This is an update to the NAIS Commission on Accreditation:

Data in Independent Schools

In the spring of 2009, the NAIS Commission on Accreditation adopted a new criteria for accreditation associations:

Criteria #13
The standard requires a school to provide evidence of a thoughtful process, respectful of its mission, for the collection and use in school decision-making of data (both internal and external) about student learning.

CESI is pleased to announce that we are one of four associations that already meet this new requirement.

The Board adopted Standard 11, Commitment to Continuous School Improvement, in January 2008. This CESI Standard currently includes the following Indicators of Effective Practice to meet this NAIS criteria:

Effective Practice 11.3
The school regularly collects and analyses research and data and uses it to make improvements to operations.

Effective Practice 11.4
The school engages in ongoing development, review and evaluation of its program, including tracking the level of success of its graduates.

Effective Practice 11.5
The school is aware of, and continues to search out, new approaches to education, and implements those considered appropriate.

To assist schools in choosing among the expanding variety of data gathering/analyzing measures, NAIS has completed the following research:
http://www.nais.org/sustainable/article.cfm?ItemNumber=151607.

Your Input
CESI is interested in gathering descriptions of the relevant tools Canadian independent schools are using to inform decision-making. If your school is willing to share your experience, please reach Anne-Marie Kee at execdir@cesi.edu.

You may find these additional articles on the importance of data of interest:
Education Sector – Measuring Skills
A Call for Assessment (Of the Right Kind)
NAIS Commission on Accreditation – Data Use