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MEMBERSHIP CRITERIAA Full (Regular) Member School Candidate:

  • Demonstrates the ability to meet all NJAIS major accreditation standards, with the aim of becoming an accredited member.
  • If a school is NOT accredited by a cooperative accreditation partner at the time of application, it has up to three years to initiate the NJAIS accreditation process. Until the school achieves accredited status, it is admitted to NJAIS as a 'provisional member.'
  • Full member schools must have 501(c)(3) status from the IRS.

An Associate Member School Candidate:

  • Does not qualify for Full (Regular) Membership.
  • Is committed to the NJAIS mission, ethical governance, and professional development.
  • Is accredited by a recognized agency, or can demonstrate adherence to a comparable set of educational and operational standards.

MEMBERSHIP DUES

NJAIS charges annual membership dues to all its member schools, based on the size (student enrollment) of the school. We charge a base fee plus a specific dollar amount per enrolled student. Dues are billed annually in May for the upcoming school year, July 1 to June 30. Please contact the Executive Director for the membership dues sheet.

MEMBER SCHOOL RESPONSIBILITIES

By becoming a Full (Regular) Member of NJAIS, a school agrees to:

  • Pay annual dues to NJAIS by 1 July of each year.
  • Ensure that the school is either fully accredited, or in the accreditation process.
  • Notify NJAIS promptly of any significant changes at the school, and schedule a Significant Change Visit.
  • Complete the Annual Report each year by October 15.
  • Submit school data through NAIS Data Analysis for School Leadership (DASL) by the annual due date communicated by the NJAIS office.  Please note that DASL data submission is a membership requirement, irrespective of whether your school is a member of NAIS.
  • Support NJAIS-sponsored events through attendance, and/or providing volunteers or facilities for the events.
  • Recommend and provide professionals to serve on accreditation teams.
  • Be guided by the NAIS Principles of Good Practice.

 

By becoming an Associate Member of NJAIS, a school agrees to:

  • Pay annual dues to NJAIS by 1 July of each year.
  • Notify NJAIS promptly of any significant changes at the school (e.g., change of leadership, change of location, new division or program, etc.).
  • Support NJAIS-sponsored professional development through attendance, and/or providing volunteers or facilities for the events.
  • Recommend and provide professionals to speak at professional development events.
  • Be guided by the NAIS Principles of Good Practice.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applications for membership can be found on the respective pages for Full (Regular) Membership and Associate Membership. The applications differ slightly, but the process is the same. Though time from application to membership can vary, NJAIS strives to complete the entire process (below) within two to four weeks from receipt of application and the application fee.

Step 1

  • Submit the membership application online. You will be sent confirmation of receipt, and NJAIS will invoice you for the one-time, non-refundable application fee.

Step 2

  • NJAIS will review your application materials, and request any missing documentation. Following a successful review, NJAIS will provide you with a Readiness Assessment, which is based on our accreditation protocol. NJAIS will ask the school to review the assessment and provide written responses in advance of the forthcoming site visit, to be scheduled during this step.

Step 3

  • NJAIS will perform an in-person site visit. During the course of the visit, in addition to reviewing the Readiness Assessment and performing quality checks, there will be conversations with school leadership, board members, teachers, parents, and students.

Step 4

  • NJAIS will prepare a visit report for the NJAIS Membership Committee, which reviews the report and votes on recommending membership to the NJAIS Board of Trustees. Voting is electronic, and is scheduled in a timely fashion.

Step 5

  • The NJAIS Board of Trustees votes on membership for the applicant school. Voting is electronic, and is scheduled in a timely fashion. Upon successful award of membership, NJAIS will inform the school immediately with a membership letter, and issue an invoice for membership dues. Membership benefits begin upon receipt of dues.

N.B. Any applicant school that is unsuccessful may apply again after a waiting period of 12 months.