SCHOOL MEMBERSHIP
APPLICATION
Thank you for your interest in applying to the National Association of Independent Schools. NAIS is a voluntary membership organization serving more than 1,500 independent schools in the United States. NAIS works to empower schools and the students they serve.
WHO ARE NAIS MEMBERS?
Any school may choose to be an NAIS member if it is a U.S. nonprofit school serving children in any grades from pre-kindergarten through grade 13, is governed by an independent board of trustees, is accredited by an NAIS-recognized organization, is in compliance with state and federal antidiscrimination laws, and agrees in spirit to the NAIS Principles of Good Practice. We believe in many options for education and recognize the need for different types of schools to serve different types of children. While we welcome all schools to consider NAIS membership, we are specifically organized to support schools that are independent in governance. It is with these schools in mind that we build our advocacy efforts and develop our products and services.
MEMBERSHIP DUES
The 2015-2016 dues rate is $14.04 per student in grades K-13, and $7.02 per preschool and pre-kindergarten student. Dues will not exceed $11,500 or be less than $350.
SCHOOL MEMBERSHIP
APPLICATION
BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP
Every faculty member, staff member, and trustee at NAIS member schools have
access to the following benefits:
Data and Research
NAIS’s data tools and research reports help you make wise, data-driven decisions. • Data and Analysis for School Leadership
(DASL): Full access
• Demographic Center: Full access • Survey Center: Discounted rates • Research Reports: Free access
Services
Targeted resources and services help you solve your daily challenges.
• Career Center: Free job posting and resume browsing
• One-to-one counseling on governance issues from NAIS senior staff
• Public advocacy about the value of independent education
• Monitoring of legislation and trends • Legal advisories
• Listing in the Online School Search • Resources for parents and trustees
Leadership
NAIS professional development provides practical training for your whole school community. Members save up to 40% on most events.
• Annual Conference
• People of Color Conference (PoCC) • CASE/NAIS Development Conference • NAIS Institutes, including Institute
for New Heads, Leadership through Partnership (for heads and trustees), Diversity Leadership Institute, School Leadership Institute
• NAIS Fellowship for Aspiring School Heads
Community
Membership provides ways for you to connect with other independent school colleagues.
• NAIS Connect: Full access to online communities
SCHOOL MEMBERSHIP
APPLICATION
HOW TO APPLY
To apply to become an NAIS member school, please fill out this entire application and send it with the $50 application fee and the required supporting materials to NAIS Membership, 1129 20th Street, NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20036-3425. (Please do not send dues
payment with the application.) If we can answer any questions or support you during the application process, do not hesitate to contact us at (202) 973-9700 or [email protected].
MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS
To be eligible for NAIS membership, you must — through this application and the required supporting materials — demonstrate that your school meets the following requirements: • Has 501(c)(3) nonprofit status
• Is governed by an independent board of trustees
• Has been fully accredited by one of the organizations listed in section 4 Candidate Members must show progress toward meeting this requirement.
• Has a demonstrated commitment to diversity in compliance with state and federal law, as evident in all nondiscrimination policies for admission and hiring
• Agrees in spirit with the NAIS Principles of Good Practice (PGPs)
The NAIS PGPs for member schools define high standards and ethical behavior in key areas
of independent school operations. View the PGPs at www.nais.org/pgp.
CANDIDATE MEMBERSHIP
If your school is not yet accredited, but is actively working toward it, you may still be eligible to be an NAIS Candidate Member. Candidate Members have full access to NAIS benefits, with the exception of voting at the NAIS Annual Membership Meeting. To learn more, contact us at
[email protected] or (202) 973-9700.
SCHOOL MEMBERSHIP
APPLICATION
1. YOUR SCHOOL’S CONTACT INFORMATION
SCHOOL NAME
SCHOOL ADDRESS CITY, STATE, ZIP
SCHOOL PHONE NUMBER SCHOOL FAX NUMBER
DATE OF FOUNDING (MONTH/YEAR) SCHOOL WEBSITE
HEAD OF SCHOOL HEAD OF SCHOOL’S EMAIL ADDRESS
Application Contact: Provide the name of the person we should contact as we are reviewing this application.
NAME TITLE
DIRECT PHONE NUMBER EMAIL ADDRESS
2. YOUR SCHOOL PROFILE
Please check all that apply:
Boys Girls Coed Boarding Day Boarding / Day Grades (lowest to highest)
Please indicate your school’s religious affiliation (if any):
Baptist Friends Methodist Non-Denominational
Catholic Jewish Muslim Other_________________________ Episcopal Lutheran Presbyterian
SCHOOL MEMBERSHIP
APPLICATION
4. YOUR SCHOOL’S ACCREDITATION INFORMATION
NAIS requires all member schools to be accredited by one of the accrediting organizations listed on this page. These established accrediting organizations are the ones we recognize for our membership purposes. The organizations in bold are members of the NAIS Commission on Accreditation, which recognizes them for their quality accreditation programs. Schools applying for Candidate Membership that are not yet accredited should indicate the accrediting organization with which they are actively working.
