Member Resources

---

Accreditation

Are you asking students, volunteers, and donors to trust that the services you provide are good enough? You can show them, instead.

Accreditation sets you apart.

ProLiteracy offers the only national accreditation service in the adult basic education and literacy field. The accreditation process requires local organizations to plan and evaluate their services using nationally recognized standards. The system is designed for programs in which volunteers provide most of the tutoring.

Once your program is accredited, students, volunteers, board members, and funders can feel confident that your program is worthy of the time and money they invest in it.

Benefits of Accreditation

• By focusing on outcomes and performance measures, the accreditation process helps programs to improve their services to adult learners and to secure funding.
• Accreditation strengthens an organization's structure and stability.
• It reduces liability risk as decision-makers become aware of weaknesses and problem areas.
• An accredited organization can promote itself as "An Accredited Program of ProLiteracy."

Only member programs can apply for ProLiteracy accreditation. Read the brochure to learn more, and consult this list of standards to see what is expected of accredited organizations.

Steps to Accreditation

• Step 1 Self-evaluation
  

  Download the Guide to ProLiteracy Accreditation; compare program policies and practices against the 16 standards.

• Step 2 Application

  Complete a formal application, submit required organizational documents, and pay the $400 accreditation fee. Organizations have one year from the application approval date to complete the process. Currently-accredited organizations seeking reaccreditation are expected to complete the process before their accredited status expires. Application forms in PDF format are available in the appendices of the Guide. Alternatively, you can download Word versions of the forms for electronic completion and submission.

• Step 3 Documentation

  Show that your organization meets all the standards and submit checkpoint information. ProLiteracy will provide you with all necessary materials, as well as accreditation-related technical assistance and support.

• Step 4 Site Review
  

  An organization new to accreditation receives an on-site (in person) review.

  A program seeking reaccreditation receives an electronic site review* —i.e., documentation is shared electronically, by mail, or by combination of the two. ProLiteracy assigns a site visit date and an impartial reviewer. The reviewer conducts a one-day electronic review.

  *Previously accredited organizations may request an on-site (in person) review for an additional fee of $400.

• Step 5 Accreditation Review Committee
  

  The Accreditation Review Committee (impartial volunteer literacy professionals) determines accreditation based on your program documentation and the site reviewer's report. If all of the standards are met, your organization is awarded four-year accreditation. If all standards are not met, your organization submits one of the following:

  • a program improvement plan
  • an appeal of the decision
  • written notification of your decision to discontinue the accreditation process