Sept. 13, 2024
Mizzou Academy, an online K-12 school system housed at the University of Missouri’s College of Education and Human Development, is proud to announce continued accreditation recognition by Cognia.
“This accreditation cycle brought forth so many important school celebrations,” said Kathryn Fishman-Weaver, Mizzou Academy’s executive director. “For one, this is the first time our lab school has been accredited as a full K-12 school system.”
Cognia is a nonprofit organization that provides quality assurance for schools, school districts and education service providers. Cognia, formerly AdvancED, recognizes districts that meet rigorous standards focused on productive learning environments and equitable resource allocation that meets the needs of learners, and effective leadership.
A team approach
Mizzou Academy took a team approach to the accreditation process. Throughout the 2023-2024 school year, they spent dedicated time poring through school improvement data, processes, student stories and impact statistics. They collaborated over Google Docs, in person and on Zoom, to have meaningful conversations about school processes, student work, leadership and continued improvement. In addition to team voices, they also met with and surveyed students, families and partners.
Top education quality index ratings
Earning accreditation from the Cognia Global Accreditation Commission means that Mizzou Academy is recognized nationwide as a school that meets or exceedsCognia performance standards and is committed to continuous improvement.
After the review process, Cognia awards an Index of Education Quality (IEQ) as a holistic measure of overall performance. The top mark is a score above 300. The average IEQ is 252. Mizzou Academy’s IEQ is 348.
“Cognia accreditation is a rigorous process that focuses the entire school and its community on the primary goal of preparing lifelong learners in engaging environments where all students can flourish,” said Mark A. Elgart, president and CEO of Cognia. “Mizzou Academy is to be commended for demonstrating that it has met high standards and is making progress on key indicators that impact student learning.”
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