In 1994, the Bishops of Ohio formed the Ohio Catholic Accrediting Association (OCSAA). The OCSAA is a collaborative undertaking of the Catholic dioceses of Ohio and is governed by the Superintendents of Schools who serve as the OCSAA Commission. The purpose of OCSAA is to strengthen Catholic school identity and mission and to engage Catholic schools in the ongoing improvement of student learning.
The Guidelines for Ohio’s Catholic Schools outlines the process through which a school seeks and maintains accreditation. In keeping with the mission of the OCSAA, this process has as its hallmark a commitment to continuous improvement. Each Catholic school in the Diocese of Toledo is an OCSAA member. On a six-year cycle, each school engages in a self-study, writes a School Improvement Plan and documents the compliance of the school with each of the eight OCSAA standards. The State Board of Education has approved these Standards as comparable to the Operating Standards for Ohio’s Schools. An on-site review is followed by a state level review through which accreditation is granted. Periodic reviews are required to make sure that the School Improvement Plan is being implemented over the course of the six-year cycle.
For more informatin, visit the OCSAA website or call Catholic Youth and Schools Service Office.
