About Us

Associated Bodies and Memberships

St. Madeleine Sophie School is fully approved by the Washington State Board of Education and holds provisional accreditation through the Western Catholic Educational Association.  We are connected to a number of other governing, leadership and advisory bodies.  Included in those to which you may most often hear referred are:

• National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA):  has been providing leadership and service to American Catholic educators since 1904.  It is the largest private professional education organization in the world.  NCEA's institutional and individual memberships represent Catholic education at all levels: Pre Kindergartens, elementary and secondary schools, colleges and universities, seminaries and religious education programs.  Within its mission are the goals to: advance the total educational mission of the church; articulate the contributions of Catholic education to the church and society; proclaim the uniqueness of Catholic schools; provides leadership and service to its members; advocates recognition of and support for Catholic education; and foster local, national and international collaboration.
• Washington State Catholic Conference (WSCC):  a corporation of the three Catholic dioceses in the State of Washington with primary responsibility of representing the position of the Catholic Church in legislative and regulatory action.   The WSCC teams with other private school groups to advocate for private school issues in Olympia.
• Washington Federation of Independent Schools (WFIS):  represents over 70% of the private school students in the State of Washington.  It is a coalition of independent and privately sponsored schools committed to serving and enhancing the public good.  WFIS' mission is to strengthen the quality of education in Washington while serving as advocate and voice for all private schools in the state.  The commonly shared values that motivate the coalition include: holistic educational excellence; freedom of expression and educational choice; involvement and empowerment of parents; and strength in members' diversity - respected and united through consensus decision-making.  In affiliation with WFIS, St. Madeleine's also holds membership in the Council for American Private Education (CAPE).
• Northwest Association of Accredited Schools (NAAS):  is one of six regional associations in the nation with primary purpose of advancing the cause of education in colleges and schools.  This is done by developing educational policies and activities that will extend and improve educational opportunities and service; and to develop criteria of evaluation that will continuously stimulate, evaluate and accredit vital educational efforts.  At this printing, St. Madeleine Sophie School, being a brand new program, is not yet eligible for full accreditation.  When accepted for membership, we will pursue full standing through this body’s relationship to the Western Catholic Educational Association process.
• National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC):  is the nation's largest organization of early childhood educators.  Through their National Academy of Early Childhood Programs, our primary department will pursue professionally sponsored affiliation.  This high profile, nationally distinguished recognition, is monitored by the organization's Washington State affiliate, WAEYC.
• Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI):  is the state administrative office for elementary and secondary education.  While the vast majority of its purpose is related to state-funded schools, it also oversees government regulation of privately funded educational institutions and the certification of all teachers in the state.  It is through this office that St. Madeleine Sophie School receives its annual approval for operation.  OSPI is headed by the publicly elected Superintendent and works closely with the State Board of Education.