About CIS Ontario

The Conference of Independent Schools of Ontario (CIS Ontario) is an association of independent schools located in Ontario, Canada. CIS Ontario has 46 member schools with founding dates from 1829 through to 2002. Our schools collectively educate approximately 25,000 students and employ 4,300 staff.

While working to support our member schools in their missions to prepare students for the 21st century, we are committed to providing quality inter-school student programs and responsive professional development and networking.

CIS Ontario maintains a strong voice for quality independent school education and emerging issues in pedagogy, as well as acts as a catalyst for collaborative efforts among our member schools.

History

In the early years, independent schools developed informal relationships with each other for the support of student programs, particularly in athletics and debating/public speaking. As the number of independent schools in Ontario increased, associations were formed to serve their varying needs. In 1983 CIS Ontario was incorporated as a non-profit association. In 2007 the CIS Ontario Board carried a unanimous motion to acknowledge "that it adheres to the spirit of the Independent Sector Code of Ethics.

Affiliations

Today, CIS Ontario is closely affiliated with the Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS), the national association that accredits the majority of our schools. CIS Ontario is also associated with the National Association of Independent Schools - U.S. (NAIS) and the Independent Schools Association Network - U.S. (ISAnet). Provincially, we liaise with the Ontario Ministry of Education and The Ontario College of Teachers.