The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA) is one of six regional accreditation organizations recognized by the United States Department of Education and Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Founded in 1895, the NCA accredits over 10,000 public and private educational institutions serving nineteen Midwestern, South-Central and a few Western states, including: Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. The NCA is organized into two distinct Commissions. The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) oversees the accreditation of degree-granting colleges and universities. The Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (CASI) accredits a wide variety of educational institutions, ranging from early childhood, elementary, middle, and secondary schools to adult-vocational, college preparatory, and non-degree granting post-secondary institutions. In July 2006, NCA CASI merged with the Southern Association of Colleges and School Council on Accreditation and School Improvement to form AdvancED. NCA's monthly newsletter Exchanges, available online contains information on accreditation sanctions, changes in policy, and board members.
