History
On October 18, 1983, at the Chief Administrators of Catholic Education meeting in Denver, Colorado, Brother William Rhody, FSC, spoke to school leaders about forming a national accrediting association for nonpublic schools. Historically many nonpublic schools did not participate in any formal accreditation process. Brother William Rhody was a lifelong educator and advocate for nonpublic school education. At the state level, he founded the Minnesota Nonpublic School Accrediting Association, and at the national level, he served as Assistant Director of Education at the US Catholic Conference in Washington, DC.
School administrators expressing interest in a national accrediting association were from states that did not include nonpublic schools in their accreditation process. After polling the states and reviewing the results, administrators from Missouri and Minnesota met on April 18, 1984 to discuss developing Articles of Incorporation. One year later Michigan passed a resolution to join Missouri and Minnesota in forming a new association named National Federation of Nonpublic School State Accrediting Associations (NFNSSAA) also known as the National Federation.
The Articles of Incorporation for the National Federation were filed in St. Paul, Minnesota on August 31, 1984 and approved on October 18, 1984. The constitution and by-laws were formally adopted by officials from Missouri, Michigan, and Minnesota at a meeting held at the Catholic Archdiocesan Office in Chicago, September, 1985. The appointed officials were Billie Kops Wimmer of Michigan, Sr. Mary Ann Eckhoff of Missouri, and Brother William Rhody of Minnesota.
The first official meeting of the NFNSSAA took place in Chicago on October 31, 1985. Initially, the States of Minnesota and Missouri formed the National Federation. Since 1985 the National Federation has approved three other State Chapters: Michigan in 1986, Arkansas in 1989, and Wisconsin in 1992.
Policies, procedures, and criteria have been developed for the purpose of admitting other state association into the National Federation (NFNSSAA). The membership criteria and the association’s constitution and by-laws are reviewed annually at the NFNSSAA spring meeting.
On October 18, 1983, at the Chief Administrators of Catholic Education meeting in Denver, Colorado, Brother William Rhody, FSC, spoke to school leaders about forming a national accrediting association for nonpublic schools. Historically many nonpublic schools did not participate in any formal accreditation process. Brother William Rhody was a lifelong educator and advocate for nonpublic school education. At the state level, he founded the Minnesota Nonpublic School Accrediting Association, and at the national level, he served as Assistant Director of Education at the US Catholic Conference in Washington, DC.
School administrators expressing interest in a national accrediting association were from states that did not include nonpublic schools in their accreditation process. After polling the states and reviewing the results, administrators from Missouri and Minnesota met on April 18, 1984 to discuss developing Articles of Incorporation. One year later Michigan passed a resolution to join Missouri and Minnesota in forming a new association named National Federation of Nonpublic School State Accrediting Associations (NFNSSAA) also known as the National Federation.
The Articles of Incorporation for the National Federation were filed in St. Paul, Minnesota on August 31, 1984 and approved on October 18, 1984. The constitution and by-laws were formally adopted by officials from Missouri, Michigan, and Minnesota at a meeting held at the Catholic Archdiocesan Office in Chicago, September, 1985. The appointed officials were Billie Kops Wimmer of Michigan, Sr. Mary Ann Eckhoff of Missouri, and Brother William Rhody of Minnesota.
The first official meeting of the NFNSSAA took place in Chicago on October 31, 1985. Initially, the States of Minnesota and Missouri formed the National Federation. Since 1985 the National Federation has approved three other State Chapters: Michigan in 1986, Arkansas in 1989, and Wisconsin in 1992.
Policies, procedures, and criteria have been developed for the purpose of admitting other state association into the National Federation (NFNSSAA). The membership criteria and the association’s constitution and by-laws are reviewed annually at the NFNSSAA spring meeting.
Mission
The National Federation of Nonpublic School State Accrediting Associations (NFNSSAA) is an alliance of state accrediting associations committed to maintaining and advancing high standards of quality for the diverse schools in our coalition.
Statement of Purpose and Commitment
The purpose of NFNSSAA is to ensure that state nonpublic school accrediting associations are focused on advancing the quality of education within their individual states through assessment, accountability, educational standards, and continuous school improvement.
In a society that is constantly changing in relation to information, technology, and global communication, there is a need for continuous assessment and evaluation. Schools that choose to engage in an accrediting process that involves ongoing school improvement, assist students in preparing for the future.
State chapters of the National Federation serve schools with diverse student populations. NFNSSAA acknowledges the unique mission and purpose of nonpublic schools and the need for standards that highlight these characteristics. Accreditation standards are reviewed in relation to accountability of the school's mission and academic programs.
NFNSSAA's commitment to quality education is twofold: first, to assure students in nonpublic schools are provided with educational experiences that will prepare them for the challenges of adult life; and, second, to reassure all stakeholders that quality education exists in our nonpublic schools.
The National Federation of Nonpublic School State Accrediting Associations (NFNSSAA) is an alliance of state accrediting associations committed to maintaining and advancing high standards of quality for the diverse schools in our coalition.
Statement of Purpose and Commitment
The purpose of NFNSSAA is to ensure that state nonpublic school accrediting associations are focused on advancing the quality of education within their individual states through assessment, accountability, educational standards, and continuous school improvement.
In a society that is constantly changing in relation to information, technology, and global communication, there is a need for continuous assessment and evaluation. Schools that choose to engage in an accrediting process that involves ongoing school improvement, assist students in preparing for the future.
State chapters of the National Federation serve schools with diverse student populations. NFNSSAA acknowledges the unique mission and purpose of nonpublic schools and the need for standards that highlight these characteristics. Accreditation standards are reviewed in relation to accountability of the school's mission and academic programs.
NFNSSAA's commitment to quality education is twofold: first, to assure students in nonpublic schools are provided with educational experiences that will prepare them for the challenges of adult life; and, second, to reassure all stakeholders that quality education exists in our nonpublic schools.