CTE Program Evaluation Based on the WASC Self-Study Model CTE Program Evaluation

Career Technical Education (CTE) programs generally conduct accreditation evaluations through the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). Regional Occupational Programs/Centers (ROCPs) fall within the CTE program category and are evaluated using the post-secondary WASC process. The process of reviewing and approving institutional educational programs of all types is known as accreditation, and it is conducted across the globe. The major components of an accreditation process typically are self-study, internal review, and external validation by trained educators -- in that order. The phases of the accreditation process provide opportunities for educational institutions to assess the strengths and weaknesses of their programs in detail. As the educational institutions work through the various evaluation phases, stakeholders develop a school-wide action plan that will articulate and guide the school through a continuous improvement processes.

In order to commence an accreditation process, it is necessary for an educational institution to first submit an application to determine if their school or program is eligible for affiliation with the Accrediting Commission of Schools (ACS) of WASC. Educational institutions are asked by the Accrediting Commission of Schools to review the Conditions of Eligibility set out by ASC WASC. Should an educational institution find that it meets the conditions required for eligibility, the Request for ASC WASC Affiliation form is then completed and sent to the ASC WASC office, along with the requisite application fee. As the website contains accreditation information for many different...

In the case of postsecondary schools, this means that the appropriate section of the website is the ACS WASC Postsecondary Institutions page, where details about getting started with the ACS WASC accreditation process are contained. The AB 2448 Regional Occupational Centers and Programs Accountability and Reform Act sets out many of the criteria that form the basis for accreditation for postsecondary schools ("AB2448," 2006). The Outreach and Technical Assistance Network for Adult Learners makes reference to the revised accreditation manual of the WASC focuses on the educators' concerns for postsecondary, adult education, and ROC/P institutions ("OTANAL," 2014). The Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE) of the U.S. Department of Education administers and coordinates programs that are related to adult education and literacy, career and technical education, and community colleges ("OCTAE," 2014). The Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act of 2006 was reauthorized on August 12, 2006 to provide a means for increased focus on the academic achievement of career and technical education students, to strengthen the connections between secondary and postsecondary education, and to improve state and local accountability ("Perkins," 2006). The ASC WASC functions as a component of the implementation of the Perkins Act in that it is a mechanism for driving quality and underscoring accountability ("Perkins," 2006).
It is important for applicant institutions to recognize that the accreditation process conducted by ACS WASC…