SCRANTON, PA--(Marketwired - November 15, 2016) - Penn Foster High School, one of the largest high schools in the nation and provider of a regionally and nationally accredited high school diploma, hosted an AdvancED External Review Team on July 25-26 that reviewed the school's adherence to the AdvancED Accreditation Standards for Quality Digital Learning Institutions. The North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI), the Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI) are accreditation divisions of AdvancED.

The team found that Penn Foster met the requirements for accreditation and announced that it will be recommending the AdvancED Accreditation. Their recommendation was reviewed and acted upon by the national AdvancED Accreditation Commission in October.

To earn AdvancED Accreditation, schools must: 1) meet the AdvancED Accreditation Standards; 2) implement a continuous process of improvement; and 3) host an External Review team once every five years.

As a part of the accreditation process, a team of trained professionals from across nation reviewed Penn Foster documents and performance data; interviewed stakeholders; conducted site review; and observed school practices in action. The team offered recognition of strong practices, as well as areas for improvement to the school.

"AdvancED Accreditation is a rigorous process that demonstrates to our students, parents and community that we are focused on raising student achievement, providing safe and enriching learning environments, and maintaining efficient and effective operations staffed by highly qualified educators," stated Dara Warn, Chief Outcomes Officer, Penn Foster Education Group.

In two years, the school must report to AdvancED its progress in addressing the team's Improvement Priorities. "We believe strongly that the AdvancED Accreditation Process will make us even better. Students win when the school commits to examining all of its processes to determine what more we can be doing to benefit the students we serve. This is the essence of the accreditation process," added Warn.

Parents and interested community members also can learn more about the AdvancED Accreditation Process at www.advanc-ed.org.

About AdvancED

AdvancED is the world leader in providing improvement and accreditation services to education providers of all types in their pursuit of excellence in serving students. AdvancED serves as a trusted partner to more than 32,000 schools and school SYSTEMs-enrolling more than 20 million students-across the United States and 70 countries.

About Penn Foster

Students, employers and partner organizations rely on Penn Foster to build the skills and knowledge to power the 21st century workforce. For over 125 years, Penn Foster has been dedicated to helping people lead more meaningful and productive lives and to improving social outcomes through education. Penn Foster provides career pathways for opportunity youth and adult learners through diverse and affordable online diploma, certificate and degree programs, offered via its high school, career school and college. With more than 44,000 graduates each year, Penn Foster's online and blended learning programs are delivered in a self-paced, competency-based model wrapped by comprehensive academic, professional and personal support and coaching. For more information, visit https://www.pennfoster.edu/.