Our Accreditation
Unlike many private special needs schools, St. Mary Academy is fully accredited.  St. Mary Academy holds national accreditation from The National Council for Private Schools, Florida Catholic Conference, The Coalition of McKay Scholarship Schools and the National Catholic Educational Association.  Not only do these accreditation agencies ensure your child receives only the highest-level of educational services, but you can rest assured knowing that our long-term goals are implemented and tracked with verifiable data. Our accreditation ensures that St. Mary Academy is a trustworthy establishment of learning and our educational programs are of the highest quality.  Learn more about our accreditation by calling (941) 366-4010

Click here to read about Florida Catholic Conference Accreditation.
Click here to read about National Council for Private School Accreditation

​Florida Catholic Conference ​Accreditation

Picture
​Established in the 1969-1970 school year, the Florida Catholic Conference Accreditation Program (FCCAP) is  known as one of the earliest and finest programs of its   type in the nation. It has served as a model for programs/ conferences in other parts of the nation such as Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, etc. 

The FCCAP has established a system for accountability and school improvement through the adoption of 90-plus educational standards and our repeating “Seven-Year Cycle” of accreditation events. Through accountability to standards for beliefs and mission, personnel, program of learning, etc., FCCAP-accredited schools meet a baseline    for excellence in providing education.

​However, our program does not stop there as we also hold schools accountable for “not resting upon their laurels” but to have mechanisms in place for continued performance of students via cycle events such as: a 12-18 month self-study, a three-day, on-site visitation by team members from outside dioceses; and a third-year conference (a.k.a. meeting with principal, pastor, superintendent, etc. and a Florida Catholic Conference representative).

National Council for Private School Accreditation

Picture
In 1985 several private school organizations which accredited their member schools, worked with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Private Education in seeking Federal recognition of their accreditation programs.

However, the Department’s General Counsel ruled there was not statutory authority for the Department to recognize any elementary – secondary accrediting agencies – including regional associations such as the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, etc. As a result of this, efforts to obtain recognition of private school accreditation programs ceased.

The concept resurfaced in 1992, when the same private school organizations began exploring the possibility of developing a national entity (not Federal) which would essentially serve as an “accrediting association of private school accrediting agencies.”

​In September 1993, these organizations agreed to formalize the process at the National Council for Private School Accreditation (NCPSA). Sixteen associations now hold full membership status in the Council. And, in order to assure that NCPSA recognition remains credible, highly respected educators such as former U.S. Secretary of Education Terrel Bell, Middles States Association of Colleges and Schools Elementary School Commission John Stoops, and others were asked to serve on the Council as at-large or “public” representatives.