Council of International Schools (CIS)
entry by Julie M. Marx, Global Family Expert at Expat Valley
The Council of International Schools (CIS) is a global membership community of schools and higher education institutions dedicated to shaping the future of international education through shared standards, professional services, and peer collaboration. As an international accrediting body, CIS provides a comprehensive school evaluation and accreditation process that enables institutions to benchmark and improve the quality of their educational programs against leading international practice. CIS International Accreditation is recognized by ministries of education, departments of education, and universities around the world as evidence of a school’s commitment to high-quality international education and the development of students as global citizens. Headquartered in Leiden, the Netherlands, CIS operates as a not-for-profit company and membership network connecting more than 1,300 institutions in over 120 countries.
Comparable terms
International Baccalaureate (IB) (education programme and school authorization framework); AdvancED/Cognia (regional accreditation); NEASC (regional school accreditation); WASC (regional school accreditation); ECIS (professional association for international schools)
Why this matters
For globally mobile families, the CIS label signals that a school has undergone a rigorous, internationally benchmarked quality assurance process focused on teaching, learning, safeguarding, and global citizenship. This helps parents compare diverse international and local school options across countries using a recognized external standard, reducing uncertainty in high-stakes school decisions. Accreditation also supports educational continuity, since many universities and national systems explicitly recognize CIS accreditation when evaluating school records and student applications.
Cross-references
International School (Education); International Baccalaureate (Education); Transition Program (Education); Learning Support (Neurodiversity & Medical Complexity Abroad); Inclusive International School (Neurodiversity & Medical Complexity Abroad); Portability of Credentials (Education); School Search Consultant (Professional Support Roles); FIGT (Professional Bodies).
These entries together situate CIS within the wider international education and global family ecosystem: International School and International Baccalaureate describe the institutional and curricular contexts in which CIS accreditation is most visible for mobile families. Transition Program and Inclusive International School highlight the student- and family-facing practices that CIS-accredited schools are increasingly expected to develop, particularly around mobility and neurodiversity. Learning Support and Portability of Credentials capture two critical concerns for parents comparing CIS schools across borders: the consistency of support for students with additional needs and the transferability of records and qualifications between systems. School Search Consultant and FIGT Families in Global Transition reflect the professional networks through which CIS-accredited schools are interpreted, recommended, and held in dialogue with evolving best practice in serving globally mobile families.
Sources
Council of International Schools. About CIS. Council of International Schools. International School Accreditation.
Council of International Schools. CIS International Accreditation. Recognition by Country.
Council of International Schools. CIS International Accreditation Recognition by Country (PDF overview).
Educational Collaborative for International Schools (ECIS). About ECIS and the creation of CIS as a separate accreditation entity.
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