Independent Education's 85 schools educate many different types of students from nursery school through high school using many different educational strategies, providing families with a wide range of educational options. We welcome new members from throughout the national capital region.
We provide a wide range of benefits to our member schools and the 33,000 students they educate. This work includes:
- Organizing professional development and networking opportunities for administrators and teachers through some 50 programs annually.
- Collecting and analyzing a wide range of information from its members to assist them in institutional decision-making.
- Reducing the cost of school operations through participation in a national purchasing consortium, sponsorship of a property and casualty insurance affinity group, and the development of corporate partnerships offering member schools discounted pricing on products and services.
- Keeping member school abreast of significant legislative and regulatory developments locally and nationally.
- Representing independent schools in the national capital region before government agencies and in other key public venues.
- Promoting communication among the professionals in our schools by sponsoring listservs for administrators, teachers, and staff.
- Publishing a monthly e-newsletter on local and national education trends and news within our network of schools.
- Attracting families to independent education and our member schools though a newly redesigned website and other communications strategies.
- Sponsoring a web-based career center to help member schools attract highly qualified staff.
- Maintaining a web-based event site where member schools can publicize upcoming programs.
- Providing counsel on the wide-ranging academic and administrative problems that schools encounter.
- Serving as a liaison for member schools with regional and national education organizations.
Membership Requirements
Full Membership
Independent Education schools:
- Are non-profit and meet the criteria of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
- Have independent boards of trustees
- Have a primarily academic character
- Are accredited by such agencies as the Virginia Association of Independent Schools, the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, the Association of Independent Schools of Maryland, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, or other agencies approved by Independent Education
- Have nondiscrimination policies in admissions and hiring
- Have audited financial statements
- Have been in operation for thirty-six consecutive months
Provisional Membership
Schools with provisional Independent Education membership:
- Fulfill the criteria for Full Membership but have been in operation for at least the previous twelve months
- If unaccredited, provisional members will be granted three years to start the accreditation process and five years to complete it
Application Process
A school interested in applying for membership to Independent Education should complete a membership application. The application includes a list of supplemental materials which should be submitted with the application.
Independent Education’s executive director will arrange a time to visit the school when it is in session, to observe classrooms, meet with senior staff, and answer questions about membership.
Two members of Independent Education’s Membership Committee then conduct similar visits.
Independent Education’s board of trustees votes on the application.
Member Dues
Each Independent Education member school pays a base fee, which varies by enrollment, plus a standard per-student charge. Regardless of enrollment, no school pays more than 70 percent of its highest tuition.