Accreditation
University School of Jackson is a member of the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS). To earn accreditation from SAIS, USJ must comply with quality standards, be evaluated by an outside group of peer professionals, and implement a school plan focused on strategic improvement and student performance in accordance with the school’s mission.
In today’s world of accountability in education, accreditation serves as a critical component of a school’s demonstrated effectiveness and ability to provide successful schooling for children. A school that is able to achieve accreditation demonstrates a commitment to a process that requires the school to meet a set of rigorous standards; to engage in a program of continuous school improvement, and to demonstrate quality assurance to its stakeholders through self-evaluation and peer-review. SAIS accreditation provides schools access to an integrated network of services and technical assistance that supports every school’s ability to identify and meet its goals for improving the teaching and learning process and mission-focused outcomes for students.
SAIS began its organizational life in 1903 as the Mid-South Association of Independent Schools (MAIS). In 1953, another organization began as the Southern Association of Independent Schools, providing a forum for independent school administrators to work with public schools through SACS and to contribute to the larger interest in accreditation in the Southeast. MAIS and SAIS merged in 1986 to form the present-day SAIS, which now works at the state, regional, and national levels, to serve and strengthen member schools through the promotion of the highest quality educational standards and ethical conduct. The mission of SAIS is to provide leadership, accreditation services, and professional development resources that will strengthen member schools as they fulfill their missions.
Additional Memberships
- National Association of Independent Schools
- Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association
- Educational Records Bureau
- The College Board
- Tennessee Library Association
- American Library Association
- Tennessee Association for the Gifted
- Tennessee Teachers of Foreign Languages
- National Association of Secondary School Principals
- National Association of Elementary School Principals
- Jackson Arts Council
- National Council of Teachers of English