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About Us

 

The association began in 1949 as the Private Schools Association of Dade County and was incorporated as a nonprofit organization in 1958. AISF schools serve more than 25,000 students in various programs: traditional and montessori; boarding and day; preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and secondary; special learning needs; experimental; religious, non-sectarian, non-denominational; and college preparatory.

Independent schools channel resources directly to students learning, counseling, and growth. The energy of independent schools goes into a common purpose: high academic standards unhampered by political considerations. The classroom is the basic unit. The basic relationship is between student and teacher.

AISF is recognized by the Florida Association of Academic Nonpublic Schools as an accrediting agency for private schools in Florida. AISF is a charter member of the National Council for Private School Accreditation. NCPSA serves as a national review panel for the standards and procedures of private school accrediting associations in the United States.

Affiliated schools offer small class groupings, flexible programs, and helpful teacher-pupil ratios. AISF schools stress academic fundamentals while tailoring their instructional programs to meet the needs, capabilities, and interests of their students.

Member schools shall be accredited by one of the two AISF accrediting divisions – the Academic Schools Accreditation Program (ASAP) or the Early Childhood Accreditation Program (ECAP).

Schools may enter the AISF accreditation process through either the Academic Schools Accreditation Program (ASAP) or the Early Childhood Accreditation Program (ECAP).

  • The Academic Schools Accreditation Program (ASAP) accredits schools which may begin at infant level and extend through grade twelve
  • The Early Childhood Accreditation Program (ECAP) accredits schools/programs which begin at infant level and may extend through grade three
  • We provide organizational and pedagogical services to member schools and their teachers and administrators
  • We foster the availability of the best educational experiences to all students regardless of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, and disability

Provisional member schools are on their way to accreditation by AISF. Having completed two successful site visits and submitting a self-study, they need to accomplish the following to achieve accreditation:

  • Provisional schools must complete an updated self-study.
  • The School must maintain AISF compliance under ASAP or ECAP Standards at all times.
  • Provisional schools must schedule and receive a new on-site inspection visit
  • Be evaluated and approved by the Board for Accreditation status.

Candidate Schools have undergone the application process and received site visits by a evaluation team.

  • Candidate Schools are visited by teams including at least two members of the Board of Directors.
  • The teams report is considered by the Board and the schools advance to Candidate Status
  • The schools that advance are encouraged to continue the application process to gain Provisional and then Accredited Membership.
  • Schools then prepare for at least one year and complete a comprehensive self-study and invite a team of qualified evaporators to conduct an on-site visit to validate that the school meets AISF Standards.