HLA is accredited by this agency. Read their Principles of Accreditation for Educational Agencies with Specials Purposes:
http://www.coe.uga.edu/gac/standards/agencies.htmlAccredited Status. Classification for an agency which has involved its faculty and staff in a study of the GAC principles and has provided the Commission with satisfactory documentation that the operation of the agency is in agreement with each principle.
Principle Number One:
The structure of the agency and the organization for basic responsibility should be clear. The agency and related administrative units must meet the following standards:
The educational program is under the administration of a person with a Master's degree.
The governing board of the agency publishes policies that will assure the observance of professional ethics by all concerned and will attract, retain, and promote the professional development of competent personnel.
The governing board delegates to the administrator executive and administrative functions, including the nomination of staff personnel.
Principle Number Two:
The agency's philosophy and objectives are recorded in a statement of purpose and a written account identifies the way the purpose is reflected in admissions and in the program of operation, administration, organization, instruction, and student activities.
The students served are so sufficiently different from those of a heterogeneous population that specialized instructional methods and/or facilities are needed.
The learning needs of the individual students served are so sufficiently similar that they can best be met by grouping these students together in a specialized setting.
The students served during any summer session include only those who would be eligible to be served by the agency during the normal school year. (All standards for high school summer school programs also apply to summer school programs provided by the agency.)
Teachers of mathematics, science, language arts, or social studies to students at any grade level have bachelor degrees and at least 6 semester hours credit in education courses.
Students who receive high school diplomas, other than GEDs or special education diplomas, have been taught high school mathematics, science, language arts, and social studies by teachers who have Georgia professional certificates in their teaching fields or bachelor degrees and at least 18 semester hours credit in their teaching fields.
Student records are protected against fire, theft, and damage by being located in a fire resistant cabinet or a duplicate set of records is located in another area.
Principle Number Three:
The application shows that the program provides opportunities for learning based upon knowledge of the learning process and the abilities and interests of all the students.
The application shows why each course offered is needed to achieve the purpose of the agency's educational program.
The application shows that the agency's educational program emphasizes evaluation as a major factor in demonstrating achievement of the agency's purpose.
Students who receive high school diplomas, other than GEDs or special education diplomas, meet the same course work requirements as required by the Georgia Accrediting Commission of students who graduate from public or private high schools.
Principle Number Four:
The quality of personnel determines, in large measure, the success of the program in meeting its goals and objectives.
The application shows, for each staff member, how the transcript of credits experience, and professional activities especially fit that person to perform the tasks assigned.
The application shows how the number of personnel proves to be adequate to the program's distinctive purpose.
The agency employs three or more full-time equivalent professional educators with the teaching staff having adequate academic preparation in language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. Other part-time teachers in specialty areas should be employed as needed.
The application shows salary increases for each staff member for the past year and the staff members' supplementary benefits are documented.
Principle Number Five:
The school plant and site provide an adequate physical environment for the school's educational program. The school is designed, operated, and maintained in a way in which the school's purpose and objectives are implemented.
The application shows that the size and design of buildings and grounds are suitable to the school's purpose in size and in design.
The application shows that available teaching materials and equipment are of acceptable quality, quantity and variety.
The agency has a minimum of 10 library books per student or a minimum of 7 library books per student and an annual expenditure of $2.00 or more per student for computer disks, video cassettes, video disks, filmstrips or other nonprint media.
The agency meets all applicable School Plant standards required for accreditation of High School programs. (Educational directors are encouraged to request waivers of specific standards that are inappropriate for the students they serve.)
Principle Number Six:
The governing board of the agency shall provide a system of financial support, budgeting and educational fund accounting that insures the operation of a quality program which is in keeping with the education purpose of the agency.
The application shows how the funds are adequate for the educational program.
The educational administrator is provided with an annual budget allocation that is adequate for the educational program.
Finances relating to all inter-school contests and all other school-sponsored activities are under the direct control of the educational administrator.
The monthly and annual salary of the educational administrator is greater than that of any other member of the educational staff with the same level of preparation and experience.
Each agency has a satisfactory system of internal accounting with records kept on all funds by the administrator or his or her appointed personnel. These records are audited annually and a financial statement is available.
Principle Number Seven:
The environment of the agency promotes ethical relationships, professional growth, and personal welfare for the faculty and staff. The agency's educational program also provides for the mental, physical and emotional health, and safety of the students.
The application shows that the agency has a plan to follow the progress of those students who have left the agency.
The application explains the professional growth experiences of the staff for the past year.
Executive Director
Carvin Brown, Ed.D.
2351 College Station Road
Athens, Georgia 30605
carvin@uga.edu 706-353-7090 (Phone)
706-353-2737 (Fax)
HLA's next required consultant visit is scheduled for Fall 2006.
