It was established in 1967 as the Georgia Association of Independent Schools, at the time a large number of segregation academies were being established for the purpose of providing whites-only education.
[1] In 1972, a group of schools that refused to post a racially inclusive discrimination policy formed a new organization, the Southeastern Association of Independent Schools (SEAIS), in order to continue the exclusion of African-American Children.
In 1986, when the number of overtly segregated schools was declining, the SEAIS merged with the GAIS and the name was changed to GISA.
[3] The association provides coordination of and services for the various member schools including athletics and academic competition that are not a part of the Georgia High School Association.
In 1972, the organization severed ties with six schools which continued to openly operate as segregation academies.