Accreditation

The Middle States Association of Colleges and School (MSA)

MSA is our first accrediting authority and frames our continuous improvement across the school’s operation in standards areas from governance to health and safety, to our educational program and assessment. We were first accredited by MSA in 1994 and then reaccredited in 2003 and 2013. Our most recent accreditation process utilized the Excellence by Design protocol which has helped us to nurture a stronger planning ethic within our school. From this recent accreditation, we have also focused more intently on health and safety policies and procedures, more significant student support and career services, and building stronger ties between governance, leadership, and our large teaching staff.

The International Baccalaureate – A Continuum of Programmes

The IBO has been part of AIS culture since 2005, when we were first authorized to teach the Diploma Programme. In 2006, we were authorized to bring the MYP to students following closely by the PYP in 2007. We have since been reauthorized in all three programmes multiple times and have become a stellar example of the impact a strong IB Continuum has on students, staff, and our Kuwait community. In 2017, AIS brings all three programme reauthorizations together at one time in a multi-programme self-study. Combining this process ensures that we are thinking and reflecting from the earliest of grades through the end of our journey in grade 12.

School Improvement Plan (SIP)

The SIP provides a clear and strong path for continuous improvement. Our SIP is the core document that guides improvements that are in progress from both of our accrediting authority lenses: the MSA and the IB Continuum. We monitor our SIP closely through standing committees in the important areas of health and safety, facilities, technology, data, school culture, and faculty advisory. In addition, we are mindful of local educational requirements and have a well-established Censorship committee that ensures we are culturally sensitive in our resource acquisition.

We have identified four key objectives that guide our continuous growth and improvement. Each of the objectives are monitored by our SIP committee and subsequent standing committees. In brief, the objectives focus on both the academic and organizational side of our school and provide targets that we can use to measure our effectiveness. Our full SIP is available below.

School Improvement Plan Overview

Student Performance Objective #1:
By 2020, AIS students will be more competent in mathematics.
SP1 Goal #1: The AIS curriculum will become the guiding document for the teaching and learning of mathematics.
SP1 Goal #2: All mathematics classes will be collaborative and inquiry-based and foster critical thinking.
SP1 Goal #3: Internal and external assessments provide students with opportunities to demonstrate their learning.
SP1 Goal #4: Staff is fully supported in the teaching of mathematics.
Student Performance Objective #2:
By 2020, AIS students will demonstrate an increased level of literacy.
SP2 Goal #1: All subjects will be guided by AIS curriculum for the teaching and learning of literacy.
SP2 Goal #2: All classrooms will become collaborative and inquiry based centers for critical thinking that foster excellence in reading, writing and communication.
SP2 Goal #3: Internal and external assessments provide students with opportunities to demonstrate their learning.
Organizational Capacity Objective #1:
By 2020, AIS will demonstrate a more collaborative and transparent process for developing, implementing, communicating, and monitoring organizational and long range strategic plans.
OC1 Goal #1: All stakeholders are committed to an ethic of organizational and long range strategic planning.
OC1 Goal #2: AIS will make optimal use of digital technology for curriculum and instruction, communication, reporting, record keeping and security.
Organizational Capacity Objective #2:
By 2020, AIS student services will enhance and increase opportunities and supports to create an inclusive and equitable learning environment for all students.
OC2 Goal #1: AIS policy and procedures will guide student services.
OC2 Goal #2: The IB Learner Profile of the Graduate (LPoG) will provide a foundation to impact how we support social-emotional development.
OC2 Goal #3: Professional development will support diverse needs of AIS students.
OC2 Goal #4: Resources will support diverse needs of AIS students.
OC2 Goal #5: Students will understand their potential in planning their future beyond AIS.