A public elementary and a public high school in the Marshall Islands have gained US accreditation, following action earlier this month by the Accrediting Commission for Schools of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
Delap Elementary School in Majuro (pictured) is one of four public schools now accredited by the US-based Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Photo: Giff Johnson
Rita Elementary School and Laura High School were approved for accreditation last week, bringing to four the number of public schools in the Marshall Islands that have US accreditation.
They join two private schools, Assumption Schools and Majuro Cooperative School, and the College of Marshall Islands as WASC accredited institutions in Majuro.
Public School System Commissioner Kanchi Hosia announced the new WASC decisions.
Rita Elementary School (RES) becomes the second public elementary school to be WASC accredited, joining Delap Elementary, while Laura High is the second public secondary school accredited along with Marshall Islands High School.
RES has been granted "initial accreditation status" through June 30, 2021.
In a letter to Baldwin Robert, former RES principal and now Public School System Project Implementation Unit Director for Improving the Quality of Basic Education (IQBE), WASC chairperson Stephen Cathers said WASC "determined Rita Public Elementary School meets the WASC criteria for accreditation.
"The Commission looks forward to RES's anticipated success and continuing improvement in keeping with WASC's pursuit of excellence."
Prior to June 30, 2021, RES is required to complete a "self-study" that outlines progress made in meeting recommendations from the initial WASC visit to the school. Following submission of the self-study, a WASC team will re-visit RES.
Mr Cathers similarly wrote Laura High School principal Jimmy Kemem that the commission had taken Laura High off probation and restored its accreditation.
"The accreditation cycle continues through June 30, 2022 with a two-day mid-cycle visit," Mr Cathers said.
He told Kemem that the school needed to prepare a progress report for the visit in 2020 that showed progress in addressing critical areas for follow up identified in the school's action plan and demonstrated improved student achievements.
All WASC-accredited schools are required to provide school staff to be members of WASC committees that visit schools in other countries or states for accreditation review, Cathers said.
