Expect The Best

Announcements

National Leaders Conference

The 2019 National Leaders Post Conference Call for Workshop Proposals are open until December 7. Apply here.

Strengthen Your School Leadership

CAIS values the constant and deliberate quest for excellence, and we recognize the vital leadership role that governors play, in partnership with Heads, in the success of our schools. We want all of our schools to have strong Heads who focus on supporting the students of the present, but we also want strong Boards that focus on supporting the students of the future.

The Governance Guide include new learning on a number of areas, including Human Resources, Risk Management, Head Transitions, and Consent Agendas.

CAIS members and non-members can purchase a hard copy here. And CAIS members can also view the full PDF in CAIS Connect here.


Accreditation

CAIS Accreditation drives each school to be accountable to all of its constituents, to be more intentional in its practices, and to constantly strive for excellence.

All good schools continually evaluate their program and operations; however, self-evaluation alone can fall short with a limited internal perspective. Periodically supplementing self-evaluation with an external review can offer schools a new viewpoint that may otherwise go unrecognized and act as a catalyst for change.

The CAIS accreditation process is designed to achieve the dual purpose of accountability and school improvement - holding schools accountable to the highest National Standards while guiding them through a continuous whole school improvement process, which combines both an internal self-evaluation and an external peer review.

The CAIS Standards and Indicators of Effective Practice are not intended to be a comprehensive code of the standards that, if met, will ensure that a school is a healthy and safe environment and is effective in delivering a high-quality education. The Standards and Indicators are constantly evolving and are intended as generally accepted principles of best practice in delivering education of genuine quality and furthering whole school improvement and sustainability. They are not to be taken as standards of reasonable conduct in any particular circumstance. It is up to each member school of CAIS to assess its own specific circumstances and to take reasonable care in those specific circumstances.

Accreditation Guidelines

CAIS National Standards

Vision, Mission, Value & Strategy

The school has clear mission, vision, values and strategy. These statements are understood and accepted by all constituencies: Board, faculty, staff, parents, alumni, and students. The statements give direction to the Strategic Plan (including curricular, co-curricular, financial, organizational) to ensure that all facets of school life are in alignment.

Co-Curricular & Learning Environment

The school promotes and acts upon the academic, emotional, physical and social potentials of all its members within an ethical community.

Academic Program

The school’s program is congruent with its mission and strategy; it is based upon an articulated philosophy and research about the ways in which students learn and effective ways to teach them.

School Leadership

The school has an overall administrative organization, which communicates, carries out and supports the school's mission and strategic plan.

Human Resources

The school’s Human Resources strategy is in place to ensure that the people practices and policies support the educational purpose of the school and are aligned with the vision, mission, values and strategies.

School & Community

The constituent relations, communications, and fundraising programs of the school are well planned and effective, both serving the community and engaging them in achieving the school’s mission. As well, the school has established systems and procedures to maintain harmonious relationships with the community in which it exists.

Enrolment Management

The school has defined those qualities that constitute a “mission appropriate” student and has established policies and procedures for enrolment management that ensures that the school is enrolling mission appropriate students.

Governance

The Board’s membership, structure and processes advance the school’s mission, vision and long-term viability; and the Board operates in fiduciary, strategic and generative modes.

Finance

The school’s financial resources and financial planning are adequate to support the school’s mission and to sustain the school’s long-term permanence and strength.

Physical Plant, Health & Safety

The physical plant, grounds and operations of the school support the vision, mission and programs of the school. The school has established and effectively implemented guidelines and procedures that promote a safe and healthy school environment.

Commitment to School Improvement

The school demonstrates a commitment to continuous whole school improvement.

Boarding Program

The Boarding program operates in a way that assures an enriched and extended learning experience for all students.