St. Mary's Earns MNSAA Accreditation

The Minnesota Nonpublic School Accrediting Association (MNSAA) has renewed the accreditation of St. Mary’s Catholic School in Owatonna for the eligibility period of 2016 to 2022.  Accreditation is a voluntary method of quality assurance with a goal to evaluate, validate, and improve each school’s quality.
MNSAA is a federally recognized and state sanctioned nonprofit association for accrediting
nonpublic schools in the State of Minnesota.  The Association’s mission is to be a catalyst for enhancing the quality of K-12 nonpublic education in Minnesota through a comprehensive process of accreditation.  Our agency helps schools provide quality nonpublic education for the children of Minnesota for its member schools. MNSAA is governed by a member elected Board of Directors that bases its accreditation on a school’s evaluation through a self-study process.
Schools are accredited based on their compliance with a set of rigorous standards which identify essential curriculum, instruction, personnel, governance, facility, and marketing policies and practices that are considered necessary for an effective school.  The accreditation process includes the creation of a visionary and focused strategic plan for improvement and an onsite visit by a team of educators from member schools.  Accreditation with MNSAA relies heavily on how the individual school defines its mission and the way it seeks to accomplish that mission.
MNSAA is pleased to have St. Mary’s Catholic School join some of the more than 170 accredited schools that make up the Association.  MNSAA salutes St. Mary’s commitment to providing outstanding education to the children of this community.  MNSAA will continue to provide guidance to the St. Mary’s School through an annual review of its strategic plan.