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OCPS Accreditation

OCPS Accreditation

What is Accreditation?

Accreditation is a voluntary method of quality assurance developed 130 years ago by American universities and secondary schools. It is designed primarily to recognize institutions adhering to a set of educational standards and policies. Accreditation applies to an entire institution or system. Institutions and systems seeking to earn and maintain accreditation must continuously meet the Cognia accreditation policies, standards and requirements. Cognia is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that conducts rigorous on-site and remote reviews of a variety of educational institutions and systems. For more information, please visit the Cognia website.

Contact Us:

The Accountability & Improvement (A&I) department is led by Director Illatawie Showalter. For more information, please contact:

Sabrina Hunter, Administrative Secretary
407.317.3210
sabrina.hunter@ocps.net 

Suzette Steffer
suzette.steffer@ocps.net

Why Does it Matter? 

OCPS is a system accredited school district. Accreditation has value for all stakeholder groups which can be explored by expanding the navigation bars below. 

  • Cognia accreditation ensures that students receive a high-quality education aligned with rigorous national and international standards. It promotes continuous improvement, equity and access to resources that support academic success and personal growth. Accreditation also enhances the value of students’ diplomas, making them more competitive for college admissions and scholarships. 

  • Accreditation by Cognia provides assurance that your child’s school is committed to excellence, accountability and continuous improvement. It means the school is regularly evaluated by external experts and is meeting high standards in teaching, learning and student support. You can trust that your child is in a safe, nurturing and academically strong environment. 

  • Cognia accreditation supports professional growth by fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation and reflective practice. It also affirms the hard work and dedication of staff through recognition of excellence. 

  • Accreditation is a strategic tool for driving systemic improvement and aligning practices across schools. It provides a framework for setting goals, measuring progress, and making data-informed decisions. Cognia’s feedback and diagnostics help leaders identify strengths and areas for growth, ensuring that all students have equitable opportunities to succeed. 

  • A Cognia-accredited school district signals a strong commitment to educational excellence and accountability. It builds public trust and strengthens partnerships with local organizations, businesses and higher education institutions. Accreditation also supports workforce development by preparing students with the skills and knowledge needed for future success. 

  • Cognia accreditation provides an external validation of the district’s effectiveness and stewardship of public resources. It supports transparency, strategic planning and policy development grounded in evidence and best practices. Accreditation helps ensure that governance structures are aligned with the mission of student achievement and equity. 

Accreditation Process

A circular badge with the word 'Accredited' at the top.Based on rigorous research-based standards and evidence-based criteria, the process reviews the whole institution—from policies to learning conditions and cultural context—to determine how well the parts work together to meet the needs of every learner. The framework for accreditation through Cognia allows institutions to employ meaningful actions toward improvement. Systems and institutions seeking to achieve or maintain accreditation understand, honor and embrace the concept of continuous improvement. These systems and institutions are engaged every day in a journey of improvement and hold themselves responsible for taking action. They are dynamic and continuously evolving, with an unrelenting focus on becoming better on behalf of the students they serve. OCPS holds a System Accreditation valid through June 30, 2027. 

 

 2021 OCPS Certificate    2021 OCPS Accreditation Report 

      2015 OCPS Certificate    2015 OCPS Accreditation Report      


 

The Accreditation process is led by Heather Kreider, Principal on Assignment - Research, Measurement and Strategy.

For more information, please contact: 

Jeffrey Cornejo, Administrative Secretary 

407.317.3210