To: Bureau Directors
Regional Directors
Schools Division/City Superintendents
Heads, Private Elementary and Secondary Schools

1. Statement of Policy
   1. It is the declared policy of the State to encourage and assist, through the Department of Education (DepED), private elementary and secondary schools which desire to attain standards of quality over and above the minimum required by the State.
   2. For this purpose, the DepED encourages the use of voluntary non-governmental accreditation system in aid of the exercise of its regulatory functions. The DepED will promote a policy environment which supports the non-governmental and voluntary character and protects the integrity of the accreditation process.
   3. The DepED recognizes the pioneering work and efforts of the accrediting agencies federated under the Federation of Accrediting Agencies of the Philippines (FAAP) namely: the Association of Christian Schools, Colleges and Universities Accrediting Agency, Inc. (ACSCU-AAI), the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU) and the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation (PACUCOA).
   4. The DepED hereby authorizes the FAAP as the agency that would certify the accredited status of schools in accordance with its own standards for purposes of the grant of progressive deregulation status and other benefits as contained in this Order.
2. Accreditation Levels
   1. The scheme for progressive deregulation of qualified educational programs established pursuant to Part III, Rule IV, Section 2b of the Implementing Rules of Batas Pambansa Blg. 232 and to Resolution No. 66 of the Regular Session of the Batasang Pambansa otherwise known as the National Development Plan, 1983-1984 shall be upheld.
   2. For purposes of progressive deregulation and grant of other benefits, private elementary and high schools that have been granted recognition and have had graduates for at least two (2) consecutive years, are classified as candidates for one of three (3) accredited levels:
      b.1 Candidate Status: schools which have undergone a preliminary survey visit and are certified by FAAP as capable of attaining accredited status within two years.
      b.2 Level I Accredited Status: schools which have been granted initial accreditation status for a period of three years by any of the FAAP member agencies and duly certified by the Federation.
      b.3 Level Il Re-Accredited Status: schools which have been granted re-accreditation status for a period of three or five years by any of the FAAP member agencies and duly certified by the Federation.
      b.4 Level III Re-Accredited Status: schools which have been granted re-accreditation status and have met the additional criteria/guidelines set by FAAP for this level. The schools should satisfy the following criteria/guidelines:
      1. A reasonably high standard of instruction.
      2. Well-developed mechanism for improving and upgrading its own curriculum.
      3. Creditable performance of its teachers that promote effectiveness of teaching and learning.
      4. High level of achievement and performance of students in both academic and co-curricular activities.
      5. A highly visible community, extension program describing the nature and extent of student and teacher involvement and the impact of such program to the community.
      6. A strong faculty development tradition evidenced by an appropriate budget allocation and/or systematic plan for staff development programs.
      7. The schools should submit documentary evidence to support their claims.
         Only schools that have been granted “clean” re-accreditation, meaning that no progress report or interim visits are required within the five year accreditation period, may apply for level III status.
3. Benefits
   The following benefits for the different accreditation levels shall be provided:
   1. Level I
      a.1 Partial administrative deregulation, provided that reports of promotion of students and lists of graduates are available for review by the Department of Education (DepED) at all times.
      a.2 Financial deregulation, in terms of setting tuition and other school fees and charges.
      a.3 Partial curricular autonomy, provided that the minimum requirements and guidelines are complied with and the revised curriculum is submitted to DepED Regional Offices.
      a.4 Authority to graduate students without prior approval of DepED.
      a.5 Priority in the awards of grants/subsidies from DepED for student scholarships, e.g., the Educational Contracting Scheme, scholarships for faculty development and funding assistance for other development programs.
      a.6 Right to use on its publication or advertisement the word “ACCREDITED” pursuant to DepED policies and rules.
      a.7 Limited visitation, inspection and/or supervision by DepED supervisory personnel or representatives.
   2. Level II
      b.1 Full administrative deregulation, provided that reports of promotion of students and lists of graduates are available for review by the DepED at all times.
      b.2 Financial deregulation, in terms of setting tuition and other school fees and charges,
      b.3 Full curricular autonomy, i.e. authority to modify the curriculum without DepED approval provided that the minimum requirements and guidelines are complied with and the modified curriculum is an enriched version of the 2002 Basic Education Curriculum and is submitted to DepED Regional Offices.
      b.4 Authority to graduate students without prior approval of DepED.
      b.5 Priority in the awards of grants/subsidies from DepED for student scholarships, e.g. the Educational Contracting Scheme, scholarships for faculty development and funding assistance for other development programs.
      b.6 Right to use on its publication or advertisement the word ‘’ACCREDITED’’ pursuant to DepED policies and rules.
      b.7 Limited visitation, inspection and/or supervision by DepED supervisory personnel or representatives.
   3. Level III
      c.1 All the benefits for Level I and II.
      c.2 Full curricular autonomy, including the authority to innovate without need for prior approval provided that the concerned DepED Regional Office is duly informed.
      c.3 Grant of full autonomy including freedom from visitation, inspection and/or supervision by DepED supervisory personnel or representatives for the duration of its Level III accredited status.
4. Effectivity
   This Order supersedes DECS Order No. 93, s. 1992 entitled “Revised Policies on Voluntary Accreditation and Deregulation” and shall take effect immediately,
   Other existing DECS/DepED issuances contrary to or inconsistent with this Order are also hereby rescinded.

Reference:
DECS Order: (No. 93, s. 1992)
Allotment: 1- -(D.O. 50-97)

To be indicated in the Perpetual Index under the following subjects:
ACCREDITATION
POLICY
SCHOOLS

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