CAIS Accreditation supports continuous improvement in all aspects of Independent Schools. The CAIS Accreditation Process is both a tool to support the development of School Strategy and a set of Standards to scaffold continual improvement.

 

Application Process for Candidate Status

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Step 1: Schools interested in applying for CAIS membership should complete the CAIS Applicant School Information Template and send it to Tracey Nolan, CAIS Executive Assistant at tnolan@cais.ca who will then arrange a time to speak with the CAIS Executive Director. To apply for membership, Schools have to have been in continuous operation and viable for a minimum of five years. An exception to the five-year rule is available to new schools that are affiliated with current CAIS schools in good standing.

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Step 2: The CAIS Executive Director will tour the School, meet with the Head of School and advise the School on the next steps. If the School moves forward with the application, additional meetings with the School Leadership Team and the Board may be arranged.

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Step 3: The School organizes the required documentation, completes a DocuSign application agreement, and pays the application fee. Detailed information about preparing the application can be found in the CAIS Membership Information Package.

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Step 4: CAIS reviews the application and contacts the Head of School to arrange a one-day visit by the Applicant School Review Team composed of two CAIS School Heads (one being a CAIS Board member) and a Business Officer.

TIMING ➤ Within three months of receipt of application package.

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Step 5: One-day visit conducted by Applicant School Review Team on a mutually agreed date.

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Step 6: The Applicant School Review Team submits an Applicant School Report including a recommendation on whether the applicant is ready to become a Candidate. This Report is put forward to the CAIS Evaluation Council. All information will remain confidential to CAIS and the Applicant School Review Team.

TIMING ➤ Report finalized within three months following the visit from the Review Team.

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Step 7: The CAIS Evaluation Council reviews the Report and makes a recommendation to the CAIS Board of Directors, based on the assessment of the capacity of the School to meet all Standards in the subsequent three years. The CAIS Board makes all final decisions on the Applicant School’s acceptance.

TIMING ➤ The report will be discussed at the next Evaluation Council meeting and the next scheduled CAIS Board meeting (five meetings per year).

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Step 8: Following the CAIS Board meeting, the Applicant will receive a letter from the CAIS Executive Director detailing the Board’s decision. The Applicant will also receive a summary of the Applicant School Report outlining the observed areas of strength and areas for improvement.

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Step 9: If Candidate Status is granted, the School will prepare for a Full Peer Review, engaging in a Self Study process and meeting all 2021 CAIS National Standards.

TIMING ➤ The Director of Accreditation will contact the Head of School to determine a date for the Peer Review within three years after a School has been granted Candidate status.

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Step 10: The resulting Peer Review Report will be presented to the CAIS Evaluation Council which will make a recommendation to the Board on the application for CAIS Member School status.

The CAIS Board or Directors makes all the final decisions on member acceptance.

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Step 11: Should it be determined in the Peer Review that a Candidate School is not meeting any of the 2021 CAIS National Standards, the Candidate School will have one year to successfully address the recommendations within the Standards not met. Failure to do so will result in membership being denied.

TIMING ➤ Most Schools take four years from application to acceptance as a full CAIS Member School.