FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Perry County School System Earns Cognia Accreditation
Marion, AL – June 27, 2024 – Perry County School System has earned Cognia® Accreditation. Cognia is a nonprofit organization that provides quality assurance for schools, school districts, and education service providers.
Cognia, formerly AdvancED, nationally recognizes districts that meet rigorous standards focused on productive learning environments, equitable resource allocation that meets the needs of learners, and effective leadership. Earning accreditation from the Cognia Global Accreditation Commission means that the school is accredited, and that the Perry County School District is recognized across the nation as a school district that meets Cognia Performance Standards and maintains a commitment to continuous improvement.
“School accreditation as conferred by the Cognia Global Accreditation Commission provides Perry County School System a nationally recognized mark of quality for our school system,” shared Dr. Marcia A. Smiley, Superintendent. “It demonstrates to our community our commitment to excellence, our openness to external review and feedback, and our desire to be the best we can be on behalf of the students we serve.”
To earn Cognia accreditation, a school district also must implement a continuous process of improvement and submit to internal and external review. Schools in good standing can maintain their accreditation for a six-year term.
Dr. Mark A. Elgart, president and CEO of Cognia, stated, “Cognia Accreditation is a rigorous process that focuses the entire school and its community on the primary goal of preparing lifelong learners in engaging environments where all students can flourish. Francis Marion School and Robert C. Hatch High School are to be commended for demonstrating that they have met high standards and is making progress on key indicators that impact student learning.”
Cognia is the parent organization of the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI), Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI). Parents and interested community members can learn more about Cognia Accreditation at cognia.org
About Cognia
Cognia is a global, nonprofit improvement organization dedicated to helping institutions and other education providers grow learners, teachers, and leaders. Cognia offers accreditation and certification, assessment, and improvement services within a framework of continuous improvement. Serving 40,000 public and private institutions from early learning through high school in more than 90 countries, Cognia brings a global perspective to advancing teaching and learning. Find out more at cognia.org.
About the Perry County School District
The Perry County School District is dedicated to preparing students to become productive citizens in a global society, with strong community support. The district achieves this by creating college and career-ready students through a balanced curriculum and maintaining high expectations in a safe environment. The Perry County School District believes in building relationships to support learning, ensuring students have access to a quality education and the right to learn in a safe environment. Find out more at perrycountyal.org.
Media Contact: Allison Taylor
ataylor@perrycountyal.org, 334-683-4144