The Piedmont Regional Criminal Justice Training Academy (PRCJTA) has earned Cognia® Accreditation, a nationally recognized mark of quality for educational institutions. Cognia is a nonprofit organization that provides quality assurance for schools, school districts, and education service providers.
“Accreditation as conferred by the Cognia Global Accreditation Commission provides Piedmont Regional Criminal Justice Training Academy a nationally recognized mark of quality for our school,” shared Ben Rea, Executive Director of PRCJTA. “It demonstrates to our community our commitment to excellence, our willingness to enact meaningful change based on evaluation and feedback, and our desire to be the best we can be on behalf of the students we serve.”
Cognia recognizes schools across the globe that meet rigorous standards focused on productive learning environments, equitable resource allocation, and effective leadership. To earn Cognia accreditation, a school must submit to internal and external review. Earning accreditation from the Cognia Global Accreditation Commission means that the school meets Cognia Performance Standards and maintains a commitment to continuous improvement. Schools in good standing can maintain their accreditation for a six-year term.
Dr. Mark A. Elgart, president and CEO of Cognia, said, “Cognia Accreditation is a rigorous process that focuses the entire school and its community on the primary goal of ensuring all students can flourish in engaging and equitable learning environments. We commend Piedmont Regional Criminal Justice Training Academy for meeting high standards and making progress on key indicators that impact student learning.”
Cognia is the parent organization of the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI), Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI). Parents and interested community members can learn more about Cognia Accreditation at cognia.org
An Accreditation Celebration event is set to be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, February 23, at the New College Institute. This event is open to the public and will include remarks from academy leadership, as well as recognition of the accreditation milestone and other special events.
“We are incredibly proud of our partnership with the Piedmont Criminal Justice Training Academy and of their achievement in earning this accreditation,” said Joe Sumner, New College Institute executive director. “This milestone reflects PRCJTA’s unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation, and realistic training for law enforcement professionals. We look forward to continuing our partnership to expand advanced training opportunities—such as the MILO Range Theater Simulator—that prepare officers to serve and protect their communities with skill, confidence, and professionalism.”
