Case Study: School Improvement – Accreditation/SEVIS/Strategic Planning

Client: Oak Crest Academy (OCA)

Location: California/Massachusetts – 5 locations – Multi-campus

Consulting Firm: JAG Consulting

Project Duration: 12 Months

Project Overview

PK-12 Private School turned to JAG Consulting Services when they needed to expand their campus locations, obtain accreditation for their multicampus school, and acquire expert guidance with school improvement.

Oak Crest Academy (OCA) engages gifted and talented students grades K-12 and provides an exceptional hands-on academic experience, while also integrating creative courses such as; music, foreign language, yoga, chess, rocket engineering, fine arts, woodworking, meditation, Odyssey of the Mind, and more.  OCA has multiple campuses, including an online program, and continues to expand.

Challenges

Accreditation needed for a system of schools; expansion plan; SEVP certification; school improvement

• Need 5 campuses to become accredited
• Lack of knowledge within the school on how to obtain system accreditation status
• Need accreditation to establish a high-level program
• Large undertaking, lacking staff
• Need expansion to East Coast
• Need expansion of boarding school
• Need advice on improvement
• Need advice on school management
• Need SEVP certification (1-20 international student visa)

JAG Consulting Solutions

Well-planned knowledge and experienced team

• Evaluated and delivered detailed feedback for filing for the Accreditation Readiness Review
• Prepared for Accreditation Site Visit and prepped faculty
• Attended Site Visit and provided presentation to the Accreditation team
• Successful obtainment of System Accreditation for all campuses
• Successful acquisition of SEVP certification for all campuses
• Successful expansion to East Coast with the creation of a campus in Massachusetts in partnership with Harvard
• Successful development of K-12 boarding school in Pomona, California
• Increased processes with school management

Results

By obtaining System Accreditation for all of its campuses, the school can now ensure its program meets the rigorous requirements of a first-rate private school, which promises the engagement of students around the globe.  Additionally, OCA has now been able to expand to a different state allowing for additional enrollment and validating the school’s exceptional program.

Multicampus System Accreditation with Cognia 

The OCA project leader explains that by expanding the program and increases the school’s recognition as a distinguished accredited institution they can reach more students and increase enrollment.  By improving the school using JAG Consulting Services, they can accurately reflect the improvements and expansion of OCA. JAG Consulting Services offers services in all realms of private school improvement and development and with its highly experienced team, can service schools with their improvement plans.

SEVP Certification

Within the 2 years of OCA utilizing JAG Consulting Services they have been able to obtain system accreditation and SEVP certification for their multicampus school, expand their locations coast to coast, develop a boarding school, hire distinguished faculty, and streamline processes.  Each of these improvements were optimized using the expert team at JAG Consulting Services. For this, OCA appreciated the skill and far-reaching knowledge of JAG Consulting Services team.

Expansion – Massachusetts Campus

Expansion – Boarding School 

Establishment of Online Program (OCAIL)

Keys to Success

By utilizing JAG Consulting Services and streamlining the process of accreditation, SEVP certification, and school expansion, OCA was able to complete these tasks in a shorter timeframe and with expert guidance.  System accreditation began in May of 2019 with a site visit occurring in January 2020 and approval concurring in May 2020.  During this process, the development of a boarding school began in August of 2018 with completion occurring in June 2020.  Additionally, the opening of the Massachusetts campus will follow in January 2021.  Lastly, SEVP certification for all campuses was completed in March of 2020.