Who is AdvancED?

http://www.advanc-ed.org/about-us
AdvancED is the largest community of education professionals in the world. It is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that conducts rigorous, on-site reviews of a variety of educational institutions and systems to ensure that all learners realize their full potential. Their expertise is grounded in more than a hundred years of work in school accreditation and their goal is not simply to certify that our educational institution is good enough. Rather, they are committed to help us continuously improve.

AdvancED partners with 34,000 educational institutions across the United States and 70 other nations. The organization was created through a 2006 merger of the Pre-K-12 divisions of the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI)ā€”and expanded through the addition of the Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC) in 2012, combining the knowledge and expertise of a research institute, the skills of a management consulting firm, and the passion of a grassroots movement for educational change.

What is AdvancED STEM Certification?

http://www.advanc-ed.org/services/stem-certification
AdvancED recognizes that today more than ever, we must prepare our students for careers of tomorrow by fostering and perpetuating enthusiasm for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines.

AdvancED’s STEM Certification provides our schools a research-based framework and criteria for awareness, continuous improvement, and assessment of the quality, rigor and substance of our STEM educational programs. The Standard and Indicators clearly define vital components for creating and sustaining superior, student-centered K-12 STEM teaching and learning programs, as well as clear expectations for student outcomes and mastery of 21st century skills.

Through valid and reliable processes, tools, and training, AdvancED STEM Certification will ensure that even our most effective educators and programs continually assess and improve to meet the needs and demands of the real world.