Indianapolis, IN – August 4, 2025 – Indiana Online is proud to announce that it has earned dual accreditation through a new partnership between Cognia®, a global leader in school improvement and accreditation, and the Virtual Learning Leadership Alliance (VLLA). This historic collaboration introduces AccredVEd™, powered by VLLA, a specialized accreditation framework designed for virtual learning programs and represents the first time Cognia has partnered on synchronized accreditation for online education.
Indiana Online’s recognition through both Cognia and AccredVEd confirms its status as a high-quality, innovative provider of virtual education courses across Indiana. This achievement reflects the organization’s commitment to continuous improvement, instructional rigor, and educational excellence in digital learning environments.
Indiana Online Director Kim Hendrick expressed pride in the accomplishment, stating, “We were excited to participate in this national accreditation model to showcase our program and receive feedback from other programs from across the country. Being the first state in the nation to receive the AccredVEd accreditation is amazing. Receiving the dual accreditation through Cognia is a national model we hope other virtual programs will pursue. Holding both accreditations shows our commitment to quality.”
The AccredVEd™ program, powered by VLLA, provides a research-based, peer-reviewed process aligned with the National Standards for Quality Online Programs. Designed specifically for virtual schools and consortia, AccredVEd evaluates the effectiveness of online learning environments, instructional design, leadership, and equity. Through this new model, online programs can achieve streamlined dual accreditation by meeting both VLLA’s quality standards and Cognia’s globally recognized criteria.
John Ashworth, VLLA President, emphasized the benefits of this partnership: “By integrating Cognia’s well-established accreditation framework with AccredVEd’s specialized approach for virtual learning, we are providing online programs with a robust pathway to demonstrate excellence and continuous improvement.”
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, stated, “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 Indiana Online for meeting high standards and making progress on key indicators that impact student learning.”
About Indiana Online
Indiana Online, a department of the Central Indiana Educational Service Center (CIESC), is the largest non-profit online course provider in the state, offering a wide variety of supplemental, full-time, year-round, and summer courses online. They partner with over 300 schools statewide and serve more than 30,000 course enrollments annually. Offering more than 180 online courses—including Core 40, AP, and dual credit—taught by licensed Indiana educators, Indiana Online supports flexible, student-centered learning for middle and high school students across Indiana.
About Cognia
Cognia is a global nonprofit improvement organization serving over 40,000 institutions across more than 90 countries. With services that include accreditation, certification, assessment, and continuous improvement, Cognia empowers education providers to improve outcomes for all learners.
About VLLA
The Virtual Learning Leadership Alliance (VLLA) is a national nonprofit organization composed of state virtual schools and leading consortia. Through collaboration and shared best practices, VLLA supports the expansion and quality of online learning options across the United States.
Learn More
- Indiana Online: indianaonline.org
- Cognia Accreditation: cognia.org
- AccredVEd and VLLA: virtuallearningalliance.org
