Cognia Requirements 

Heritage Charter Academy gathers evidence and stakeholder feedback, completes a self-assessment, and hosts an Engagement Review, in which a team of external educators observes classrooms, interviews students, staff, and families, and reviews data. Accreditation is renewed on a recurring cycle, with ongoing reporting in between, so our commitment to improving teaching and learning never stops.

The core components, briefly:

1. Performance Standards. The benchmarks schools are measured against, grouped under the four key characteristics above.
2. Self-assessment and evidence. The school documents how it meets each standard, with artifacts, data, and surveys of students, staff, and families.
3. Engagement Review. An on-site or virtual visit by an external review team, including classroom observations and stakeholder interviews.
4. Accreditation decision and report. The school receives findings, including strengths and areas for improvement.
5. Continuous improvement. The school acts on the findings and reports progress throughout the accreditation term, which is typically six years.