MSA-CESS will resume peer review accreditation visits in September with a revised approach that is mindful of the health and safety of our school communities and of our staff and volunteers.
Under this revised approach, peer review visits for the fall semester will take place using a blended method, fully virtually for many locations including the majority of international schools and virtually for domestic visits, with a one-day onsite visit by the visiting team chair if possible.
If the situation stabilizes for Spring 2021 visits, MSA-CESS may introduce the one-day site visit for all visits, or begin the shift to an expanded onsite visit under this new blended approach.
“Middle States has always believed in the power of peer review, and we are confident this model will enable us to be innovative, flexible, and supportive of our schools, while also ensuring the integrity and value of the peer review process,” MSA-CESS President Lisa Marie McCauley, Ed.D., said.
In coming to this decision, MSA-CESS held a series of meetings and focus groups involving a combination of staff, member school leaders, commissioners, leaders and volunteers from past visiting teams. We also met with or collected information about how other accrediting agencies are handling upcoming visits.
Additionally, this is not a new approach for MSA-CESS. For many years, the organization has been conducting virtual visits for online school, and has also convened virtual visits for certain international schools when issues of security dictated.
Please see this FAQ for more information, and please do not hesitate to contact Dr. McCauley at lmmccauley@msa-cess.org or 484.602.7986 with any questions.
