In May 1995 the Oklahoma State Legislature passed, and the Governor signed, Senate Bill 479 which says in part,

Private and parochial schools may be accredited and classified in like manner as public schools, or, if an accrediting association is approved by the State Board of Education, by procedures established by the State Board of Education to accept accreditation by such accrediting association, if application is made to the State Board of Education for such accreditation.

In October 1995 the Oklahoma State Board of Education approved the application of the Oklahoma Private School Accreditation Commission to oversee the work of individual private school accrediting agencies. Subsequently, several accrediting agencies petitioned OPSAC for approval.

The relationship of OPSAC with the Oklahoma State Department of Education provides the following activities related to accredited nonpublic schools:

Each agency has established its own criteria for accreditation. In all applicable requirements, the private school agency's requirements are comparable to State requirements for public schools. Many agencies include specific requirements pertaining to religious instruction and religious values. Such requirements cannot be established for the public schools.

One way of gauging the quality of a private school is through the school's accreditation. It is important to know something about the accrediting agency as well as to know something about the school itself. All OPSAC agencies recommend parents take time to spend at least a day at the school they are considering for their childern. During the visit, parents should talk to administrators and teachers and observe classes in session.

OPSAC is not an accrediting agency. It is, instead, a consortium of accrediting agencies whose primary purpose is to maintain standards among its member agencies. Schools must apply to OPSAC member agencies for accreditation.

An accrediting agency that requires schools to uphold standards comparable to State standards may apply to an agency for accreditation. These standards include, but are not limited to, consideration of the school's goals and objectives; compliance with applicable state and federal statutes; effective governance and administration; the teaching of a balanced curriculum; implementation of personnel practices which ensure the hiring of qualified and degreed instructional leaders; and standards for student achievement.

Each OPSAC approved accrediting agency conducts on-site visits of the schools it accredits and requires ongoing accreditation reports and programs.

Accredited schools usually have a higher quality curriculum and better qualified teachers. Grades and courses completed at accredited private schools are accepted in public schools should you wish to transfer your child. If your child intends to seek admission to a college or university, a diploma from a non-accredited high school may not be recognized for meeting admission requirements.

You may contact OPSAC for general information about private schools and accrediting agencies by writing or calling: