Boise accreditation firm questioned

Trouble in New York has spread problems to Boise, the headquarters of a regional accreditation association that sets standards for 1,700 schools, including more than 200 in Utah.

The trouble raises questions over the ability of the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools to apply its own rules to schools and follow licensing mandates in other states where it accredits schools.

It started when New York officials called into question adherence to state licensing and other regulatory requirements by the Academy at Ivy Ridge, a school for troubled youths affiliated with Utah-based World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools.

The probe by the New York Attorney General's Office, which includes a subpoena for records related to the issuance of diplomas, led Northwest to suspend Ivy Ridge's accreditation earlier this month.

Northwest, the accrediting entity ensuring schools are up to certain standards, is headquartered in Boise and accredits schools in several Western states, including Utah.

Continuing questions by New York investigators over the circumstances regarding Ivy Ridge's accreditation and its ability to operate as a school led an umbrella accreditation agency to sever its ties with Northwest this month — at least temporarily.

In an order issued by the executive committee of the Commission on International and Trans-Regional Accreditation, Northwest was informed its affiliation was suspended immediately this month as a result of issues raised by other regional accreditation associations stemming from the controversy at Ivy Ridge.

The letter was sent to Northwest's executive director and its president and informs them of a board of directors meeting May 24, when additional action could be taken.

Randy Sinisi, associate executive director of the international commission (CITA) confirmed suspension had been taken against Northwest, but said the regional association is being given time to state its case for the May meeting.

Northwest's associate director Leonard Paul said the action does not affect the ability of the association to continue to accredit schools in the Western states area and does not jeopardize the standings of any school it previously accredited.

Membership in CITA is voluntary and is more of a professional affiliation than anything, he added.

"It doesn't mean anything to Utah schools or any of the other schools we accredit," he said. "They have no governance authority over us at all."

Rather, the international organization, in which six regional associations participate, is an opportunity for "idea sharing" and to develop uniformity in accreditation protocols, he said.