District Accreditation Work

Each District Accreditation Commission functions as an important NLSA authority. Each LCMS District that is actively engaged with NLSA will soon convene their end-of-year commission meetings  Every accreditation commission functions independently with differing roles and responsibilities related to their states and regional partners. At a minimum, NLSA has the following expectations regarding agenda content for District Accreditation Commission end-of-year meetings.

1.       Ensure that your list of accredited schools is accurately reflects the status of all schools involved with NLSA in any way (closed, lapsed, in process, revoked).

2.       Review all visitation team reports and prepare accreditation recommendations for the NAC for all candidate schools.  Districts may recommend provisional, in good standing and exemplary consideration by that National Accreditation Commission. They may also recommend that accreditation be denied. Ultimately the NAC is responsible for the status assignment or denial of all schools based on evidence provided by visiting teams and district accreditation commissions.

3.       Accept and Review all Cumulative Annual Reports from accredited schools. After review, communicate with schools from your district to commend and encourage continued work with SIP’s and deficiencies recommended in visitation team reports. Report to the NAC any schools that fail to submit Cumulative Annual Report forms.

4.       When applicable, review and ensure actions assigned to provisionally accredited schools from the previous year.  Report actions accomplished by provisional schools to the NAC. The NAC is responsible to receive information about provision schools from District Accreditation Commissions and reinstate to good standing schools that have taken appropriate actions.

5.       Prepare specific recommendations for the NAC and include them in the District Report to the National Accreditation Commission. Recommendations may address any items related to NLSA materials and procedures.

SAMPLE SIP GOALS

A Lutheran school can be significantly transformed as it implements goals related to the NLSA School Improvement Plan. I am often asked for samples of acceptable School Improvement Plan Goals. Below you will find a wide variety of acceptable SIP goals you may use as samples.

SAMPLES -  SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN GOALS

Strong mutual faith-based respect exists among students, teachers, and parents through the implementation of a school wide disciple plan.

The congregation maintains a vibrant and growing school.

The physical plant provides a safe, appealing and appropriate learning environment for students.

Strong partnerships exist between the school and families served by the school.

Public relationships programs, practices and procedures support school growth.

Healthy practices support students and staff wellness.

Constituent groups strive to maintain clear and effective lines of communication.

The school operates within a Christian educational community that embraces our families and our congregations as well as the whole of society around us.

The school operates with the financial resources to achieve excellence in Christian education.

Increase the visibility of the school with the target audience being families with children from birth through age 8.

The integration and use of technology tools is a natural part of the teaching – learning process.

The school is recognized by congregational members and the community as “

A Great Place

to Grow!”

The school provides resources to facilitate hands-on science experiences in science education.

Each of our constituencies recognizes Lutheran School (LS) as a Christian community of excellence where children are nourished both academically and spiritually.

The families, teachers and staff of LS recognize the multifaceted nature of their roles in Christian education; as mentors, as advocates, as educators, as role models, as ministers, as communicators, as peacemakers.

Lutheran school families, faculty and staff seek to put into practice what Jesus commanded us to do in requiring us to “treat your neighbor as yourself.”.

Physical facilities, safe adequate and appropriate for school programs are planned, financed, constructed and well maintained.

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SAMPLES OF STUDENT CENTERED SIP GOALS 

Every child achieves success through an engaging learning environment.

All students have an appreciation and understanding for a broad range of               lifelong activities.

Children benefit from parental and community involvement in the learning process.

Students with special needs benefit from a support system at the school and within the community.

Students exemplify the body of Christ in action.

Students become independent, life-long readers.

Technology is integrated into everyday learning and teaching experiences.

The school’s curriculum reflects the needs of today’s diverse student population.

Student learning is enhanced through an ongoing staff development plan.

A safe and productive learning environment enhances student learning.

Students demonstrate effective communication skills in all curricular areas through a balanced use of reading and writing

Students are engaged in differentiated learning activities that accommodate their interests, abilities and learning goals in mathematics and language arts.

Students benefit when school families practice outreach.

