Northwest Association of Independent Schools (NWAIS) Accreditation Visit

Every eight years, The Bush School participates in an accreditation process through the Northwest Association of Independent Schools (NWAIS). At the heart of the process is an extensive self-study that asks us to look closely at all aspects of the school through the lens of our mission: “To spark in students of diverse backgrounds and talents a passion for learning, accomplishment, and contribution to their communities.” It is an opportunity to step back, reflect on our practices, celebrate what is working well, and identify areas where we can continue to grow.

Bush began this work last school year. Faculty, staff, administrators, and trustees examined  different areas of the school, gathering evidence, discussing current practices, and developing responses to questions established by NWAIS. We incorporated feedback gathered from families during the strategic planning process, as well as student and parent and guardian surveys in recent years. Throughout the process, we considered how our programs and practices reflect our mission and align with NWAIS standards for independent schools.

The self-study is one of the most valuable parts of the accreditation process. It gives us an opportunity to ask important questions about Bush: Where are we acting on our mission particularly well? What have we learned? Where can we become stronger? And how can what we learn inform the school’s continued growth?

This year, our work moves into the next phase. On Wednesday, October 21, Bush welcomed the chairs of our NWAIS visiting team for a preliminary visit. They spent the day learning more about Bush, meeting with school and board leadership, and preparing for the full accreditation visit from Sunday, February 28 through Wednesday, March 3. 

Made up of educators and leaders from other NWAIS schools, the full visiting team will spend these days observing classes, meeting with members of the community, reviewing our self-study, and learning more about our programs and practices. Many students, faculty, staff, parents and guardians, and trustees will have opportunities to participate in conversations with the team.

Thank you to the many members of the Bush community who have already contributed their time, thought, and perspective to this work. We look forward to sharing more as the accreditation process continues.