La Salle Regional School Accredited by Middle States Association

The Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS) recently awarded accreditation to  of Farmingdale, recognizing the school's outstanding academic performance and its strategic plan for improvement.

A team of voluntary educators visited the school last May to meet with instructors, students, administrators and parents to see if the institution was worthy of the Middle States Association accreditation. Members of the team spent three days observing classroom procedures, exploring school grounds and studying the school's imperative plan for advancement. After seven months, LaSalle Regional School was approved for accreditation in December of 2010.

"It has brought a sense of pride to the community, especially our parents," said Christine Bendish, LaSalle Regional School principal. "The bottom line is that this is a self study. We're looking at our strengths and we're looking at our weaknesses. No school is perfect, but this is acknowledging that we want to continue to grow and improve."

Although the school was visited in May, the process began long before. To prepare for accreditation, the Farmingdale elementary school's faculty and administration formed a steering committee in 2008, led by first grade teacher Lisa Shirreffs.

Shirreffs explained that the necessary strategic plan presented the Middle States Association with several ideas on how to have a more technological approach to education. "We want to have a Smartboard in every room, and obtain new microscopes for each science lab," she said.

Principal Bendish added that another vital part of the plan was to make the school's library automated. In addition to the technological factors, the steering committee focused on improving state test scores, specifically in the math department.

A member of the Diocese of Rockville Centre's Education Department, LaSalle Regional School was among seven schools that were newly accredited, and four schools that were honored with re-accreditation in Nassau County since last year.

To earn accreditation from MSA-CESS, each institution must measure up to the Middle States Association's standards for mission/beliefs/objectives, governance and leadership, organizational design and staff, educational programs, learning media services and technology, student services, student life and activities, facilities, health and safety, finances, assessment of student learning and planning.

“These schools join a prestigious network of Middle States-accredited schools committed to a more fair and comprehensive assessment of achievement and success that goes beyond standardized test scores and students’ performances to encompass programs, services, and facilities,” said Dr. Henry Cram, MSA-CESS president.

The Middle States Association is based out of Philadelphia, PA and accredits nearly 3,600 facilities throughout 86 countries worldwide.