CONTACT:  Wendy V. Long, Public Relations

                        (413) 685-1003

Huntington – Gateway Regional High School Principal Kathleen McSweeney has announced that her school has submitted their final report to the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) in preparation for their accreditation visit in May.

The report is the culmination of a 1½-year self-study undertaken by the school, with input from staff, students, parents and community members. 

The accreditation process involves the self-study, an on-site evaluation by a Peer Review team, and a commitment to continuous improvement through required follow-up activities—defined as an outcome of the accreditation visit.

Gateway’s peer review team will visit May 6 through May 9, 2007.

According to Pamela Gray-Bennett, Ed. D, Director of the Commission of Public Secondary Schools, “The accreditation process gets at the systems, processes, and support that are necessary to address teaching and learning needs in member schools.  Accreditation assures students, parents and the community that teaching and learning, and the support of teaching and learning, are the priorities of the school and its improvement efforts.”

The Commission upholds Standards for Accreditation that involve the school’s mission and expectations for student learning; curriculum; instruction; assessment of student learning; leadership and organization; school resources for learning; and community resources for learning.  Those standards are available on the NEASC website . NEASC conducts the accreditation process for schools in the New England states.