The Council of Islamic Schools in North America (CISNA) An Internationally Recognized Accrediting Agency

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Sufia Azmat
Leila H. Shatara

Abstract

The number of Islamic schools in the United States continues to rise, along with the demand for qualified leadership, teaching staff, and sustainable funding models for these schools. Post-pandemic anecdotal data demonstrates this increase as the Council of Islamic Schools of North America (CISNA) continues to receive inquiries from communities on how to establish new Islamic schools. Feedback from school leaders reveals that they are outgrowing their current campuses and need to expand to accommodate growing student populations. From 1991 to 2015 there was an 800 percent increase in Islamic school enrollment, from 4,482 students to 40,485 (Council for American Private Education, 2017). The share of total private school enrollment in Islamic schools increased from 0.1 to 0.8 percent from 1991 to 2015. Currently, about 300 Islamic schools in the United States serve more than 50,000 students (Islamic Schools League of America, 2021).

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How to Cite
Azmat, S., & Shatara, L. H. (2023). The Council of Islamic Schools in North America (CISNA): An Internationally Recognized Accrediting Agency. Journal of Education in Muslim Societies, 4(2), 116–126. Retrieved from https://scholarworks.iu.edu/iupjournals/index.php/jems/article/view/6142
Section
Practitioner's Note