Students and staff are committed to ongoing spiritual growth.

Dealing with Deficiencies

I am frequently asked questions about schools cited with major deficiencies at the time of the team visit. Some of these deficiencies are MAJOR violations of health and safety issues but may be easily and quickly correctable.

Whenever possible, the school should act immediately (or in short order) to rectify a Major Deficiency. If the team correctly identifies something as a MAJOR DEFICIENCY and the school takes corrective action before the National Commission meets, a visiting team report may be amended to recognize that fact. Someone (DAC) must validate that the corrective action has taken place. Whenever that occurs a school may be able to avoid a provisional assignment.

NLSA encourages and recognizes schools that provide quality Christian education and engage in continuous improvement. Whenever the DAC or the National Commission is able to document improvement we are accomplishing our mission.

Provisionally Accredited Schools

A provisionally accredited school fails to comply with required standards or indicators of success and/or has been cited with significant Major Deficiencies.

Accredited schools must comply with all REQUIRED NLSA Standards and Indicators of Success.  When a visiting team validates that a school has not complied with a specific Required Standard or Indicator of Success, the national accreditation commission will consider their recommendation for provisional status.  In addition, if the visiting team identifies significant major deficiencies or finds that the school has not prepared required exhibits or documentation, it may recommend the assignment of provisional status with a recommended time frame to resolve the deficiency.

The visitation team notes their recommendation for the consideration of the assignment of Provisional Accreditation in its team report summary as part of its accreditation recommendation. It should include the team’s justifications for the provisional assignment and specific recommendations for remediation, including a suggested time frame for resolution. The assignment of the Provisional designation is ultimately the responsibility of the National Accreditation Commission.

Provisionally accredited schools are required to take corrective action identified by the National Accreditation Commission within the prescribed time frame or risk the revocation of their accreditation status. Provisional schools are ultimately accountable to their District Accreditation Commission (DAC) for actions related to their provisional assignment. The DAC must validate and document the school’s actions and report them to the National Accreditation Commission before a school will be reinstated in “Good Standing.”  The DAC should use the Provisional Accountability Report form and attach it to their annual report to the National Accreditation Commission.

I hope this provides some clarification regarding our process and how to go about reporting.

IMPORTANT SUMMARY FOR REPORTING TO NATIONAL OFFICE

In light of the fact that this year’s National Accreditation Commission meeting will take place on July 25 & 26, 21012, it is imperative that schools and districts adhere to the dates associated with required actions and documentation.

Here is the path reports should take upon leaving a school - summarizing the paragraphs that follow.

Cumulative Annual Reports: Schools may email or send hard copy to District Office by May 15 (District office will review, so information can be included in the District Annual Report.)  
Self-Study Reports:  Schools send one (1) copy to National office and whatever number the District Office requests to the District Office. 
Visiting Team Reports should be sent to the District Office.  Schools should check with their Districts to determine if they want paper copies and/or electronic.
District forwards 2 paper copies of Visiting Team Report to National office by June 15.
District Report - Send to National Office by June 15 - Electronically or paper.  
REQUIRED DOCUMENTAION FOR NLSA ACCREDITATION AND REPORTING
NLSA requires extensive documentation for its schools. Listed below is a description of the required documentation and the mandated format for submission to the appropriate district office and the national office in St. Louis.

Accreditation Application  
Schools interested in becoming accredited or re-accredited may receive NLSA applications from their district office or the national office. The school completes the application and submits two copies of the application with the required fees to the district office. District officials assist the school in choosing its process, suggest an accreditation consultant for the school and forward two hard copies of the completed application and national fee to the national office in St. Louis.

It is strongly suggested that accredited schools re-apply no later than the end of the 4^th year (for schools involved with the 5 year cycle) in their accreditation cycle. It is also important to note that an accredited school is required to pay one fee per year. In the year of its application, the application fee replaces the annual fee.

Self-Study Report (SSR)
Due in the national and district office one month in advance of the team visit. (Submitted by the school using mail or parcel service.)

