In the year prior to the self-study, for both Provisional and Accredited members, the school undertakes several preliminary activities to provide some of the foundation work for the self-study in Year 2:

Review, revision (as needed), and re-affirmation by formal board approval of the school's statement of mission, philosophy, and goals (such affirmation or approval should appear in the minutes of a regular board meeting);

Review and revision of the school's curriculum guide (See Curriculum Guide Outline, Appendix E.);

Survey of constituents and tabulation/analysis of the results, preferably using the ISACS School Survey (See the ISACS Independent School Survey, Appendix T);

Development of a profile of program graduates (i.e. some systematic alumni follow-up/program outcome data via surveying of graduates, analysis of transcripts, or whatever other methodology suits the school).