Membership Process
Membership Overview
Beginning with the 2025-26 School Year, all NAPCIS Members will be expected to be accredited by NAPCIS or on the path to accreditation. Specific timing will be decided by the Executive Committee.
What does NAPCIS membership mean?
Membership in the National Association of Private Catholic and Independent Schools means solidarity, strength and security.
- solidarity in the uniting of members in their common interests and responsibilities;
- strength in the reinforcement of the identity and resolve of individual schools to live up to their Catholic mission;
- security in the protection and assurance of belonging to a community that brings the freedom of confidence and the certainty of success.
Membership in NAPCIS confirms the character and quality of the school and gives witness and support to its philosophy of education. It provides assurance that a school has met the high standards of spiritual and academic excellence which characterize NAPCIS schools.
In order to be eligible for membership in NAPCIS, a school must meet technical eligibility requirements: NAPCIS schools must have explicitly stated non-discrimination policies in admission and employment; must be non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations recognized and regulated as such by the IRS; schools must demonstrate sound fiscal practices and provide NAPCIS with financial documents as requested by NAPCIS.
In addition to the technical requirements, the NAPCIS executive committee and its membership department have set the following professional eligibility standards: schools must provide the required documentation and demonstrate that they operate under a Catholic philosophy of education; that they offer an academic environment of excellence that is consistent with the Catholic mission of the school; that they have responsible organizational structure and administration. Schools applying for membership must fulfill the technical eligibility requirements and the professional criteria before membership into NAPCIS will be accepted.
Why join NAPCIS?
- Accreditation of member schools through NAPCIS Accreditation Program
- Advice and assistance on how to start a school
- Professional consultants & speakers
- Referrals to educational resources, support services
- Publicity – Advocacy for private Catholic and independent schools
- Internet access to a national network of private Catholic and independent schools
- Online resources and immediate access to information and documents necessary and useful in the operation of private Catholic and independent schools
Beyond these services:
NAPCIS offers the professionals in its member schools an opportunity to join a national association uniting private and independent schools teaching the Catholic Faith in a common resolve to support, advance and preserve their mission.
Working in private and independent schools that teach the Catholic Faith is a challenging and fulfilling vocation. Too often, however, it can be an isolating experience and be perceived as being “all alone out there”, as founders and administrators of schools have expressed. Administrators, teachers and parents need support, reinforcement and affirmation. NAPCIS offers assurance in the knowledge that member schools are a part of a larger plan, larger than lovingly demonstrated by an individual school. Private Catholic and independent schools are the activity of the Holy Spirit in the Church today to preserve and teach the Faith.
How Do Schools Qualify for Membership In NAPCIS?
The National Association of Private Catholic and Independent Schools seeks members who are dedicated to preserving and teaching the truths of the Catholic Faith in loyalty and obedience to the Holy See. We recognize that member schools will differ in their methods and facilities. We ask schools to demonstrate their Catholic identity, provide academic excellence, practice sound fiscal policies and manage their operations with responsible governance and administration.
A school must be a non-profit, tax exempt, 501(c)(3) organization and be nondiscriminatory under the law in admission and employment practices.
How Is The Application Processed?
Applications are evaluated by the Membership Department of NAPCIS and may be referred to the Board of Trustees for review and approval.
When Are Applications Reviewed?
Applications are evaluated and reviewed as received.
You can join NAPCIS and be part of uniting and strengthening your actions
Standards of Excellence for Member Schools
NAPCIS Commitments
1. Religious: The Association exists to promote the teachings of the Catholic Faith in obedience to the Pope and Magisterium.
2. Educational: The Association advocates excellence and professionalism in the curriculum adopted and the faculty employed by the schools.
3. Administrative: The Association maintains the position that a school\’s stability is secured by an administrator who has clearly designated responsibilities and evinces a degree of permanence.
4. Financial: The Association expects members to demonstrate fiscal responsibility and accountability.
5. Philosophical: The Association requires that member schools clearly state its mission, goals, and objectives and have the ability to demonstrate in practice the fulfillment of its philosophy.
Standards of Membership
1. The school is incorporated as a non-profit, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.
2. The school has a statement of its mission and purpose. All individuals and groups associated with the school – governing body, professional staff, parents and students – have a clear understanding of this statement.
3. The school requires the Board of Trustees, administrator and the essential professional staff be practicing Roman Catholics. The Board, administration and faculty make an annual Profession of Faith and pledge an Oath of Fidelity to the Pope and Magisterium.
4. The school informs parents of the mission and purposes of the school and secures their affirmation and consent for full support and participation.
5. The school requires all students to participate fully, without exception, in its curriculum and program, including, and, especially, those that confirm its Catholic identity – Mass and the Sacraments; devotions and prayer; religion and Theology studies.
6. The school has an established admission policy and procedure consistent with the school’s stated mission and purpose.
7. The school informs the families of their financial responsibility to the school, and the school’s policy regarding the payment of tuition and fees.
8. The school has established non-discriminatory enrollment and employment practices with regard to race, color, national, or ethnic origin in conformance with federal and state statutes.
9. The school has sufficient administration, faculty and staff to carry out the stated program of the school.
10. The school employs professionals who possess either a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent in life experience or training.
11. The school has a program for staff development and evaluating staff performance.
12. The school provides the professional staff with reasonable working conditions and salaries.
13. The school prepares a yearly calendar, which meets its State’s requirement for minimum number of school days.
14. The school designs and implements a curriculum that meets the stated mission and goals of the school.
15. The school has physical facilities, equipment and teaching materials to support its program at each grade level.
16. The school adheres to city, county and state health and safety regulations as they apply to the school’s physical facilities.
17. The school has a structure of governance with established procedures for developing school policy and program, and for defining and delineating personnel duties and responsibilities.
18. The school has an effective administration designed to implement the policies established by the governing board.
19. The school has established effective means of communication between the school and parents to inform parents of student progress and school activity and to insure parents’ involvement in the mission and purpose of the school. The school has, also, established reasonable practices and procedures by which parents may address their concerns and interests to appropriate school personnel.
20. The school gives evidence of its financial stability and has established procedures for the management of its financial resources.
21. The school maintains complete and accurate records for students, personnel and graduates.
22. A secondary school includes grades 9, 10, 11 and 12 and confers a high school diploma. It is college preparatory in its stated goals and purposes, although all graduates may not, in fact, go on to higher education.