Maryland Accreditation Timeline
A 24-month process will lead your program through meeting each of the Maryland Accreditation Standards, ending in receiving an Accreditation Decision.
- Participate in orientation.
- Within 12 months of finishing orientation, register online and click “begin” in your binder.
- Form Self-Appraisal Team.
- Submit Initial Self-Appraisals ratings. Upload required documentation in each indicator.
- Apply for Maryland Accreditation Support Funds.
- Continue program improvements by completing a Program Improvement Plan.
- Request or decline Technical Assistance sessions.
- Submit Final Self-Appraisal ratings. Finish uploading required documentation in each indicator.
- At least 90 days before your accreditation or cycle expires, request a Validation Visit.
- At least 30 days before expiration, host the Validation Visit.
- Within 3 days of binder reopening, upload comments, required evidence and pictures in response to validator’s ratings.
- Receive Accreditation Decision from MSDE. The date of receipt becomes your anniversary date.
Once your program is awarded Maryland Accreditation, your accreditation status is valid for five years.
During each of the first three years of accreditation, your program will submit an Annual Update near the anniversary of receiving your award. In the fourth year of accreditation, your program will not submit an Annual Update, as it will have begun re-accreditation.
Years One-Three
Annual Update
Submit the annual update up to 60 days before the due date.
Years Four-Five
Re-Accreditation
Begin Re-Accreditation 24 months before your expiration date. Start by completing the Maryland Accreditation Orientation and then begin a new accreditation cycle.
Open the Maryland Accreditation Timeline (English | Spanish) and Maryland Accreditation Process Checklist to download and print.