USEFUL LINKS

Accreditation: A voluntary process that schools may choose to pursue. The various accrediting organizations have specific requirements, standards and guidelines to which each school must adhere. Upon completion, the participating schools receive credentials that maintain the standards for their institution. See more information.

ACCS: Association of Classical Christian Schools

ACSI: Association of Christian Schools International

ACST: Association of Christian Schools of Texas

ACTABS: Accreditation Commission of Baptist Schools

Additional Schools: An educational facility that currently is not licensed or accredited. Accreditation is NOT MANDATORY in Texas. It is a voluntary process.

Affiliation/Organization: A variety of educational associations which are available to schools and individuals by voluntary membership to enhance their professional development.

Alternative School: An educational facility that implements an individualized or alternative curriculum to meet specific needs of its students.

AMI: Association of Montessori International

AMITOT: Association of Montessori International Teachers of Texas

AMS: American Montessori Society

ASESA: Association of Specialized Elementary School Accreditation

Blue Ribbon Award: The Department of Education bestows an elite award for academic excellence to select school facilities. The school candidates are first nominated by state education agencies and undergo a stringent application process that evaluates academic curriculum and test scores in addition to parent involvement activities and student spirit. Once the school has received Blue Ribbon status, they maintain credibility for academic excellence. There is a six-year time restraint before the educational institution may resubmit for recognition of Blue Ribbon status

CASE: Council for the Advancement and Support of Education

CCMS: Child Care Management Services

COPSES: Council of Private Specialized Educational Services

Curriculum Alternative: An educational facility that implements a specialized curriculum that is unique to that school

DAEYC: Dallas Association for the Education of Young Children

ICAA: International Christian Accrediting Association

IMS: International Montessori Society

ISAS: Independent School Association of the Southwest

LSAC: Lutheran Accreditation Commission

MACTE: Montessori Accreditation Council for Teachers in Education

Montessori: An educational facility that implements Maria Montessori's philosophy of early childhood education.

NAEYC: National Association for the Education of Young Children

NAIS: National Association of Independent Schools

NAPCIS: National Association of Private Catholic Independent Schools

NCACS: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools

NCSA: National Christian Schools Association of America

Non-public/private school: An institution that educates its students according to its own curriculum. Schools operate under a profit or non-profit status.

NLSA: National Lutheran Association

Public school: A school or educational institution supported by taxation from local or state sources

SACS: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

SAES: Southwestern Association of Episcopal Schools

SAILS: Schools with Alternative and Independent Learning Strategies

SECA: Southern Early Childhood Association

TAAPS: Texas Alliance of Accredited Private Schools

TACLD: Texas Association of Children with Learning Disabilities

TAEYC: Texas Association for the Education of Young Children

TANS: Texas Association of Non-Public Schools

TAPS: Texas Association of Private Schools

TCCED: Texas Catholic Conference Education Department

TDPRS: Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services
(Requires child care programs to meet minimum standards and guidelines in order to be licensed)

TEA: Texas Education Agency

TEPSAC: Texas Private School Accreditation Commission

TSDA: Texas Seventh-day Adventist School System