TAAPS (Texas Alliance of Accredited Private Schools)

TAAPS requires all member schools to comply with the State Board of Education curricula guidelines which are the TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills). Member schools have to be able to demonstrate standards equivalent to or above that of State schools in order to allow students to transfer into the public system. 

TAAPS is recognised by TEPSAC (Texas Private School Accreditation Commission). TEPSAC also recognises ISAS (Independent Schools Association of the Southwest), SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools - Texas Council on Accreditation and School Improvement), and TEA (Texas Education Agency) amongst others as legitimate accreditation bodies.

The State Commissioner of Education recognises TEPSAC and its affiliated non-public schools.  Since 1986, the Texas Education Agency, through the Commissioner of Education, has recognised the accreditation responsibilities of TEPSAC and its affiliated associations.  (Subsequent to the establishment of TEPSAC, direct accreditation of non-public schools by the Agency was phased out and was discontinued by 1989.)

For many years, the state of Texas accredited private schools as well as public schools.  Limited resources, however, forced the Texas Education Agency to stop performing this service for private schools.  The Texas Association of Non-Public Schools (TANS), wishing to maintain the benefits of state accreditation, worked out an agreement with the State Commissioner of Education to form a private accreditation commission that would recognise appropriate accrediting organisations.  This new commission was TEPSAC, which began operating in 1986.