NAIS AIM Process
The National Association of Independent Schools Assessment of Inclusivity and Multiculturalism is a comprehensive instrument designed to evaluate diversity, multiculturalism, equity, and justice. It is also designed to assist in strategic planning initiatives to build and sustain inclusive learning communities. AIM builds on a long history of work by the NAIS Equity and Justice Team with an expansive meaning and use of cultural identifiers and elements of school climate. The assessment includes a School Self-Assessment (qualitative element) and an Online Climate Survey (quantitative element).
The National Association of Independent Schools Assessment of Inclusivity and Multiculturalism is a comprehensive instrument designed to evaluate diversity, multiculturalism, equity, and justice. It is also designed to assist in strategic planning initiatives to build and sustain inclusive learning communities. AIM builds on a long history of work by the NAIS Equity and Justice Team with an expansive meaning and use of cultural identifiers and elements of school climate. The assessment includes a School Self-Assessment (qualitative element) and an Online Climate Survey (quantitative element).
The specific goals of AIM are to:
The specific goals of AIM are to:
• Determine progress in meeting diversity and multiculturalism goals
• Determine progress in meeting diversity and multiculturalism goals
• Identify current diversity and multiculturalism initiatives and learn about the successful initiatives of other member schools
• Identify current diversity and multiculturalism initiatives and learn about the successful initiatives of other member schools
• Encourage participation of all school constituent groups and stakeholders in assessing the school’s current level of inclusivity
• Encourage participation of all school constituent groups and stakeholders in assessing the school’s current level of inclusivity
• Provide affirmation of a school’s progress in meeting diversity, multiculturalism, and inclusiveness goals
• Provide affirmation of a school’s progress in meeting diversity, multiculturalism, and inclusiveness goals
• Facilitate meaningful dialogue on building and sustaining a diverse and inclusive school community
• Facilitate meaningful dialogue on building and sustaining a diverse and inclusive school community
• Provide benchmarking opportunities
• Provide benchmarking opportunities
• Support a positive community building process/experience
• Support a positive community building process/experience
Discovery Summit (Self-Assessment)
Discovery Summit (Self-Assessment)
On this single day summit, ten groups of 8-10 participants met to discuss pre-defined questions on ten areas of school life:
On this single day summit, ten groups of 8-10 participants met to discuss pre-defined questions on ten areas of school life:
A. School governance and leadership
A. School governance and leadership
B. Policy and administration
B. Policy and administration
C. Admissions, including financial aid
C. Admissions, including financial aid
D. Faculty/teacher
D. Faculty/teacher
E. Teaching and learning
E. Teaching and learning
F. Student life
F. Student life
G. School publications and environment
G. School publications and environment
H. Staff involvement and life
H. Staff involvement and life
I. Parent/guardian involvement
I. Parent/guardian involvement
J. Alumni/-ae involvement and investment
J. Alumni/-ae involvement and investment
A trained facilitator led the group discussion and a note-taker recorded the participants' views. The notes from each group are being combined into a final report, which will be used together with the Climate Survey data to generate actions for the school.
A trained facilitator led the group discussion and a note-taker recorded the participants' views. The notes from each group are being combined into a final report, which will be used together with the Climate Survey data to generate actions for the school.
The FIS Discovery Summit took place on 25th March 2021.
The FIS Discovery Summit took place on 25th March 2021.
Online Community Survey (Climate Survey)
Online Community Survey (Climate Survey)
Over a 2-week period the school community, including teachers, parents, staff, school leaders, board members, alumni and current students aged 9 and above will be invited to take an online survey.
Over a 2-week period the school community, including teachers, parents, staff, school leaders, board members, alumni and current students aged 9 and above will be invited to take an online survey.
The survey questions are pre-defined by NAIS AIM although the school can opt to add additional questions. Participants answer questions designed specifically for their role in the community and have the opportunity to answer from multiple stakeholder perspectives, for example if they are both an FIS teacher and a parent.
The survey questions are pre-defined by NAIS AIM although the school can opt to add additional questions. Participants answer questions designed specifically for their role in the community and have the opportunity to answer from multiple stakeholder perspectives, for example if they are both an FIS teacher and a parent.
The online survey was open for 2 weeks from 26th April - 7th May 2021.
The online survey was open for 2 weeks from 26th April - 7th May 2021.
Data will be processed and combined with the Discovery Summit findings in a final report which will be communicated to the community as part of the FIS Strategic Planning Process.
Data will be processed and combined with the Discovery Summit findings in a final report which will be communicated to the community as part of the FIS Strategic Planning Process.
The findings from the NAIS AIM process will be used to generate future actions across dimensions of school life to support and enhance Equity, Justice and Belonging at FIS.
The findings from the NAIS AIM process will be used to generate future actions across dimensions of school life to support and enhance Equity, Justice and Belonging at FIS.
NAIS AIM Report - Released Fall 2021
NAIS AIM Report - Released Fall 2021
