The DeKalb County school district is keeping its accreditation with a national standards agency but has a year to fix problems or risk losing that standing.

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools on Thursday said the 100,000-student system will be reviewed again by June 2012 to see if it has fixed problems based on eight specific recommendations by the AdvancEd Accreditation Commission.

The recommendations include completing the facilities Redistricting and Consolidation process, hiring a new permanent superintendent and reestablishing the School System’s strategic planning in order to guide the direction of DeKalb Schools in the future.

Losing accreditation could diminish grant money and make it harder for graduates to get into college.

DeKalb County, the state's third-largest school district, also is searching for a permanent superintendent to replace its former leader, who is under indictment for bribery and theft. District officials are expected to comment on SACS' decision later Thursday.

SACS placed Atlanta Public Schools on probation in January over its splintered nine-member school board, which has fought bitterly in recent months.

Tags: DeKalb County, schools, accreditation, SACS