Our Lady of Sorrows School has been awarded accreditation by the Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
Accreditation signifies that Our Lady of Sorrows School has met the MSA-CESS Standards for a quality school. These standards reflect current research and best practices drawn from throughout the education profession.
Accreditation by MSA-CESS is recognized around the world as an indication of trustworthiness, educational quality, and a commitment to on-going school improvement. F. Laird Evans, Ed. D., Executive Director of the Commission, offered his congratulations to the entire Our Lady of Sorrows community, adding: “MSA-CESS accreditation is a recognition of both prior achievements and a commitment to greater future accomplishments.”
MSA-CESS (and its predecessor, the Assembly of Elementary Schools) has provided accreditation protocols to schools since 1978. Many protocols have been developed since the early days of MSA-CESS, but all rely on the concepts of peer evaluation and self-regulation to provide continuous school improvement.
The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA) was established in 1887 and is a non-governmental, non-profit, peer-administered organization. MSA provides leadership in school improvement for its member schools in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Caribbean, Europe, the Middle East, the subcontinent of Asia, and Africa.
As part of the accreditation process, the following areas were evaluated according to established standards:
Philosophy, Mission, Beliefs, and/or Objectives
Governance and Leadership
Organizational Design and Staff
Educational Programs
Learning Media Services and Technology
Student Services
Student Life and Student Activities
Facilities
Health and Safety
Finances
Assessment of Student Learning
Planning