AKT: ACCREDITATION OF PROGRAMS

Accreditation of Programs

AKT solicits programs for accreditation in the area of kinesensory development of children. AKT is primarily concerned with those programs which promote control of movement of the limbs and body. The following policies and essential elements for accreditation of kinesthetic programs outlines the manner in which programs may be accredited by AKT.

Policies of Accreditation

Accreditation by Association for Kinesensory Teaching is accomplished in accordance with the following policies:

Each program seeking accreditation shall:

submit a written and illustrated description of the program;
submit a self evaluation of the program on forms provided by the association;
have an evaluation of the program in action by official representatives of the Association for Kinesensory Teaching;
have a program submitted to teachers by the association for a practical evaluation.

Any program shall meet all the essential elements at the time of initial accreditation.
The Board of Directors of Association for Kinesensory Teaching shall recommend that a program be classified as : approved, advised, or dropped depending upon assessment against essential elements.
When a recommendation is made that a program be advised or dropped, it shall be the responsibility of the association to notify the chief administrator of the program of:

the exact nature of the recommendation;
specific deficiencies upon which the recommendation was based;
the procedure to be followed if the deficiencies are to be removed;
the procedure to be followed if an appeal is to be made.

A program dropped from failure to meet the essential elements may be reinstated provided that it can be certified that all the essential elements are being met.

The following represent a list of essential elements for curriculum which must be met and maintained by any program accredited as an approved program by the Association for Kinesensory Teaching:

Safety first: the environment within which children can develope their kinesthetic nature must be a safe environment. Safety is to be insured by:

the program is non-competitive;
activities are presented in a learning sequence;
skills become internalized through repetition and variation before the level of difficulty is increased;
there should be sufficient space for children to participate in the program;
according to their ability children are directed to their least restrictive environment;
teachers are respected as vital to the program developmental process

Listed in a learning sequence: the programs are listed in the order that they should be learned. In most cases a lesson must be mastered before the lesson can be successfully attempted.
Contain identical neuromuscular elements: it is necessary that each lesson contains a pattern of movement or body posture that is identical to that which will be needed for success in the next more complex movement skill in the sequence.
Variations containing the pattern: variations must be provided to allow the child opportunity to experience the central neurological pattern from a variety of postures, orientations, and/or imagery.
Conditioned response developed before proceeding to the next step: it is important that each step be internalized before proceeding to the next more complex step in the program. Each skill developed in any step should become a conditioned response before attempting a more complex skill.
Spacing between steps within the reach of an average child: each new step should contain no more new elements than can be comprehended by the average child.
Encourage a balance of kinesensory development: each category or sequence of movement should involve such basic abilities as to encourage a balanced kinesensory development in every child.
Non-competitive curriculum: a curriculum that serves an educational purpose for individual growth and development should not introduce the element of competition. Rather the activities should promote physical development, positive self image, and control of the body.
Co-educational curriculum: the curriculum for young children should be designed for a co-educational environment.

In addition to complying with the polices of accreditation and the essential elements in order for a program to be accredited one must also fill out a self evaluation form.

For further accreditation information or to apply for accreditation contact Dr. Garland O'Quinn, Jr.