NAME OF ACCREDITING ORGANIZATION
DATE OF ISSUANCE OF MOST RECENT ACCREDITATION DATE OF MOST RECENT EVALUATION VISIT
DURATION OF ACCREDITED STATUS (IF OTHER THAN FOR A FULL TERM, PLEASE EXPLAIN)
❏ Our school is not yet accredited, but actively working toward accreditation.
Association of Colorado Independent Schools (ACIS)
www.acischools.org
Association of Independent Maryland Schools (AIMS)
www.aimsmddc.org
Association of Independent Schools in New England (AISNE)
www.aisne.org
California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS/CA) www.caisca.org
Canadian Accredited Independent Schools www.cais.ca
Commission on American and International Schools Abroad/ New England Association of
Independent Schools (CAISA/NEASC) caisa.neasc.org
Commission on Independent Schools/ New England Association of Schools and Colleges (CIS/NEASC)
cis.neasc.org
Connecticut Association of Independent Schools (CAIS/CT) www.caisct.org
Council of International Schools (CIS) www.cois.org
Florida Council of Independent Schools (FCIS)
www.fcis.org
Hawaii Association of Independent Schools (HAIS)
www.hais.org
Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS) www.isacs.org
Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS)
www.isasw.org
Middle States Association of
Colleges and Schools, the Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS)
www.msa-cess.org
North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI)
www.ncacasi.org
New Jersey Association of Independent Schools (NJAIS) www.njais.org
New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS) www.nysais.org
Northwest Association of Accredited Schools (NAAS)
www.northwestaccreditation.org Northwest Association of Independent Schools (NWAIS) www.nwais.org
Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools (PAIS) www.paispa.org
Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) www.sais.org
Southern Association of Schools and Colleges (SACS)
www.sacs.org
Southwestern Association of Episcopal Schools (SAES) www.swaes.org
Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS) www.vais.org
Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
SCHOOL MEMBERSHIP
APPLICATION
5. YOUR SCHOOL PERSONNEL
Please list the staff members at your school who fill these key roles. We will establish records for these individuals so they each have access to all of the benefits that come with membership. Once the accounts are set up, each person will receive an email with information about how to log in to their account. Contacts designated as the Head of School, Business Manager, or Assistant to the Head can update their school’s profile (add, delete, or update personnel) at any time on the NAIS website, www.nais.org.
If you already have your school’s staff roster in an Excel or Word document, feel free to email it to [email protected] instead of filling out the form below.
ASSISTANT TO HEAD NAME JOB TITLE EMAIL
BUSINESS MANAGER NAME JOB TITLE EMAIL
ADMISSIONS DIRECTOR NAME JOB TITLE EMAIL
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT NAME JOB TITLE EMAIL
FINANCIAL AID DIRECTOR NAME JOB TITLE EMAIL
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR NAME JOB TITLE EMAIL
DIVERSITY COORDINATOR NAME JOB TITLE EMAIL
LOWER SCHOOL HEAD NAME JOB TITLE EMAIL
6. REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS
To demonstrate compliance with NAIS membership requirements, all schools applying for membership must send in the following materials in addition to the membership application:
❏ a copy of your school’s IRS 501(c) (3) federal exemption letter (proof of nonprofit status); ❏ your school’s nondiscrimination policy statement covering employment of personnel; and ❏ your school’s nondiscrimination policy statement covering admission of students.
7. NAIS PRINCIPLES OF GOOD PRACTICE
NAIS asks all member schools to uphold in spirit all of the NAIS Principles of Good Practice (PGPs). The PGPs define high standards and ethical behavior in key areas of independent school operations, including admissions, fundraising, financial and business management, hiring, instruction, governance, headship, and school/family relations. See a full set of PGPs at
www.nais.org.
I have reviewed the NAIS Principles of Good Practice. On behalf of my school, I agree that my school will abide in spirit with the Principles of Good Practice.
HEAD OF SCHOOL SIGNATURE DATE
This signature is required for membership.
8. APPLICATION FEE
A non-refundable $50 registration fee must accompany this application. Please send the application and fee to NAIS Membership, 1129 20th Street, NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20036 -3425. Note: A signature is required for credit card payments.
Form of payment:
My check for $50 is enclosed (made payable to NAIS).
Charge my credit card: AmEx Visa MC Discover
CARD NUMBER EXPIRATION DATE
NAME ON CARD SIGNATURE DATE
