Florida-Georgia District and

National Lutheran School Accreditation

Initial Visit for theOngoing Improvement Process

Blank Lutheran SchoolCity, State

Date

•Why NLSA Ongoing Improvement?

Schools Identify Needs Clear Direction/Vision Continuity Students Grow Most of all…God is Glorified

and His People are Blessed!

Key Participants

Administrator Teachers and Support Staff Lay Leaders Pastor School Parents Students NLSA Consultant & Team

Captain

Who is Responsible for Managing the Process?

The OI Steering Committee… Names Subcommittee Members Establishes the Schedule Secures Materials and Supplies for

Subcommittees Edits Subcommittee Reports Makes Final Decisions

How Long Can the Process Take?

The Team Visit must take place no fewer than nine months and no more than three years after application.

What are the Key Components?

General Information/School Profile & Exhibits

Standards Checklist School Improvement Plan Needs Assessment Goals, Objectives & Strategies

The Standards Checklist

18 Required Indicators of Success

167 General Indicators of Success

Questions to Answer

Sample Indicator (Standard) Statement

2:11 “An effective public relations program communicates about the school to its constituents and to all segments of the community in which it is located.”

Examples of Indicators of Success that Must be Met w/Out

Exception

2:21 “A developmentally appropriate teaching environment is evident.”

3:03 “The governing authority provides for grievance and due-process resolution procedures.”

5:02 “The written curriculum is evaluated regularly and appropriate changes are made to ensure student growth.”

The Standards Checklist Subcommittee

Review, Adapt and Rate Met in Full Mostly Met Rarely Met Not Presently Met

Write Explanatory Comments for Standards not “Met in Full

Write “School Profile Summary” Complete Work Before Other

Subcommittees

School Improvement Plan Subcommittee

Oversees Needs Assessment Process

Determines 3-7 Goals Oversees Committee Work

on Each Goal Submits Developed Goals to

Faculty first, and then to the Steering Committee

Needs Assessment

Identifying needs which, when fulfilled, will benefit students in your school.

Conducting the Needs Assessment

Review School Mission Statement Standardized Test Scores (and

other testing measurements) Surveys (see samples) Teacher Interviews The Standards Checklist Others?

The Ongoing Improvement Process

GoalsObjectivesStrategies

The Heart and Soul of Ongoing Improvement

If Goals, Objectives and Strategies aren’t properly developed, the entire OI process is in jeopardy.

GOAL…A statement of a desired future condition that is

consistent with the mission of your Church and School and NLSA standards, and is based upon the identified

needs of the students.

Remember…Goals tell What the desired future is (Present Tense).

Goals don’t tell How to get there.

Goals are not time-limited.

GOALS Short Range: Accomplished in less than three years.

Long Range: Accomplished in more than three years.

What Do You Think? Students utilize and apply

technology skills proficiently. Students benefit from

parental and community involvement in the learning process.

Students will score at or above the 70th percentile in mathematics on the SAT.

By January 15, 2010 a new procedure for morning drop-off will be instituted.

Students and staff model a Christ-like attitude of servanthood.

The school is consistently affirmed as a vital and vibrant mission of the congregation.

Reading scores improve each year through Hooked on Phonics.

Objectives…Are Necessary Achievements or Prerequisites for Accomplishing a Goal.

Are Measurable. Are Time-Limited. They tell What must be done, but not How it is to be done.

Goal: The school is consistently affirmed as a vital and vibrant mission of the congregation.

O1: Develop Mission Statement for theCongregation by June 1, 2010.O2: Develop a Strategic Plan for Communicating Regularly to the Congregation by Sept. 1, 2010.O3: Clarify the Role of the School Ministry in the Mission of the Congregation by November, 2010.O4: Develop and implement a plan to provide “Mission Training” to all existing and future staff members and lay church leaders by January 1, 2011.

Strategies are ideas, plans and action steps that lead to reaching a stated goal.

Strategies are all about How the Objectives will be met.

Strategies are about Action! Strategies will eventually say

Who is to do What by When.

Goal: The school is consistently affirmedas a vital and vibrant mission of the congregation.

O1: Develop Mission Statement for the Congregation by June 1, 2010

S1: Principal Schmidt and School Board Director meet with Pastor and Cong. Pres. 1/10

S2: Present to Parish Planning Council. 2/10

S3: Establish “Mission Discovery” Task Force. 3/10

Other…

NLSA/FG District Accreditation is for 5 years

There is NO Mid-Cyle Visit You are Required to Make a Presentation

to the District Accreditation Commission at the Educators Conference in the year prior to your Accreditation Visit

You May Wish to Seek Simultaneous SACS/CITA Accreditation

More “On-Going” includes…

Annual Reports New Goals as Others are Accomplished Regular Progress Reporting to the

School Board Levels of Accreditation

Exemplary Accredited Provisional

Important Contacts

Consultant’s Name Here Consultant’s Email Address Consultant’s Phone Number

Florida-Georgia District Mark Brink, Ex.Dir.School Ministries

877-457-5556 x3 mbrink@flga-lcms.org

Lynda Voss, Admin. Asst. lvoss@flga-lcms.org