The NEASC Committee on Technical and Career Institutions (NEASC-CTCI) accredits comprehensive technical high schools and career centers throughout New England. Accreditation is achieved by applying the Standards of Accreditation through a deliberate process of voluntary self-regulation and peer review. The Committee’s evaluation and accreditation activities focus on secondary institutions whose mission is career and technical in nature. At the postsecondary level, non-degree granting institutions are currently included in the Committee’s scope.
At the core of the accreditation are the teams of volunteer educators representing career and technical institutions from New England who visit schools or centers on a regular cycle. The peer reviewers function as “critical friends” who provide commendations and recommendations in partnership to support the institution’s improvement process. During the on-site evaluations, Visiting Teams conduct direct observation of a school's practices and interview key constituents (students, teachers, administrators, parents, community representatives, business partners) in order to validate the school/center's Self-Study. A Visiting Team Report is produced which includes detailed analysis of each academic and technical program, as well as an analysis of the school or center’s practices relative to the NEASC Standards. It is vitally important to note the formative nature of the team’s visit and report.