The Middle States Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools announced that the St. Jerome Regional School in Tamaqua has been awarded reaccreditation by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. The award was announced by Dr. Thomas L. Seidenberger, Chair of the Commission on Elementary Schools and Superintendent of the East Penn School District in Emmaus following the Commissions' October 2011 meeting. St. Jerome Regional School was one of approximately 200 schools so honored by the two commissions.

MSCESS accreditation signifies the educational community of St. Jerome Regional School has engaged in a rigorous process of developing self-knowledge: has hosted an evaluation team of independently-appointed educators; and has created an ongoing Strategic Plan to move school improvement forward. This year- long self-study process involved many elements of the SJRS community including faculty, parents and students.Accreditation also signifies that St. Jerome Regional School has met the Middle States Standards for a quality school. These standards reflect current research and best practices from throughout the education profession. During the term of accreditation the school community will engage in a Commission-directed series of reports and/or site visits to maintain the vigor of the accreditation process.MSCESS, which works with public and private schools from New York state to the District of Columbia, in the U.S. Caribbean, and in various locations around the globe, represents two of the three accrediting Commissions of the over 100-year-old Middle States Association. The Middle States Association is the second -oldest regional accreditor in the U.S. and is comprised of the Commission on Elementary Schools, the Commission on Secondary Schools and the Commission on Higher Education.Accreditation by MSCESS is recognized around the world as an indication of trustworthiness, educational quality, and a commitment to ongoing school improvement. Henry G. Cram, Jr., Ed. D., President of MSCESS, offered his congratulations to the entire St. Jerome Regional School community, adding: "Middle States accreditation is a recognition of both prior achievements and a commitment to greater future accomplishments."