AISA AISA APPROVED SCHOOLS AISA APPROVED SCHOOLS

AISA
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
AND
INFORMATION

CRITERIA TO BE MET BY SCHOOL
PRIOR TO CONSIDERATION FOR AISA ACCREDITATION

A. The school must be a non-profit chartered corporation, a state licensed school, or a church charted school.

B. A qualified and degreed administrator is required.

C. The school must serve at least three (3) contiguous grades. If early childhood center, three (3) grades above kindergarten must be served (Example: K5-grade 3). Enrollment in the grades served by the school must average at least 12 students per grade.

D. All teachers at the school must meet AISA accreditation standards.

E. There must be at least one teacher per grade. Elementary teachers must be degreed and state certified in elementary or early childhood education. Secondary teachers must be degreed and have at least 18 hours in the subjects taught.

F. There must be adequate space, buildings, grounds, and facilities to accommodate the curriculum offered.

SPECIAL NOTE: The AISA office will work closely with any candidate school that does not meet the criteria as stated above. Concerted efforts will be made to help the school reach its goal(s) of providing excellence in teaching and learning. In fact, a school may remain in “candidate status” for up to two years. This will provide time for growth of the population and for refinement of the curriculum and operation of the school.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION
For CANDIDATE STATUS
Please submit with your application.

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS REQUIRED PRIOR TO THE SCHOOL’S ACCEPTANCE AS AN AISA CANDIDATE.

1. Student/Parent Handbook

2. Teacher Handbook

3. Curriculum (Elementary and Secondary)

4. Instructional daily schedule

5. Number of full time faculty (name, degree, certification status)

6. All applicants must complete and return the enclosed annual report of professional personnel

7. Number of credits required for graduation

8. Description of media services (brief paragraph will suffice) including technology

9. Description of counseling services

10. School calendar

11. Grade Scale

12. Teacher to student class ratio

13. Description and type of on-site physical education/athletic facilities, including locker and dressing areas

14. Attendance Report for last month

15. List of Nationally recognized test taken annually by your students

16. Graduation requirements

17. School Improvement Plan

Alabama Independent School Association

ANNOUNCEMENT
AISA ATTAINS MEMBERSHIP
NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL ACCREDITATION (NCPSA)

January 2003
www.ncpsa.org

ALL AISA MEMBER SCHOOLS
Effective 2003 - 2004 School Year
Accredited by
SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS (SACS)
www.sacs.org

AISA RECOGNIZED AS NCPSA ACCREDITING AGENCY
BY
COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL AND TRANS-REGIONAL ACCREDITATION (CITA) ALLIANCE
www.citaschools.org

The AISA provides an accreditation process and standards for quality assurance that focus on school improvement and student performance. The `AISA has been steadfast in its efforts since 1970 to maintain an organization of independently operated non-public schools that are rich in diversity, committed to academic excellence, and deeply concerned about the growth and development of children and youth. The association's goal is to provide quality educational opportunities for those parents choosing an alternative to public education.

Alabama Independent School Association
Accreditation Statement
Relating to AISA Member Schools
Participating in the AISA/NCPSA/SACS
Cooperative Agreement
September 2003

The Alabama Independent School Association (AISA) attained membership with the National Council for Private School Accreditation (NCPSA) as an accrediting agency in January, 2003. With NCPSA membership, AISA member schools are afforded the opportunity to join the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) in an accreditation Cooperative Agreement.

The AISA is the only recognized non-public accrediting agency in the state of Alabama. NCPSA is recognized nationally and internationally as an association for accrediting national and state accreditation agencies. SACS is a nationally recognized regional accrediting agency for eleven states in the southeast.

The Cooperative Agreement creates a SACS/NCPSA/AISA alliance whereby AISA member schools may gain SACS membership. With reciprocity between SACS and AISA, the AISA member schools have three years of SACS membership. During this three year period the participating AISA member school are required to conduct a self study, attend required meetings and training sessions, formulate a school improvement plan (SIP) for continuous improvement in student performance, host a joint AISA/SACS peer review visit, and meet SACS standards.

The AISA encourages AISA member schools to participate in the SACS/NCPSA/AISA Cooperative Agreement and maintain SACS membership. The AISA requires member schools, participating in the Cooperative Agreement, to maintain its current 2003 – 2004 AISA membership status and remain in “good standing” in the AISA. Changes in an AISA member school’s membership status must be approved by the AISA (i.e., full membership status to associate academic status). AISA member school may not use its SACS status gained through its AISA membership to join non-sanctioned athletic or academic leagues or associations without the approval of the AISA.

