The Value of FCIS Accreditation

The Florida Council of Independent Schools (FCIS) was founded in 1954 as an organization dedicated to independence and quality of member schools. To ensure quality, all member schools must undergo an extensive accreditation process, with a periodic evaluation every five years. Schools must successfully meet FCIS Standards, demonstrate financial stability, provide quality education, and successfully undergo evaluation visits to be granted and to retain membership in FCIS. Click HERE to learn more.

Membership in FCIS confirms the following:

Adherence to rigorous standards
Commitment to the FCIS Code of Ethics
Legislative voice at the state level to promote freedom from governmental interference
Smooth transition to higher education for graduating students
Access to professional development offered by FCIS
National recognition via the NAIS Commission on Accreditation

FCIS and NAIS

FCIS and NAIS

FCIS is a member in good standing of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Commission on Accreditation, having successfully completed a comprehensive evaluation process in 2008.

The National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Commission on Accreditation was founded in 2001 by the NAIS Board of Trustees. The NAIS Board charged the Commission to develop criteria for effective independent school accreditation practices, exemplary standards, and models of successful accreditation policies and procedures; to engage in research to inform accreditation practice; and to promote, through advocacy efforts, public understanding of and credibility for independent school accrediting programs.

The primary goals of the Commission are as follows:

Provide quality assurance and accountability for state, regional and international members
Establish and maintain criteria for effective accreditation
Conduct formal evaluations of member associations
Examine and assess the evolving educational environment
Develop innovative practices in independent education
Promote transformative leadership in the field of accreditation
Strengthen independent school education
Support the ongoing improvement of individual schools as they enhance learning experiences for their students

Today, the NAIS Commission on Accreditation is an international authority on independent school accreditation, representing thousands of schools in over 100 countries. The NAIS Commission accredits 19 independent school associations worldwide; FCIS is one of only 10 state associations in the U.S. whose accreditation process has been recognized by the NAIS Commission.

Current NAIS Commission members include: