NFNSSAA Policy Statements (Reaffirmed 2020)
#1 Develop, Review, and Revise Policy Statements
#2 Criteria for Membership of State Chapters
#3 Procedures for Reviewing State Chapters
#4 Procedures for Terminating Noncompliant State Chapters
#5 Appeals Procedures
#1 Develop, Review, and Revise Policy Statements
#2 Criteria for Membership of State Chapters
#3 Procedures for Reviewing State Chapters
#4 Procedures for Terminating Noncompliant State Chapters
#5 Appeals Procedures
POLICY STATEMENT #1: Develop, Review, and Revise Policy Statements
It shall be the policy of the National Federation to develop, review, and revise all policy statements of the National Federation. The Board of Directors shall conduct an annual review of all NFNSSAA policy statements and develop new policies as needed to fulfill the mission and facilitate the operation of the National Federation. No policy shall be adopted that is contrary to the Articles of Incorporation, By-Laws, or the Mission of the National Federation.
POLICY STATEMENT #2: Criteria for Membership of State Chapters
It shall be the policy of the National Federation to regularly develop, review, and revise the Criteria for Membership of State Chapters. The Board of Directors shall ensure that the following steps have been taken before considering membership in NFNSSAA. A State Chapter shall establish:
POLICY STATEMENT #3: Procedures for Reviewing State Chapters
It shall be the policy of the National Federation to regularly develop, review, and revise the Procedures for Reviewing the Operations and Functions of State Chapters, including annual State Chapter Reports that include the following documentation:
The NFNSSAA Board of Directors shall review the documentation at the annual meeting to determine the status of the State Chapter.
POLICY STATEMENT #4: Procedures for Terminating Noncompliant State Chapters
It shall be the policy of the National Federation to regularly develop, review, and revise Procedures for Terminating Noncompliance State Chapters. Compliance is determined after approving the annual state chapter reports by a majority vote of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee of the Board of Directors shall declare State Chapters noncompliant when the following violations occur: failure to file an annual report with the National Federation; failure to submit the minutes of the annual board meeting, or a copy of last year’s financial statement, or failure to pay the yearly NFNSSAA dues; failure to attend the annual meeting without advance notification to the Executive Committee of the National Federation; and/or serious noncompliance with the NFNSSAA Articles of Incorporation, the By-Laws, or the established Policy Statements.
When the Executive Committee declares a State Chapter noncompliant, the committee shall issue a First Warning letter indicating the reason. When the Executive Committee declares a State Chapter noncompliant for the second time, a Second Warning letter will be issued indicating the reason. No State Chapter may be given a Second Warning unless the reason for the warning is the same as the First Warning. The noncompliant State Chapter shall have a period of one (1) year until the next annual meeting of the National Federation to come into compliance. When the State Chapter has not complied one (1) year after the Second Warning, the NFNSSAA Board shall issue a Letter Terminating Membership that is signed by the Executive Committee and sent by registered mail.
POLICY STATEMENT #5: Appeals Procedures
It shall be the policy of the National Federation to regularly develop, review, and revise Appeals Procedures. State Chapter members or State Chapters seeking admission to NFNSSAA may disagree with the Executive Committee's decision concerning the status of their State Chapter, or with the reasons cited for noncompliance. Should a State Chapter member or a State Chapter seeking membership disagree with their status or with the reasons stated for noncompliance, a State Chapter shall have the right to appeal. The following procedures shall be used to appeal a decision made by the NFNSSAA Executive Committee:
It shall be the policy of the National Federation to develop, review, and revise all policy statements of the National Federation. The Board of Directors shall conduct an annual review of all NFNSSAA policy statements and develop new policies as needed to fulfill the mission and facilitate the operation of the National Federation. No policy shall be adopted that is contrary to the Articles of Incorporation, By-Laws, or the Mission of the National Federation.
