National Research Project

CAIS LI

July 2015

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NRF and NRC Overview

• October 2012- Strategic Plan identifies research as one of three strategic priorities

• April 2013- CAIS Board allocates $250K for NRF

• 2014-15 – CAIS Board approves $50K for this year (Governance, Admin Structure)

• 2 Year Research Plan

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Historical Annual Research Projects

• Benchmarks• Compensation Surveys• NTP• Boarding - Enrolment

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Signature Projects

• A Head of the Game• Parent Motivation Survey• Governance* (Focus for this year on

update from NRF)

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Ad Hoc Projects

• 2051Project (CAIS)• NTP (Jason Lockhart)• Online/IT survey• Homestay (Liz Falco)• Advancement (Alison Holt)

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National Research Committee

Mandate• To advise on national research projects to ensure

timeliness, efficiency and value to members.

Membership• The committee will be national and representative of the

diversity of our membership. The majority of members will be Heads of CAIS schools; additional members may have expertise in the areas of learning, finance as well as other aspects of school leadership.

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NRC 2014-15

Marc Ayotte – Head of SchoolHillfield Strathallan College, Ontario

 Tam Matthews – Head of School

West Point Grey Academy, British Columbia 

Margaret Dorrance – Head of SchoolCalgary French and International School, Alberta

 Maureen Baron – Head of School

JPPS Bialik, Quebec 

Michel Lafrance – Head of SchoolWest Island College, Quebec

 Leanne Foster – Director of Academics

St. Clement’s School, Ontario 

Rebecca Powell – Student Leadership Development CoordinatorSt. John’s-Ravenscourt School, Manitoba

 Anne-Marie Kee – Executive Director

Canadian Accredited Independent Schools, Ontario

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Mission and Vision

Vision• To complete research in and for CAIS schools that

shapes the future of education.

 

Mission• To create ongoing value-add to CAIS members by

conducting research projects on strategic areas of national relevance, to ensure all Canadian independent schools’ strength and permanence.

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Guiding Principles

The National Research Advisory Committee will advise on research projects that will be known to be

 • a benefit of membership, a concrete value add;

 • a service to CAIS members by providing access to contemporary research into issues of

concern and relevance to members, the results of which would assist members in doing a better job educating our students and ensuring the long term viability of Canadian independent schools;

 • a mechanism to ensure research within the context of CAIS and avoid that which is done

elsewhere and therefore relevant elsewhere and perhaps only partially relevant to the CAIS experience.

 • Small-scale projects, not of National or K-12 scope, will be funded by the group of schools

the project will directly pertain to and benefit.

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Research Scope

The scope of CAIS research projects will be such that

 • all CAIS National Standards and Effective Practices are

potential research areas; and that • all research outcomes must be specific to CAIS schools

first and foremost. • The scope may also be demand driven, whereby CAIS

seeks out consensus, through an annual survey or other means, on areas of deeper research. In order for a project to be considered,

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Research Scope

• Research projects must respond to the needs of the majority CAIS schools.

• The criteria for supporting research projects must be such that the outcome is applicable to all schools across Canada and not to the benefit of one or a few schools.

• Furthermore, the outcomes of research projects should have lasting impact, with short and long-term relevance. For instance, it may be deemed appropriate to periodically update existing research so that the findings remain current.

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How to choose?

• Research projects may be chosen and executed in the following ways:

• Area of need is identified by the Committee and an outside professional group is enlisted to conduct the research.

• Area of need is identified by the Committee and research team is selected from within CAIS schools.

• Through an open call for research proposals, individuals or groups could be chosen by the Committee to conduct the research.

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Draft Call for Proposals

• To request applications for nine Innovation Grants of $1000 each and two Collaboration Grants of $3000 each.

* (This would mean allocating $15,000 of next year’s NRF to this project.)

 • Innovation Grants – Individuals from CAIS schools may propose projects that

meet the NRAC Guiding Principles, can be well underway by April 2016, and aspire to meet the dual challenge of the 2051 Project (academic and business innovation).

 • Collaboration Grants – Individuals from 2-4 CAIS schools may propose

projects that meet the NRAC Guiding Principles, can be well underway by April 2016, and involve a new collaborative initiative that aspires to meet the dual challenge of the 2051 Project (academic and business innovation)

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June Survey of Heads Top Results

• Innovative Academic Programs• Admissions and Enrolment Management

including FA and Strategic Pricing• IT Integration and Impact• University Trends- program changes and NTP

update• Strategic Plan impacts on teaching and

learning

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Next Steps

• Survey Results Analyzed• Final call for proposals developed• Call for proposals to go out this summer

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Connection with NNAC

• Help drive the program annually• Opportunity to share research• NNAC will spur the next round of research

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