DIXFIELD – Dirigo High School has received its continuing accreditation.

Principal Dan Hart told the SAD 21 board Monday night that notification from the New England Association of Colleges and Schools arrived early last month.

The final report is expected in a few days.

A seven-committee accreditation team has been working on the process for nearly two years.

The school received 22 commendations for the way it teaches young people. Among them were providing students with a range of opportunities that extends learning beyond the traditional classroom.

Hart said on Tuesday that some of the things the school has been doing is offering early college courses, chances for community service, an annual diversity day, and the inclusion of several foreign exchange students each year. The NEASC also applauded the school’s introduction of portfolio graduation requirements, and the coordination of leadership among the superintendent, principal and leadership team. Also cited was the establishment of a homeroom program that provides an adviser for each student in career and social development.

Among items that the school must work on between now and the progress report required in June 2009 are development of a plan to track student progress throughout their high school career, more teacher collaboration, particularly in the area of student assessment, and more emphasis on instruction for students.

The preliminary report also suggests that the school establish a long-range plan for educational programs and space needs.

He said the student population has grown from about 290 when he began as principal in 2001, to just under 400 now.

Other progress reports are required in June 2007 and June 2012. The accreditation process will repeat again in 2014.

In other matters, social studies teachers Beth Edwards and Kurt Rowley updated the board on plans to change the social studies curriculum to more closely meet the standards set by the Maine Learning Results.

Planned is an increase in social studies credits from 3.5 to 4, beginning with next year’s freshman class.

The greatest change to the curriculum, said Edwards, is a reduction in the amount of history taught, in favor of teaching history research skills.

She said the half-year course will be taught during the freshman year. Also proposed for change is a reduction in U.S. history classes from two years, to one. A greater emphasis will be placed on the teaching of economics.

Advanced placement courses will be taught in world history, U.S. history, U.S. government, and economics.