On Wednesday April 23, a team of Accreditation members visited BSM to perform an evaluation that takes place every five years. The evaluation’s purpose is to make sure that BSM is continuously focused on creating an environment that lives up to the best practice in education.

The accreditation process takes place after BSM fills out a self report regarding five different standards. These standards are: school mission, governance/leadership, teaching/learning, resources, and improving processes within the school. After filling out this report regarding BSM’s standings in each of these categories, an accreditation team comes to BSM. Their job is to ensure that the report has been filled out accurately.

After the accreditation team has made their observations about the school, they make recommendations on areas for improvement within the five different categories, as well as commendation for things BSM has done well. “It’s not that we have special knowledge from outside; we want to help provide insight and ensure that the school has accessed itself accurately,” said Chris Johnson, an accreditation member and a professor at the University of Minnesota Duluth.

The organization that provides the team members for this evaluation is AdvancEd. It is a newer group that is a part of multiple organizations dating back many decades. This accreditation process has been present in most universities and high schools for many years, ensuring that schools meet the evaluation requirements.

According to Dr. Sue Skinner, BSM’s principal, the accreditation process is a good way to have fresh eyes look at the school and offer a perspective different from that of those in the BSM community. In order to ensure that a good report is filed for the accreditation process every five years, BSM continues to engage in things that keep our school innovative. “Ultimately, our main focus is, does our school meet the requirements, do the students have the best learning experience possible, and are we true to our mission,” Dr. Skinner said.