Rethinking Accreditation for Emerging Models — from permissionlessed.substack.com by Raphael Gang
What’s Next: Middle States’ Next Generation Accreditation
Inspired by the Iowa project, we teamed up with the Middle States Association (MSA)—a national accreditor that shared our belief that the process had become more of a hurdle than a help.
Together with partners like the National Microschooling Center, Kaipod, and Getting Smart, we’ve built something new: Next Generation Accreditation (NGA)—a faster, more flexible, more affordable process that respects school founders’ time, budgets, and models.
- Flexible evidence: Schools can demonstrate quality in ways that fit their model.
- More relevant standards: Built for founders, not bureaucrats.
- Affordable: Annual dues of $650–$775 and a flat $500 site visit fee—no upsells or hidden costs.
- Narrative-driven: Focused on how schools serve families and students, not just ticking boxes.
- Fast: We’re piloting this in 2025, aiming to accredit schools in time for ESA eligibility for the 2026–27 school year.