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What is the impact of the accreditation bill in the USA?

“Accreditation will uphold the highest standards of English language instruction that will protect students as far as marketing practices are concerned, improve student support services and will protect faculty to make sure they are treated fairly,” Delk states.

"It's not an easy process"

For those businesses approaching accreditation for the first time, the process can be revelatory, according to Lisa McKinney, Intensive English Language Programme faculty coordinator at Portland State University. “The process is wonderful,” she says. “It’s a time for our programme to reflect on our strengths and the areas we can improve in.”

McKinney reveals her department decided to voluntarily begin the accreditation process despite its affiliation with the university. “I think overall it’s an arduous process but in the end it’s going to make our programme stronger and healthier.”

But ACCET associate executive director, Charlie Matterson, says accreditation is a double-edged sword. While it will improve the industry and the ESL profession in the US, he says it reduces competition in the industry.

“The law has put up big obstacles for new schools to get started”

“The law has put up big obstacles for new schools to get started. They must have two years of operational experience to be accredited. The accreditation process takes 12-18 months. [So] overall, it’s a four year process before you can issue I-20’s,” he says.

Matterson claims some schools have inquired about the process but after confronted with the requirements and cost they opt not to go through it. “I don’t know if they close their doors but we don’t hear from them again,” he says.

The Student and Exchange Visitor Programme (SEVP), a branch of the Department of Homeland Security, is the government authority enforcing the statutory mandate. Currently it is in the process of reviewing all English language programmes of study to ensure compliance with the act.

In due course, figures for the number of operators choosing to remain outside the quality accreditation process (therefore ineligible to operate) should become available.

DHS explains that programmes not in compliance have been issued Notices of Intent to Withdraw- an official notification requiring the school to submit evidence that it is indeed in compliance. SEVP will revoke certification and rights to issue I-20 visas from any programmes who do not provide evidence.

Already, the implications of the new bill are impacting; a significant new chapter for one of the most popular English language teaching destinations in the world.

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8 Responses to What is the impact of the accreditation bill in the USA?

    • Quality, credibility and assurance international students will be following a sound curriculum at a serious private institution when coming to the US to learn English.
      Its a leap moment for many independent schools not familiar with quality and compliance standards, therefore a change on the ESL teaching profession. There was a time, when any native English speaker could work at an ESL school and teach English. Courses were extremely expensive and the focus was to have fun while learning. With the growth of the international student population wishing to attain a degree in the US some university affiliated IEP’s redesigned courses to ensure academic achievement and ESL students success in a university setting.
      The accreditation law now brings this required commitment to quality to all independent ESL schools. As it is a fairly new concept to non credit institutions and while many questions remain as for practical implementation, the only known outcome so far is that independent school administrators already positioned themselves to comply or decided not to pursue accreditation and change to a different business segment.

      • This accreditation does no such thing. They put very unreal expectations on schools. EVERYTHING is focused around a mission statement. How many schools have you EVER gone to that you even KNEW the mission? did it matter? I understand that you have to have standards.. but I have been teaching in the public schools for years..and had some of the highest test scores and overall student performance for over 20 years. Their whole reliance on “measurable objectives” and “proficiencies” and SLO’s are a waste of time. Even they have to admit there is no difference between proficiencies and SLO’s. It’s a big farce and a waste of time. They make you do unnecessary paperwork for no reason. Why are we doing faculty meeting notes AND agendas? it’s ridiculous

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