Which organizations must approve or accredit the educational facility or program for the child in care?

• A. Texas Education Agency; Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; Texas Private School Accreditation Commission
• B. U.S. Department of Education
• C. Local school district only
• D. No accreditation required

Answer: (A)

Quality and oversight of education for a child in care requires both state-level approval and independent accreditation. In Texas, the educational facility or program must be approved by the Texas Education Agency, which ensures alignment with state standards and requirements for all schools serving children in care. In addition, it should hold accreditation from recognized accrediting bodies such as the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the Texas Private School Accreditation Commission. This combination demonstrates that the program meets both state expectations and external quality benchmarks, providing accountability and consistency for the child’s education. Relying solely on the U.S. Department of Education isn’t sufficient because it doesn’t directly accredit individual schools, and a local district-only approach or no accreditation would fail to ensure standardized quality across different placements.