POLICY STATEMENT #2: Criteria for Membership of State Chapters
It shall be the policy of the National Federation to regularly develop, review, and revise the Criteria for Membership of State Chapters. The Board of Directors shall ensure that the following steps have been taken before considering membership in NFNSSAA. A State Chapter shall establish:
- articles of incorporation approved and filed by the respective Secretary of State,
- articles of incorporation and by-laws that will allow the State Chapter to qualify as a tax exempt organization under Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954,
- by-laws that allow the regulatory governing board to conduct the affairs of the State Chapter through an annual meeting,
- criteria for elementary and secondary schools and also for special education and pre-school, if they choose to offer these programs,
- an annual review and reporting processes by which the school demonstrates compliance with established standards which are designed to support ongoing improvement,
- policies for conducting a self-study with an on-site review that will be used at regular intervals for school improvement,
- standards to promote self-improvement which include the following areas:, Mission and Philosophy, Administration, Governance, School Climate, Parental and Community Involvement, Student Services, Professional Staff, Curriculum, Instructional Resources, Strategic Plans, Development, and Finances,
- criteria for each standard which defines components of the standard,
- policies and procedures for admitting new members and terminating delinquent members,
- Guiding Principles that will help schools understand the purpose of accreditation, the value of criteria, and the expectations of a State Chapter,
- procedures to monitor the implementation of recommendations made at the last site visit,
- procedures to submit the minutes of the annual regulatory board meeting to the National Federation Board,
- appeals procedures for a member school challenging its accreditation status, and
- documentation for all NFNSSAA criteria along with a letter requesting membership; membership will be determined by a consent resolution the Executive Committee.
POLICY STATEMENT #3: Procedures for Reviewing State Chapters
It shall be the policy of the National Federation to regularly develop, review, and revise the Procedures for Reviewing the Operations and Functions of State Chapters, including annual State Chapter Reports that include the following documentation:
- number of member schools in the state Chapter;
- status of member schools;
- number of schools that have applied for membership;
- names of the regulatory board including the officers;
- by-laws, noting any significant changes;
- admission procedures, noting any changes;
- standards and criteria, noting any changes;
- income statement for the past fiscal year;
- minutes from the annual regulatory board meeting;
- annual membership dues to the National Federation;
- appeal procedures, noting any changes; and
- changes in state legislation that have affected a State Chapter.
The NFNSSAA Board of Directors shall review the documentation at the annual meeting to determine the status of the State Chapter.
POLICY STATEMENT #4: Procedures for Terminating Noncompliant State Chapters
It shall be the policy of the National Federation to regularly develop, review, and revise Procedures for Terminating Noncompliance State Chapters. Compliance is determined after approving the annual state chapter reports by a majority vote of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee of the Board of Directors shall declare State Chapters noncompliant when the following violations occur: failure to file an annual report with the National Federation; failure to submit the minutes of the annual board meeting, or a copy of last year’s financial statement, or failure to pay the yearly NFNSSAA dues; failure to attend the annual meeting without advance notification to the Executive Committee of the National Federation; and/or serious noncompliance with the NFNSSAA Articles of Incorporation, the By-Laws, or the established Policy Statements.
When the Executive Committee declares a State Chapter noncompliant, the committee shall issue a First Warning letter indicating the reason. When the Executive Committee declares a State Chapter noncompliant for the second time, a Second Warning letter will be issued indicating the reason. No State Chapter may be given a Second Warning unless the reason for the warning is the same as the First Warning. The noncompliant State Chapter shall have a period of one (1) year until the next annual meeting of the National Federation to come into compliance. When the State Chapter has not complied one (1) year after the Second Warning, the NFNSSAA Board shall issue a Letter Terminating Membership that is signed by the Executive Committee and sent by registered mail.
POLICY STATEMENT #5: Appeals Procedures
It shall be the policy of the National Federation to regularly develop, review, and revise Appeals Procedures. State Chapter members or State Chapters seeking admission to NFNSSAA may disagree with the Executive Committee's decision concerning the status of their State Chapter, or with the reasons cited for noncompliance. Should a State Chapter member or a State Chapter seeking membership disagree with their status or with the reasons stated for noncompliance, a State Chapter shall have the right to appeal. The following procedures shall be used to appeal a decision made by the NFNSSAA Executive Committee:
- At least thirty (30) business days prior to the annual meeting of the Board of Directors, the State Chapter shall receive by registered mail, notification of its status with the National Federation. A State Chapter may challenge its status within those thirty (30) days by writing to the President of NFNSSAA.
- The Board of Directors of the National Federation shall establish an Appeals Board within thirty (30) days upon receipt of the State Chapter’s letter requesting an appeal.
- The Appeals Board shall consist of the NFNSSAA President and three other board approved committee members that are not board members but are representatives from member states.
- The Appeals Board must hold a hearing within thirty (30) days of receipt of the written complaint.
- The State Chapter filing the appeal may have an additional state representative present to present the member’s case or to present any additional information that may be pertinent.
- The decision of the Appeals Board shall be final. The reasons for their decision shall be sent to the Executive Committee of the National Federation within fifteen (15) days of the date of the hearing. The member State Chapter shall pay the expenses (travel, room and board) of the Appeals Board.