Call for Public Comment

AIRC Public Comment Procedure

As a key element of the certification process, AIRC accepts public comments regarding current certified agencies and Phase 2 approved applicants.

Comments may be supportive or may express concerns or complaints. Comments may relate to activities regardless of geographic location.

All comments will be provided to the identified agency for its review and response.

In the event AIRC staff determines that a concern or complaint is related to an AIRC Certification Standard, the original comment, together with the agency’s response will be provided to the Certification Commission for its review and appropriate action.

Comments are accepted via the below form, or can be sent to certification@airc-education.org. AIRC reserves the right to refuse to respond to or proceed with any comment that is defamatory and will not consider any comment that or contains profanity or hate speech.

Guidelines for Comments

Comments must meet the following guidelines to be considered by AIRC:

• Must be submitted in writing.
• Must reference a current Certified Agency or Phase 2 approved applicant.
• Must relate to activity/event that occurred after the agency formally applied for certification, and within the previous 7 years.
• Must be signed. Anonymous comments will not be accepted. However, the submitter may request that their identification be redacted when the comment is shared with the agency.
• If a complaint or concern, the comment must make specific reference to the AIRC Standard for Educational Agencies. General complaints that do not relate to a specific AIRC standard will not be considered.
• If a complaint or concern, must be accompanied by supporting documentation, which may be in any form, including written, photographs, audio or video, or links to publicly accessible sites.
• If a compliant or concern related to an individual, the submitter must provide documentation that they have made a good faith effort to follow the prescribed complaint/grievance procedures of the certified agency, prior to involving AIRC.
  

Reliance on Publicly Available Information Such as News Reports

As an organization whose actions are relied upon by the public, AIRC must take cognizance of any information that comes to its attention respecting the conduct, activities, integrity or reputation of a Certified Agency or Phase 2 approved applicant.

In addition to the public comment process, AIRC staff will review any media report that comes to its attention that reflects adversely on the conduct, activities, integrity or reputation of a Certified Agency or Phase 2 approved applicant. If AIRC staff considers the issue raised by the media report relevant to the AIRC Certification Standards, the affected agency will be asked to provide its written comments. If, based upon review of the agency’s comments AIRC staff determines that there remains the possibility of a violation of AIRC Certification Standards, the matter will be provided to the Certification Commission, together with the agency’s response.