Professional Associations
Council of International Schools (CIS)
CIS is a non-profit membership organization that provides services to both elementary and secondary schools around the world. These schools have the following in common:
• A desire to provide students with the knowledge, skills and attributes to pursue their lives as global citizens, and
• A commitment to high quality education
To achieve this goal, school must infuse international and intercultural perspective into their programmes so students can move forward with the attitudes and understanding that will provide them with a solid base wherever their studies or work may take them. Schools must commit to undertaking an ongoing quality assurance process to enhance student learning.
This is encapsulated in the process of school improvement through CIS Accreditation.
The main purpose of the CIS programme of Evaluation and Accreditation is to support international schools in their pursuit of educational excellence by providing a system for periodic self examination combined with external appraisal. The award of Accreditation also assures both a school’s own parents and the community at large, that the school so has achieved high standards of professional performance, and has a continuing commitment to their maintenance and to institutional improvement.
The School’s History
The International School of Bologna’s history with the Council of International Schools includes some key achievements:
• November 2008 - CIS Membership Visit
• November 2008 - Board agreement to start process of Accreditation
• January 2009 - Awarded CIS Membership
• May 2010 - Preliminary Visit and Accreditation workshop (4 days)
• June 2010 - CIS approval to start Accreditation process following the submission of a Special Report
• August 2010 - Report submitted
• September 2010 - Permission to commence the Self Study process
The International Baccalaureate
The International Baccalaureate® (IB) is a non-profit educational foundation, motivated by its mission, focused on the student.
The IB Mission Statement:
The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.
To this end the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment.
These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.
The International Baccalaureate offers three programmes of international education for students aged 3 to 19.
The School’s History
To become an IB World School involves a rigorous process of Authorization which requires schools meeting the IB Standards and Practices. Below is an outline ISB’s journey towards Authorization and recognition as an IBO World School.
September 2006: ISB enters the ‘Consideration Phase’ for the IBO Primary Years Programme (PYP) for students aged 3-12.
September 2007: ISB becomes a Candidate School
February 2009: A team from the IBO evaluate the school’s progress in a Pre-Authorization Visit.
November 2009: Authorization Visit takes place.
December 2009: ISB is authorized to teach the IBO PYP Programme
September 2010: ISB opens its Middle School and begins the Consideration Phase of Middle Years Programme.
