Accreditation system first created in the United States as a means to protect the safety and health of the public services. With these objectives the community grew quickly and the organization quality standards specified for public needs. The standard was created to meet the needs of the public such as education and health care. Then accredited college and university campuses evolve to meet the national education quality standards.
History of Education Program Accreditation in United State
Some of the first accreditation agencies in the United State was formed in 1880. The system of accreditation expand with the growing of educational institutions. The development of a regional accreditation grow naturally and was followed by the development of a national accreditation organization to meet minimum standards of quality throughout the country.
To meet the needs of national standards in 1912, 23 private schools created the National Association of Accredited Commercial Schools, currently referred to as the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS). ACICS as a national accreditation body in the United States today is still a highly respected body. ACICS until this year has given 800 institutes in the United States and abroad with a total population total about 700 thousand students.
American Council on Education (ACE) was established in 1918 to improve and extend the accreditation process for various academic programs. Until now, ACE has a membership of 80 per cent of the total university or college today.
After the second world war, the government began giving money to war veterans to pursue school education. The federal government then depending on the accreditation body to determine the school to raise veterans fund. So the government needs more professionals to evaluate the public school system / accreditation on a national scale. According ACICS, some new accreditation body has been formed. These accreditation bodies formed to create a national standard for professional education programs and specialists. The accreditation agencies such as the National Commission on Accrediting (NCA) and the Federation of Regional Accrediting Commissions of Higher Education (FRACHE).
In 1952, when the Korean War ended, the government has another benchmark in providing education to the veteran fund. With Veterans' readjustment Assistance Act, Congress enacted the educational assistance program similar to the GI Bill.
In 1996, the organization of Postsecondary Accreditation (COPA) was replaced by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Until now the primary authority to Congress and the Department of Education to provide assessment for accreditation bodies. If CHEA did not agree on standards and methodology of an accreditation body, then it shall not be recognized by the Department of Education as an accrediting agency.
CHEA is an educational organization with the most members, including 3,000 colleges and universities across the United States. There are 60 institutional accrediting agency. This organization is overseen by the Board of college and university presidents, members of the public and representatives of institutional representatives.
CHEA has now become a national resource center on facts and current issues in quality assurance and accreditation. Provides a forum for discussion about emerging topics in accreditation. CHEA always update the database of members that gives accreditation to programs and institutions