. When we talk to school founders, they typically have one of three sentiments:
Many founders have no interest in pursuing accreditation.
Other founders are interested in accreditation as a means to an end, such as badging their legitimacy to parents or qualifying for particular state funding programs like education savings accounts, vouchers, or refundable tax credits.
Some founders, particularly those who have come up in traditional school settings, value accreditation, the process, and how it helps them step up their game.
But one thing is crystal clear: traditional approaches to accreditation are ill-suited for the innovative, emerging education models that we are seeing grow across the country today.
Why Education Should Be Rethinking Accreditation
Accreditation has long been used as a marker of quality for private schools, rooted in third-party review, academic and financial oversight, and external accountability. At first glance, it appears to be a solid framework for ensuring school quality. But as new education models emerge, the traditional accreditation process has proven to be a significant obstacle for the kinds of schools families need and want today.
The Accreditation Mismatch
Unlike charter authorizing, accreditation was never designed to evaluate new schools. It’s a long (2-3 years), expensive process rooted in traditional models of what school should look like. It rewards established schools that can navigate paperwork-heavy systems and produce years of data. It tells families whether a school meets a set of generally recognized standards and can help schools with continuous improvement—but it fails to address whether a school is ready to open its doors and serve kids.
This mismatch between the accreditation process and the needs of emerging schools has left many school founders stuck and families without options. As states pass new education savings account (ESA) programs and others like it, this challenge has become even more pressing. Founders often cannot get accredited fast enough to participate, leaving gaps in school eligibility and diminishing the impact of these programs.
A Familiar Problem, in a New State
In states like Iowa, where accreditation is required for ESA eligibility, the challenges of traditional accreditation have become particularly apparent. To address these barriers, we partnered with the Iowa Association of Christian Schools (IACS) on a pilot project that created a faster, clearer path to accreditation. Three accreditors worked with IACS to support both new and existing schools—helping 14 schools (including 2 new ones) qualify for ESA funding in just 6 months.
The takeaway: a better process is possible.
What’s Next: Middle States’ Next Generation Accreditation
Inspired by the Iowa project, we teamed up with the Middle States Association (MSA)—a national accreditor that shared our belief that the process had become more of a hurdle than a help.
Together with partners like the National Microschooling Center, Kaipod, and Getting Smart, we’ve built something new: Next Generation Accreditation (NGA)—a faster, more flexible, more affordable process that respects school founders’ time, budgets, and models.
Flexible evidence: Schools can demonstrate quality in ways that fit their model.
More relevant standards: Built for founders, not bureaucrats.
Affordable: Annual dues of $650–$775 and a flat $500 site visit fee—no upsells or hidden costs.
Narrative-driven: Focused on how schools serve families and students, not just ticking boxes.
Fast: We’re piloting this in 2025, aiming to accredit schools in time for ESA eligibility for the 2026–27 school year.
We’re currently recruiting 10–15 schools for the pilot. Priority goes to schools in ESA states with accreditation requirements and those opening soon—but all are welcome to apply.
Questions? Reach out to Adam Lavallee at alavallee@msa-cess.org.
Ready to apply? Express your interest here. Deadline: May 29, 2025.
Next Generation Accreditation: A Tool, Not a Mandate
It’s important to emphasize that Next Generation Accreditation (NGA) is designed to be a tool in the toolbox for schools, not a one-size-fits-all solution or a hammer in search of a nail. NGA is not mandatory, and we understand that not every school will find it suitable for their needs or goals. Schools should carefully evaluate their circumstances, including their mission, model, and the communities they serve, before deciding if NGA is the right path for them.
Our aim is to provide an option that aligns with the innovative spirit of emerging education models, while respecting the diversity of approaches that make schools unique. Founders are encouraged to use NGA as one of many resources available to support their journey, but the decision to pursue it remains entirely voluntary. Schools should feel empowered to choose what best serves their students and families.
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