Overview   

 
In 1994, the Bishops of Ohio formed the Ohio Catholic School Accrediting Association (OCSAA). The OCSAA is a collaborative undertaking of the Catholic dioceses in Ohio and is governed by the Superintendents of Schools who serve as the OCSAA Commission. The purpose of the OCSAA is to strengthen Catholic school identity and mission and to engage Catholic schools in the ongoing improvement of student learning.

The Guidelines for Ohio's Catholic Schools outlines the process through which a school seeks and maintains accreditation. In keeping with the mission of the OCSAA, this process has as its hallmark a commitment to continuous improvement. As each school engages in strategic planning, it moves toward the vision of a high performing school in which students are grounded in their faith life and achieve at high levels.

OCSAA accreditation also requires schools to show evidence that they are implementing OCSAA Standards. The State Board of Education has approved these Standards as comparable to the Operating Standards for Ohio's Schools. Through the OCSAA accreditation process, a new Catholic school can apply for a charter from the state of Ohio and existing Catholic schools can maintain their state charters.