Andalusia City School System parents are being asked to complete an online survey to assist in the system’s accreditation process.

Superintendent Ted Watson said Wednesday notices were sent home this week asking parents for their help.

“Every four years, we have to go through the Advanced Ed Accreditation process,” Watson said. “And what we have to do is collect data, and some of that data comes in the form of a survey. We really encourage parents to fill it out.”

Accreditation is a voluntary method of quality assurance developed more than 100 years ago by American universities and secondary schools, and designed primarily to distinguish schools adhering to a set of educational standards.  The accreditation process is also known in terms of its ability to effectively drive student performance and continuous improvement in education.

Watson said the survey can be found by visiting the system website at www.andalusiacityschools.net. Pop ups must be enabled for the survey window to appear. A link is also on the Andalusia Middle School Facebook page.

It takes about five minutes to complete the 35-plus question survey.

“We need a certain percent of parent participation in this survey,” Watson said. “Obviously, accreditation is an important part of the education process. It validates the job we do as educators. By going through with the process it says, we meet the level of excellence that is measured by those standards.”