MEMBERSHIP
Applying to CESA
CESA is committed to the rigorous application of aspirational standards through the trusting, collegial relationships and expertise of like-minded peers. Three characteristics of school Heads are imperative to a successful relationship with CESA:
If you are ready to learn more, please contact us or reach out to a Member of the Council Head, who can help you discover the transformational value of CESA.
“Being a CESA-member school has inspired us to remember who we are. The accountability we have through the process of renewing and maintaining our member-of-council status keeps us moving forward. When we consider all of our programs, initiatives, and plans, CESA encourages us to filter everything through the lens of our mission and vision. It’s motivating, as well, to engage with other schools that are mission-driven.”
– C. Perona, Central Christian School
Ready to apply for Candidacy?
If you are ready to apply for candidacy, please review the CESA standards first, then you can complete the application for membership.

Steps to Becoming a Member of Council School
CESA Member of Council schools are those that have hosted a successful Institutional Review, submitted a Standards Achievement Plan, and have been approved by the Executive Committee of the Council. The steps to receiving this designation are as follows:
Step One: Apply to Become a Candidate School
We want to ensure that membership with CESA is mutually beneficial, so we take the application process slowly! The purpose of the application stage is for school leaders to get familiar with the ethos, values, and standards of CESA, and for CESA to become acquainted with the history, leadership, and aims of schools. The steps to becoming a Candidate School are:
Step Two: Prepare for and Host an Institutional Review
Once a school becomes a Candidate, we want to work alongside its leaders to prepare for a successful Institutional Review. The purpose of the Institutional Review is to gain perspective on your school and where it performs in relation to the CESA Standards of Accountability – research-based best practices for Christian schools.
The Head of School must take primary responsibility for leading a team in the preparation for the review and the report. While it is helpful and necessary for many leaders to be involved in the preparation, CESA is unique in our urging that the Head of School lead this process. Here is what to expect while preparing:
Step Three: Become a Member of Council
Because CESA is a Council, Institutional Review reports and their corresponding SAP’s are reviewed by the Executive Committee of the board. The Executive Committee – comprised of peer school Heads – is responsible for approving new Member of Council Schools at one of its three annual meetings.
Once approved, the Head of School is welcomed as a Member of Council and is a voting member of the full board. Member of Council heads are responsible for continuing the mission of CESA through their commitment to the standards of CESA, their peers, and their own continuous leadership growth.
Accreditation Appeal Process
The decision of the Executive Committee of the Board may be appealed in writing by the head of school, referencing specific area(s) in which the school was found deficient. The Executive Committee of the Board will review the original review board’s findings and the head of school’s appeal letter. The school’s accreditation status will remain unchanged during an appeals process. The judgment of the Executive Committee of the Board is final.
All visits and questions about Reviews should be directed to Jim Marsh, Director of Reviews (jmarsh@wcastl.org).
**Note: The CESA Institutional Review may be scheduled to coordinate with an accreditation process of another accrediting organization, if appropriate. Additionally, schools may obtain AdvancED accreditation by passing the CESA Institutional Review process (no AdvancEd team will visit, only the CESA team). This is a joint accreditation and schools will become a CESA Member of Council and receive COGNIA accreditation. While this step is not required, it is an option for schools interested in AdvancEd accreditation.
Review Cycle
CESA is committed to the continuous growth of schools measured by adherence to our institutional standards. Those phases are:
Renewal
The purpose of the Membership Renewal is to engage Members of Council with the leadership team of the school in evaluating progress on the Institutional Standards, identifying areas of potential growth, and engaging in professional dialogue that edifies the school leaders and the school.
The visiting team (3 members, including the chair) will visit your campus for 3 days/2 nights. The school being visited is responsible for all travel expenses for the visiting team. We encourage Heads of School to work with the Director of Reviews to identify known areas of need prior to the visit so that the visiting team can be built with the expertise the school most needs. The full scope of the Renewal can be found here.
2025-2026 Dues
Members of Council and Candidate schools pay membership dues annually. Members are billed on July 1st for the upcoming year. Dues cover all benefits of membership AND full campus access to The CESA Collective throughout the year. Dues are based on the annual budget.
Members of Council
Candidate Schools
Accreditation
CESA enjoys a dual accreditation partnership with COGNIA. Schools receiving Member of Council designation also will receive COGNIA accreditation if desired. While this step is not necessary, it is an option we consider a value-add for our schools. We strongly recommend, however, that schools continue to utilize another accrediting body such as ACSI, CSI, SAIS, or other reputable agencies. CESA is committed to and has established a history of working seamlessly with other agencies on dual visits.
If schools choose to add or continue with COGNIA as a dual accreditor, the school is responsible for a) filing an application with COGNIA designating CESA as the partner organization, b) payingCOGNIA dues, and c) notifying CESA of their desire to be dual accredited with COGNIA. When using this option, the CESA protocol and team will visit; no COGNIA representatives are needed.If you have questions about your accreditation options, please contact Katie Wiens at kwiens@cesaschools.org or (617) 309-6267.