The self-study Report (SSR) is the comprehensive report that provides evidence that the school has successfully completed its self-study process. One SSR report is prepared by an accredited school for every accreditation (five-year) cycle. The format for a self-study report is described in detail in the Administrator’s Manual located on the NLSA CD.

The national office requires the receipt of one SSR one month in advance of the team visit. It is the school’s responsibility to email or mail one copy of the report to the national office in St. Louis.
The school also sends to its district office the number of copies of the SSR requested by the district.

The SSR is a critical evaluative manuscript, used at all levels of accreditation (visiting team, district and national). It provides the written record of the school’s self-study process. 
  
  
Visiting Team Reports (VTR)

Schools submit the requested number of reports to its district by the date required. The district accreditation commission then submits to the National Office by June 15 using mail or parcel service.
The Visiting Team Report (VTR) is prepared by the Visiting Team and contains the team’s accreditation recommendation as well as commendations and concerns identified during the team’s visit to the school.
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Schools are no longer required to submit the VTR to the national office. Candidate schools should send the number of requested reports by the requested date, as stated by their district, directly to their district accreditation commission for review and recommendation.

District accreditation commissions are responsible to collect all visiting team reports and forward two paper copies of the VTR for each candidate school to the NLSA office in St. Louis. VTRs must be received at the national office by June 15.

Cumulative Annual Report Forms (CAR) Due every year on or before May 15 to the district office.  (Electronic filing required)

This report delineates the school’s progress toward addressing the concerns listed in the visiting team report (SB) or progress toward accomplishing goals associated with the School Improvement Plan (OI). The format for the CAR is described in the Administrator’s manual on the NLSA CD.

The District Accreditation Commission is responsible to read every school’s CAR and give feedback and encouragement regarding the school’s ongoing progress. 
 
Accredited schools should send their CAR, via e-mail or mail as requested by their district, to their District Office no later than May 15. The District Commission, after reviewing the cumulative annual report, includes their findings in the Annual District Report. 

Annual District Reports 
Due in the national office by June 15. Prepared by the District Accreditation Commission.

Each district accreditation commission is responsible to present an Annual Summary of Accreditation Activities.  Annual district reports may be filed electronically or sent in paper form to the national office by June 15.

LCMS Branding

The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod is in the midst of a rebranding effort that will better define who we are as a national church body and what we do.  Some of you have probably already noticed that the cross design is exactly the same but the color has been changed to blue. NLSA has received an exemption from this process. Therefore, for the time being, our NLSA logo will remain the same.

Making the Exemplary School Suggestion

I often receive questions about how a school would be suggested for exemplary consideration. Since the National Accreditation Commission nominates and selects exemplary schools, visiting teams and districts are able to suggest a school for exemplary consideration based upon evidence gathered at the time of the visit.  I hope that the information below helps clarify those criteria.

A suggestion for exemplary consideration begins with an assessment of the school’s degree of standard compliance. An exemplary school must demonstrate the achievement of at least 90% of the total of all sections for the indicators of success as Fully Met. If all of the indicators were Fully Met a school would accumulate 507 points. To achieve 90% of this goal, the school must accumulate 457 points. If the suggestion is made by a visiting team the district where the school is located must confirm that the school has achieved this goal before it will be considered for an exemplary nomination.

A second consideration is that the school is viewed as a “school of choice” by its community.  Enrollment at a “school of choice” reflects the fact that it is known and greatly respected in its community. (Near or at capacity in enrollment with very few empty seats.) This should be validated by the visiting team.

In addition, schools suggested for exemplary consideration must highly impress the visitation team with innovative practices that have greatly improved student learning or enhanced ministry opportunities. These “best practices” should be identified as replicable by other Lutheran schools by the visitation team.

If these three considerations are present at the school the suggestion will be considered by the National Accreditation Commission. Ultimately, the decision about exemplary status nomination and selection is reserved exclusively for the National Accreditation Commission. If a visitation team plans to suggest a school for exemplary consideration, the school should not advised of their suggestion at the time of the visit. Schools must conduct another application process after being nominated by the NAC and their nomination does not ensure their selection.