Governmental InStitUTions, Private School Affiliations and Accreditations
Pacific Christian School (PCS) is fully accredited by The Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). Pacific Christian School has been a member of the Association of Christian Schools International since 1985. The Association of Christian Schools International is the largest Protestant educational organization in the world. Since 1978, ACSI has advanced excellence in Christian schools by enhancing the professional and personal development of Christian educators and providing support functions for Christian schools. Those functions include a host of services, including teacher and administrator certification, school accreditation, legal/legislative services, and textbook publishing. ACSI member schools serve more than 5.5 million students worldwide. Along with a headquarters facility, ACSI has 25 offices in North America and around the globe. Nearly 24,000 schools from over 100 countries are members. The primary financial support for ACSI is from 3,300 US-based schools.
PCS is also fully accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Schools of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The purpose of the Commission is to foster excellence in elementary, secondary, adult, and postsecondary institutions, and supplementary education programs. The Commission encourages school improvement through a process of continuing evaluation and recognizes institutions through granting accreditation to the schools that meet an acceptable level of quality in accordance with the established standards created by the Accreditation Commission of Schools for the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
PCS is a member of The California Association of Private School Organizations (CAPSO). CAPSO is the voice of K-12 private education in California. Its primary mission is to preserve the independence of California’s private schools and to uphold parental choice in education. CAPSO, independently, and in collaboration with other community and governmental institutions, is an advocate, catalyst, and creative leader for strengthening and advancing K-12 private education in California. The California Association of Private School Organizations is a consortium of twenty-four pre-collegiate, independent and religious school organizations which strives to promote and preserve understanding among its members, to promote excellence in education throughout the represented schools, and to preserve philosophical and religious values as well as spiritual dimensions of life which are integral parts in the development of our students. An affiliate of the Council for American Private Education (CAPE), the Association supports the development of close, professional relationships, open communication and trust among various public and private educational institutions, the California Department of Education and the US Department of Education. A review of the member bodies of CAPSO reveals the great diversity of private education in the United States. The organizations represent schools, both sectarian and non-sectarian, serving approximately 80% of California’s children from preschool through twelfth grade who are enrolled in the state’s private schools.
California Department of Education
The California Department of Education is an agency within the Government of California that oversees public education. The department oversees funding and testing and holds local educational agencies accountable for student achievement. Each year Pacific Christian School files a Private School Affidavit with the California State Department of Education attesting that PCS is a private full-time school that offers instruction in the several branches of study required to be taught in public schools of California. The Private School Affidavit does not indicate approval, recognition, or endorsement by the state of California. Filing the Affidavit is not to be interpreted to mean, and it shall be unlawful for any school to expressly or by implication represent by any means whatsoever, that the State of California, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the State Board of Education, the CDE or any division or bureau of the Department or any accreditation agency of the department has made any evaluation, recognition, approval or endorsement of the school or courses unless this is an actual fact, which in our case is not.
Santa Barbara County of Education (SBCE)
Pacific Christian School operates in the local jurisdiction of the Santa Barbara County Department of Education. PCS is in the Orcutt Union Elementary school district and works cooperatively and collaboratively with each to provide students access to resources and services to which they are entitled under law.
Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE)
Pacific Christian School in partnership with the Sacramento County Office of Education participates in the SCOE Teacher Induction Program. Through our membership with ACSI, PCS is able to offer one-on-one mentorship to PCS teachers who hold a current and valid California Preliminary Multi-Subject Teaching Credential and a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. This rigorous two-year teacher induction program allows PCS teachers to ‘clear’ their state teaching credential while working as a full-time teacher here at PCS
PCS is also fully accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Schools of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The purpose of the Commission is to foster excellence in elementary, secondary, adult, and postsecondary institutions, and supplementary education programs. The Commission encourages school improvement through a process of continuing evaluation and recognizes institutions through granting accreditation to the schools that meet an acceptable level of quality in accordance with the established standards created by the Accreditation Commission of Schools for the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
PCS is a member of The California Association of Private School Organizations (CAPSO). CAPSO is the voice of K-12 private education in California. Its primary mission is to preserve the independence of California’s private schools and to uphold parental choice in education. CAPSO, independently, and in collaboration with other community and governmental institutions, is an advocate, catalyst, and creative leader for strengthening and advancing K-12 private education in California. The California Association of Private School Organizations is a consortium of twenty-four pre-collegiate, independent and religious school organizations which strives to promote and preserve understanding among its members, to promote excellence in education throughout the represented schools, and to preserve philosophical and religious values as well as spiritual dimensions of life which are integral parts in the development of our students. An affiliate of the Council for American Private Education (CAPE), the Association supports the development of close, professional relationships, open communication and trust among various public and private educational institutions, the California Department of Education and the US Department of Education. A review of the member bodies of CAPSO reveals the great diversity of private education in the United States. The organizations represent schools, both sectarian and non-sectarian, serving approximately 80% of California’s children from preschool through twelfth grade who are enrolled in the state’s private schools.
California Department of Education
The California Department of Education is an agency within the Government of California that oversees public education. The department oversees funding and testing and holds local educational agencies accountable for student achievement. Each year Pacific Christian School files a Private School Affidavit with the California State Department of Education attesting that PCS is a private full-time school that offers instruction in the several branches of study required to be taught in public schools of California. The Private School Affidavit does not indicate approval, recognition, or endorsement by the state of California. Filing the Affidavit is not to be interpreted to mean, and it shall be unlawful for any school to expressly or by implication represent by any means whatsoever, that the State of California, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the State Board of Education, the CDE or any division or bureau of the Department or any accreditation agency of the department has made any evaluation, recognition, approval or endorsement of the school or courses unless this is an actual fact, which in our case is not.
Santa Barbara County of Education (SBCE)
Pacific Christian School operates in the local jurisdiction of the Santa Barbara County Department of Education. PCS is in the Orcutt Union Elementary school district and works cooperatively and collaboratively with each to provide students access to resources and services to which they are entitled under law.
Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE)
Pacific Christian School in partnership with the Sacramento County Office of Education participates in the SCOE Teacher Induction Program. Through our membership with ACSI, PCS is able to offer one-on-one mentorship to PCS teachers who hold a current and valid California Preliminary Multi-Subject Teaching Credential and a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. This rigorous two-year teacher induction program allows PCS teachers to ‘clear’ their state teaching credential while working as a full-time teacher here at PCS