ACICS Submits Response to Department of Education Regarding Continued Federal Recognition, Ends Effort to Halt FOIA Release of Draft Staff Report – ACICS
On May 30, the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) submitted a response to the Secretary of Education regarding its continued federal recognition as an accreditor. The submission was filed in response to the April 3, 2018 order of the Secretary of Education, which permitted ACICS to provide an explanation of how certain materials previously submitted by ACICS to the Department, but not considered as part of its earlier decision-making, are relevant to demonstrating ACICS’s continued compliance with federal agency recognition criteria. The Secretary’s decision regarding the continued recognition of ACICS is due by July 30, 2018.
Michelle Edwards, ACICS President, issued the following statement regarding the May 30 filing:
“We appreciate the opportunity to explain to the Secretary how materials previously submitted by ACICS to the Department demonstrate compliance with recognition criteria. We also provided the Secretary with additional information regarding our progress implementing significant reforms designed to address concerns, strengthen the accreditation process and, ultimately, enhance our ability to hold schools accountable for meaningful student outcomes. ACICS takes seriously our role and obligation as an accreditor and we have implemented aggressive and comprehensive steps to ensure we are in full compliance with all recognition criteria. We welcome the Department’s vigorous review and we remain committed to our goal of being a leader among accreditors.”