Schools entering the AISA effective 2005 are expected

to attain SACS accreditation.

ALABAMA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

ACCREDITATION IN THE NON-PUBLIC SCHOOL

The Alabama Independent School Association provides traditional non-public schools in Alabama an opportunity to achieve an accredited status. The AISA accreditation process addresses all facets of the non-profit corporation as well as the school. This comprehensive process serves as the administrative code for school operation and includes specific standards addressing all areas of the school’s mission.

The AISA accreditation process provides members with a system of direct standards focused on the provision of a solid base of operation for the school. This system was developed to provide a high degree of consistency and standardization in school operations, where there was no state code directing the unique operations of the non-public school. This system has been in effect since 1978 and has provided many non-public schools solid direction and stability in operations.

The AISA accredited school ensures parents that all areas of school operations has been evaluated and the school is in compliance with the process. Parents must understand that children attending a non-accredited school may have specific constraints placed on them. These constraints may include, but not limited to; transferring to another school, competing for scholarships, enrolling in Post-Secondary institutions, participating in standardized testing programs, vocational limitations, etc.

The AISA accredited school has met standards of compliance in the following broad areas: corporate operations; funding; plant and facilities; safe environment; curricular programs; extra-curricular programs; instructor credentials; technology opportunities; and school improvement.

Specific accreditation standards include, but are not limited to, the following:

    1.                  Provide a six (6) hour instructional day for all students
    2.                  Provide a minimum of 175 full days of instruction per year
    3.                  Provide a curriculum that meets and/or exceeds the Alabama Code requirements
    4.                  Comply with the state’s curriculum requirements for earning a Standard and/or Advanced Diploma
    5.                  Provide a qualified instructional staff
    6.         Test all students in grades 2, 4, 6 and 8 using SAT 10 and OLSAT 8.

The non-public school administration realizes the importance of achieving and maintaining a recognized accredited status. The destiny of the school and its students may be determined by its accredited status. The accrediting process provides the entire school community the opportunity to become involved and learn about their school. This self-study is a very comprehensive analysis of the total program and operations. Therefore, the accredited school may secure its destiny and provide an opportunity for the leadership, faculty and staff, and the community to become more involved and knowledgeable.

The Alabama non-public school may pursue accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), the regional accrediting agency, or the school may pursue AISA accreditation. The AISA is the only in-state accrediting agency with a cooperative agreement with SACS for joint accreditation..

The AISA and SACS accrediting process requires schools to undergo a School Improvement Process. This process addresses standards of operation and the academic process, while focusing on school improvement; i.e., a school evaluates selected area(s) and develops a plan to improve performances over the next few years. This comprehensive process has proven to be very effective in helping schools achieve excellence.

The accreditation process, SACS or AISA, provides a solid foundation for school operation. This process does not guarantee that a school is a good school but it does provide the opportunity. Effective schools are a direct result of good leadership focused on high expectations and a school improvement plan focused on student performance.

Parents selecting an AISA accredited school can rest assured that the school of their choice is meeting and/or exceeding base standards of an excellent school. The AISA accredited status is supported by the following facts:

1.                  Ninety plus percent of AISA graduates enter higher education institutions.
2.                  The Hope Scholarship Commission of Georgia recognizes AISA accreditation.
3.                  The United States Military and the Police Academy recognizes AISA accreditation.
4.                  Corporations and businesses recognize AISA Accreditation Standards for employment purposes.
5.                  The Post Secondary Division of Alabama Schools recognizes AISA accreditation.
6.                 Colleges and Universities recognize the AISA Standards. Note: Individual students must meet the entry
            requirements of the college or university of choice.
7.                  Award winning schools on the local, state and national levels.
8.                  Award winning students and faculty at all levels.

The AISA has been in operation for 30 plus years and has established strong credibility in the elementary – secondary educational division. AISA accredited schools have a proven history of quality academic programs and the provision of a quality alternative for parents choosing a non-public school. Schools accredited by the AISA are meeting direct, demanding and specific standards of accreditation. The AISA mission to provide quality alternative educational programs for parents selecting a non-public education for their children is on-going with a non-compromising commitment to be the best that we can be.