You will have heard and read quite a lot this year about CAISL’s re-accreditation by two of the major accrediting agencies and the extensive commendations they gave CAISL as a result of their inspection. Many members of the CAISL community have asked for more clarification as to what, exactly, accreditation is and why it is important.
There are actually quite a lot of agencies which work in the area of school licensing and approval. Below I will try to make sense of this for you.
Ministry of Education license
First, any school which operates legally in Portugal must have a license from the Ministry of Education to do so. This is fundamental and without it a school is operating illegally. The license (formerly called the alvará, now referred to as the autorização definitiva) will identify what type of program the school is licensed to offer. CAISL is authorized to offer an American program for Early Childhood through High School Graduation American Diploma (Grade 12) plus the IB Diploma Program for Grades 11 and 12.
Portugal has defined a system of entry for students coming into the Portuguese system (including University level) from schools following a program of studies of the USA. This system applies to CAISL as we are licensed by the Ministry of Education as an American school. The system also applies to students coming to study in the Portuguese system from other American schools, in the USA or outside the USA.
This is important because CAISL’s American High School Diploma is a valid credential for entry into Portuguese universities and CAISL students can use their scores on some SAT exams as substitute for the Portuguese provas because CAISL is licensed locally as an American school.
A license to operate from the Ministry of Education is fundamental but is not the same as accreditation.
International Baccalaureate Organization Authorization
Schools with an IB program must be authorized by the International Baccalaureate Organization. Such authorization requires a process of validation conducted by the IBO. Without IBO Authorization, a school may not offer any of the IB programs and authorization by the IBO will specify which of the IB Programs a school is permitted to offer. The IBO sometimes conducts its authorization process in conjunction with the Council of International Schools (CIS, see below) but it is not the same as Accreditation.
Accreditation
A school which is striving for excellence and opening itself to external peer inspection and evaluation will seek Accreditation. Accreditation can be vital for the recognition of a student’s credentials in the next school to which they apply, including universities in the USA.
The main accrediting bodies for international schools are the Council of International Schools (NOT the European Council of International Schools—a different entity which is explained below) and/or the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC, a subdivision of which is for international schools) from the USA. CIS and NEASC work together to hold joint inspection visits.
Getting and keeping Accreditation requires adherence to standards set forth by these organizations and involves full inspection visits every 10 years and a “check-up” visit half-way through the 10 years and sometimes interim reports or visits as well. You will sometimes see ECIS listed on the home pages and in the literature of a school. ECIS is an excellent organization which works with schools on professional development. It is not, however, an accreditation agency. Many years ago, it was but ECIS split into two entities and CIS was formed to provide accrediting services.
Support from the Department of State of the USA
The Office of Overseas Schools of the USA also works in the area of school approval and oversight. It is not, per se, an accrediting body but it does choose to recognize selected American schools outside of the USA as worthy of support and, thus, regularly visits the school and speaks to the Department of State employees posted to Lisbon to gather information about the school and to ensure that the school continues to adhere to “best practice” and provide an appropriate education to US government dependents. Schools which are supported by the Department of State may apply for limited funding mainly for professional development activities for faculty.
What does CAISL have?
· A permanent license from the Ministry of Education to offer an American curriculum program to Early Childhood through High School. CAISL is authorized to offer both the American High School Diploma (which makes it valid for entry into Portuguese universities) and the IB Diploma.
· Authorization from the IBO to offer the IB Diploma Program
· Accreditation from CIS and NEASC. The most recent full visit was in March 2012. We were accredited through 2022. The full accreditation report, including the summary of commendations and recommendations, is on the web site.
· Support from the Office of Overseas Schools of the Department of State of the United States of America.
· Membership in ECIS.
