School self-improvement is an honorable process in which the end goal is a high quality level of care and instruction for children. Preschools pursuing accreditation enter a two to three-year process. The school responds to the questions in the ACSI Preschool Accreditation Manual, explaining its approaches and assessing its strengths and weaknesses. Areas for improvement are identified by the school in each section of the self-study. This process culminates in a three-day visiting committee of two directors from largely accredited programs with full knowledge of the ACSI accreditation process. The committee verifies the results of the self-study and assists the school in defining its improvement plans for the next three years.

To assist the schools, the southern California region has developed PAT as an accreditation training and preparation program conducted by ACSI for its member schools desiring to go through the preschool accreditation process for the first time. Participants (administrators and/or teachers) enrolling in the training for the 2005-06 school year would attend the following PAT sessions.

Schools interested in accreditation should purchase the ACSI Preschool Accreditation Manual from ACSI Headquarters. Applications are in the manual. Schools should also contact Debbi Keeler for the next available orientation.