The AdvancED Accreditation Commission has determined the Dawson County School System meets the Accreditation Standards for a Quality School System.

Superintendent Keith Porter read the commission's resolution and presented the school board with a plaque to mark the achievement during the board's monthly meeting Monday night.

"Last year, we went through a SACs visit that came out extremely, extremely well. A lot of people put in a lot of hard work in that," Porter said.

AdvancED Accreditation is a component of the Council on Accreditation and School Improvement of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Accreditation Quality Achievement Accredited school systems are expected to meet seven standards, including having a research-based curriculum and a comprehensive assessment system, fostering effective communication among stakeholders, and a process for system improvement, including monitoring schools and departments to ensure standards are being met.

"One thing we are very proud of is they said there is a strong sense of partnership in the system for putting kids first," Porter said. "That's what we are all about and they realized that fact, and our board of education is a big part of that."

Chairman Will Wade accepted the plaque on behalf of the school board.

"This is an assessment of our entire system. That means the teachers, principals, the parents that are involved, and even quite frankly our kids, because all of us are working together," Wade said. "That's what makes Dawson County beautiful. I'm proud to be a part of it."

The accreditation was effective June 21 and entitles the school system to all the services and privileges of regional, national and international professional recognition as a quality system.