Menu
Menu

CAIS Accreditation

Home Our Accreditation & Affiliations CAIS Accreditation

The Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS) is a community of independent schools that choose to meet and exceed rigorous National Standards that inspire continuous whole-school improvement. CAIS accreditation means families can expect the best when they choose a Gray Academy education for their children.

 

Learn about Accreditation – See the Movie:

Gray Academy’s Accreditation

  • Leadership –  in 2004, Gray Academy became the first Jewish day school in Canada and the second school in Manitoba to be accredited by CAIS.
  • Community – today, Gray Academy is one of 51 independent schools in Manitoba and one of 90 independent schools across Canada accredited by CAIS.
  • Intensive review – the CAIS accreditation process, which typically takes place every five to seven years, combines a rigorous internal self-assessment and an intensive external peer review.

Accreditation Matters to Our Families

  • Assuring the highest standards – CAIS accreditation assures students and their families that Gray Academy meets or exceeds a set of 12 National Standards in its education programs, operations, school culture, support systems for students and much more.
  • Alignment – the process ensures Gray Academy’s practices are aligned with our mission, vision, commitments and strategic goals.
  • Accountability – CAIS accreditation demonstrates Gray Academy’s ongoing commitment to self-evaluation, whole-school improvement and accountability to our students, staff, board and community.
  • Learn more about how CAIS impacts you

The Accreditation Process

  • The timeline – CAIS Accreditation is usually a 12- to 18-month process that includes the development of an extensive Internal Evaluation Report.
  • The work – our internal evaluation includes intensive discussions, research and data collection, as we seek to answer detailed questions about the 12 CAIS National Standards we are committed to upholding,
  • The review – The Internal Evaluation Report is provided to a CAIS Review Committee prior to an in-person visit to the school to observe our practices in action. (In 2022, our visit was virtual only.)
  • The report – Once the visit is completed, the committee develops a Peer Review Report and School Improvement Action Plan, with specific recommendations for actionable improvements.
  • The accreditation decision – the Peer Review Report and School Improvement Action Plan are provided to the CAIS Evaluation Council, which then advises the CAIS Board on its findings and a decision on accreditation.
  • Learn more about the accreditation process.

We’re Currently in the Cycle

  • Our third cycle – last year, Gray Academy underwent its third CAIS accreditation process.
  • A deep dive into self-assessment – beginning in the Fall of 2018, we took a deep dive into self-assessment, with substantial input from members of the Gray Academy leadership team; faculty and non-teaching staff; students; community members; and members of the Winnipeg Board of Jewish Education.
  • This time it was virtual – originally scheduled as an in-person review in Fall 2020, our accreditation process was delayed by a full year by the pandemic. Our accreditation “visit” took place entirely via Zoom.

What’s Next

  • Following our last CAIS accreditation, we received recommendations in the form of a detailed School Improvement Action Plan.
  • We are now working with Future Design School to build a fresh strategic plan, which will guide Gray Academy’s decisions, actions and developments over the coming years, including addressing the recommendations outlined in the School Improvement Action Plan.
  • In the Fall of 2022, we conducted in-depth surveys with parents, students, faculty and staff to ensure all stakeholder voices will be factored into our strategic plan.
  • The new strategic plan and associated operational action plan will be launched this year.