1. The applicant for accreditation must first submit
payment of required dues to the National Coalition of Alternative Community
Schools (NCACS, PO Box 1451, Ann Arbor MI 48106;
NCACS Website:
NCACS EMAIL), or proof of current membership in NCACS, along with
annual dues to NALSAS, or proof of current membership in
NALSAS. In addition, an administrative fee must be
submitted to NALSAS along with the application. To obtain
an application contact NALSAS.
2. Thereafter, arrangements must be made with the main office in Santa Fe for
an on-site visitation. This requires submitting (3) possible dates (in order
of preference), at least (2) weeks apart, that such a visit might be made when
the program is in operation. All travel costs at established rates, plus a
daily stipend, must be paid in advance to the main office, unless specifically
waived in writing by an eligible representative of NALSAS who
has agreed to make the visitation report under alternative arrangements. An
"eligible representative" is an active director or officer of an educational
program currently accredited by NALSAS who has agreed to make
on-site visitations in his/her area to applicant programs. (NOTE: An
on-site visit is required every three years, unless the name or
location changes. This visit must be conducted only by an officer
or board member of NALSAS when an application is submitted
initially, or pursuant to a change of name or location.)
3.The eligible representative of NALSAS then makes an on-site
visitation that all of the information submitted with the application is indeed
true; to verify what is being claimed in the application has been observed, in fact,
to be taking place at the site. In addition, the NALSAS
representative is responsible for verifying compliance with local health and
fire safety requirements.
4. The representative then completes an on-site visitation form provided by
NALSAS and submits it to the main office in Santa Fe,
recommending either disapproval or approval for accreditation by
NALSAS.
5. Upon receipt of this recommendation, NALSAS will either
institute a process for reviewing a negative recommendation, or, in the event
of approval, will forward a Certificate of Accreditation valid for the
remainder of that school year, ending June 30th. For the next two years,
provided that the name or the location is not changed, this accreditation can be renewed
with the resubmission of updated information and payment of appropriate dues
as specified in item #1 above. During the fourth year, another on-site
visitation will be required for re-accreditation with NALSAS.
