The Center for Teaching and Learning has received “continued accreditation” status from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. On June 30, Head of School Kay Inman received the commission’s report which completes a 10-year accreditation process. In the past year, CTL received two visits as the process came to a close. In May, a NEASC team consisting of two heads of school and three teachers visited the private kindergarten through grade eight school in Edgecomb. 

The team spent five days reviewing the school’s curriculum, witnessing the student experience and evaluating a self-study report provided by the school. An earlier visit by two heads of school in September focused on school administration and operation.

For Inman, the accreditation process is worthwhile for improving the school over the next five to 10 years. While accreditation is not a state requirement for either private or public Maine schools, it does provide a “stamp of approval” by an independent body affirming the school’s status as an outstanding educator. “It’s a great process which asks you to pause and look at what you are doing,” she said. “It also matters for parents who are looking for a school for their children. They look at our website because they’ve heard good things about the school. When they see we have NEASC accreditation, I think that matters to them.”

In NEASC’s letter, the commission listed a series of strengths and suggested improvements. The commission praised CTL for its robust communication systems. The school has a weekly newsletter sent on Fridays which updates parents, grandparents and alumni. Inman also greets parents each morning as they bring their children to school. “It’s a great way to say hello and receive a quick thought from parents in the morning,” Inman said.

The commission described CTL’s communication as one which makes “families feel connected to the school’s happening and activities with information,” wrote Director of Accreditation and School Improvement Daniel J. Ferris. “In addition, the commission commends your high levels of parental, student, faculty staff satisfaction with the CTL experience. Likewise, the commission could not fail to commend the head of school for her vision, dedication and commitment to the CTL mission,” he wrote.

The commission also gave CTL high marks for the faculty’s and staff’s dedication to their “workshop approach” to education. “Prioritizing student voice and choice and putting the child squarely at the center of learning.” The report also highlighted faculty’s discussing and considering every aspect of the curriculum. The visiting team was impressed and documented how the faculty modeled “curiosity, teamwork, and a commitment to lifelong learning,” he wrote. 

The commission provided three areas for improvement. It recommended the school clarify language in its mission statement.  CTL’s mission statement reads “The Center for Teaching and Learning is a K-8 demonstration school dedicated to the development and dissemination of authentic, joyful methods for teaching across the curriculum. We seek to teach and influence both a cross-section of children of mid-coastal Maine and, through our intern program, speeches and publications, classroom teachers throughout the U.S.”

Inman interpreted the commission’s critique as focusing too heavily on being a demonstration school. CTL invites six teachers per year to spend five weeks observing its educational program. “They believe our mission statement is too heavily focused on the teacher experience, and could benefit with language focused more on the students’ experience,” Inman said. 

The commission also recommends effectively communicating CTL’s rationale for curricular choices related to shared concerns by enrolled families for offering Algebra I and foreign language as an afterschool elective. Inman said the school will review the offerings a part of its review process. “The way our school is set up we don’t feel there is enough time during the day to offer these subjects,” she said.

The third recommendation regards strategic planning by adding more diversity, equity, inclusion and justice into the curriculum, hiring practices and enrollment. The commission told CTL officials they should celebrate their accomplishments. “These are proud achievements and milestones. At the same time, the school community is in position to respond to several recommendations from the self-study, visiting team and commission. These standard specific and major recommendations should be incorporated into the school’s strategic planning process,” wrote Ferris. 

As part of the ongoing accreditation process, the school is required to submit annual reports. The commission’s next scheduled visits are fall 2032 and spring 2033.

CTL opened in 1990. It was created by Nancie Atwell as a “demonstration school” dedicated to the development and dissemination of authentic, joyful methods for teaching across the curriculum. This is the third time CTL has received NEASC accreditation.