The Career Academy Review process is organized around the National Standards of Practice (NSOP) and has been revised to coincide with the updated Standards.

It is suggested that you begin with a Baseline Analysis if you are not sure that your academy and team are prepared for a review.  A baseline analysis will engage your school team and district leadership in a conversation around each standard, and provide recommendations for improvement. It will also allow you to ensure you have evidence to support where your team falls on the rubric and where you might need to increase documentation of evidence. The process lasts approximately 3 hours and results in the team receiving a written report with commendations and recommendations to earn certification status.

Rubrics are available to anyone interested, and are currently available by requesting them via the form at the bottom of this page. 

The Academy Review is conducted by a team of two certified NCAC national reviewers.  These reviewers examine the academy documentation to include a Self-Report, Academy Faculty, Staff and Administration Survey, External Partner Survey, Historical Data and Outcomes, and NSOP 1-10 documentation via your shared “view only” folders.  On the designated review date, the review team spends approximately four hours conducting the review. This includes an overview presentation from the school/academy team, interviews with: academy faculty, staff, administration; external partners; and students.  The reviewers submit a report to the review coordinator, who edits for accuracy, and then an electronic copy is sent to the principal, superintendent, and primary contact. The final report provides an overall score, commendations, and recommendations. Scores range from In-Progress, Certified, Model, to Model with Distinction.

Types of Reviews and Baselines:

High School Academy

Freshmen Academy

Small School Academy (less than 500 students)

Middle School Academy (full school or pocket)

Elementary Pre-Academy (full school or pocket)

*NEW* Model Academy Re-Certification (only available to schools once, after a regular review cycle within the four year window)

Single Academy Review or Baseline Analysis Package – $4,000

• One NSOP Review/Baseline (all Reviews must be scheduled within 12 months of submitting the application)
• Review preparation support, including standardized surveys and assessment tools
• Online Planning Tools
• Access to the online repository of best practices
• The NSOP Review is good for four years

* If you purchase multiple reviews/baselines, they must be scheduled for the same visit – up to 2 academies per day; for reviews outside of the 50 US states, additional fees may apply due to travel.

<<Click Here To Complete Our Online Application>>

Gold Package – $10,000 for three reviews/baselines

• Three NSOP Reviews/Baselines or any equivalent combination* (all must be scheduled within 12 months of submitting the application)
• Review preparation support including standardized surveys and assessment tools
• All academies can access On-Line Planning Tools
• Access to the online repository of best practices
• All academies receive access to NCAC network
• Partner Logo exposure and click through on the NCAC web page

* If you purchase multiple reviews/baselines, they must be scheduled for the same visit – up to 2 academies per day; for reviews/baselines outside of the 50 US states, additional fees may apply due to travel.

<<Click Here To Complete Our Online Application>>

Platinum Package – $15,000 for five reviews/baselines

NCAC is a collaborative organization and believes partnerships should be mutually beneficial to both organizations and to the constituents they serve. To that end, partnerships may be customized but can include the following:

• Five NSOP Reviews (all Reviews must be scheduled within 12 months of submitting the application)
• Review preparation support including standardized surveys and assessment tools
• All academies can access On-Line Planning Tools
• Access to the online repository of best practices
• All academies receive access to NCAC network
• Home page logo exposure with click through
• Annual Web Feature story
• Academy Referrals

NCAC Conference Benefits

• One exhibit booth
• One 1/2 page ad in the conference program

* If you purchase multiple Reviews, they must be scheduled for the same visit – up to 2 academies per day; for reviews outside of the 50 US states, additional fees may apply due to travel.

<<Click Here To Complete Our Online Application>>

*NEW* Model Academy Re-Certification – $2,600

The Model Academy Re-Certification Process offers an affordable, quick, easy, and accurate way for model or model with distinction academies to maintain their current status for four additional years. It captures the ways an academy is implementing key criteria from the National Standards of Practice.  This re-certification process is offered to model or model with distinction academies who wish to re-certify at the current designation. If you wish to be considered for a higher designation (model to model with distinction), the academy must go through the regular review process. This re-certification process is available only after an academy has received model or model with distinction through the regular review process. Academies may only use this re-certification process once after a regular review cycle within the four-year window.  If an academy does not re-certify within the four-year window, the academy must go through the regular certification process.

• One NCAC Re-Certification of a Model Academy (all Reviews must be scheduled within 12 months of submitting the application)
• Review preparation support, including standardized surveys and assessment tools
• Access to the online client portal to upload evidence
• Access to the online repository of best practices
• The Re-Certification is good for four years

<<Click Here To Complete Our Online Application>