The Hillsborough County school district has been granted accreditation by the AdvancED Accreditation Commission, joining 20 school districts across the country to earn the national organization's stamp of approval.
Schools Superintendent MaryEllen Elia announced the decision Thursday. It means the district and all of its schools have gained the accreditation.
Benefits of accreditation include national recognition for quality, access to research-based guidance on building curriculums and improving teaching methods, and a leg up in winning grants for education improvement, district officials have said.
The accreditation also can help improve students' chances of receiving federal loans and scholarships and improve their standing as they pursue post-secondary education and military programs.
"It demonstrates to our community our commitment to excellence, our openness to external review and feedback, and our desire to be the best we can be on behalf of the students we serve," Elia said in a news release.
Achieving accreditation involves three steps: meeting high quality standards, implementing continuous improvement and engaging in quality assurance through internal and external review.
The district must report back to the association in two years, showing its response to the recommendations.
The accreditation lasts five years.
A 40-member review team from the AdvancED Accreditation Commission visited Hillsborough for three days in April and had more than 1,800 interviews with students, staff and members of the community.
The association charges a $2,500 fee, plus the school district paid for travel, lodging and food during the team's visit.
A staff report
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