DID I PASS? (AND OTHER ACCREDITATION RELATED QUESTIONS FOR 2019 AND 2020!)

Thank you to everyone who participated in Accreditation visits this year!!!
Here are a few answers to some of your burning questions regarding 2019 and 2020 Accreditation.

Camps that were Visited in 2019 FAQs:

When do I get my scores?
Once all the scores come in and score forms have been reviewed by the national office, the American Camp Association, Illinois Board of Directors reviews all camps who are accredited and votes to pass accreditation for the next year, approximately mid to late October. 

How will I get my scores?
We will send a copy of your scores both as an email and mailed letter to your primary contact. Please check on who is listed as your primary contact and that your contact information is up to date so you don't miss the correspondence. Unsure of the Primary Contact listed for your account. Contact Allie Boyaris at allie@acail.org or call 312-332-0833 x 4.

How do I know if I passed?
Camps need to score 80% or higher in each section to pass. In the letter, mentioned above, it will begin with identifying whether or not you passed, it will then show you a breakdown of your scores for each section percentage-wise.

How are my scores calculated?
The national office of the American Camp Association assembles a team to facilitate the scoring. Each standard is weighted differently and this information is kept confidential as to not impact the integrity of the program

Who sees my score reports?
Once received by the American Camp Association, Illinois staff, only those staff who work directly with the process see the scores so they can create the letters to send to your primary contact. Your primary contact is encouraged to use discretion regarding the results. Communicating that you passed is all that needs to be said. Camps should keep your scores confidential.

Do I have to do an Annual Accreditation Report this winter?
Yep. Accreditation maintenance is yearly. You maintained your accreditation for 2019 by completing your visit this summer, so to maintain your accreditation through 2020 you will need to complete the Annual Accreditation Report between Dec. 1 and Feb 1. Failure to submit the Annual Accreditation Report results in an onsite visit in summer 2020.

When will my next visit be?
Great question. It varies from camp to camp. Please reach out to American Camp Association, Illinois staff to check on your status.

How will I know what to do next?
The American Camp Association, Illinois works hard to help you stay on track. We communicate updates and timelines through emails, newsletters, phone calls, social media. We make sure that you are well informed about the process. 

General Visitor & 2020 Plans FAQs 

How many camps were visited this year?
This year we had 24 camps visited!

How many visitors are there?
We had 26 visitors visiting this summer but have about 40 on our visiting roster. If you would like to become a visitor we invite you to reach out! Contact Allie Boyaris at allie@acail.org or call 312-332-0833 x 4.

How do I become a visitor? 
Being an ACA Visitor is such a great space to volunteer. We host visitor courses throughout the year so register for a course and fill out our application. All you need is to have taken the Accreditation Process Workshop to be qualified! 

Any advice for someone participating in accreditation next year?
Work on accreditation all year. Preparing for accreditation is time-consuming, but most of the standards should be implemented before you even hire staff. Don’t put it off until the last minute. Tackle smaller pieces of it over the year and you will be stronger and more prepared in the end.

How do I know if I will be visited in 2020 or need to complete the Annual Accreditation Report? 
Letters will be both emailed and mailed informing you of your camp's 2020 statuses. They will be sent addressed to the primary contact on your account in late October if you need to check to see who is your primary contact or make a change email Allie Boyaris at allie@acail.org or call 312-332-0833 x 4. You are always able to give us a call at 312-332-0833 as well to check on the status of your Accreditation Cycle.

However, If you are not being visited in 2020, all camps will need to complete an Annual Accreditation Report by Feb 1, 2020.
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