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SCHOOL MINISTRY CRITICAL TARGETS

•SCHOOL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

•INNOVATION – QUALITY AND MINISTRY ENHANCEMENT

•SERVING CHILDREN BETTER

•ALTERNATIVE EDUCATIONAL ALIGNMENTS AND NEW PARTNERSHIPS

•EXPANDING AND ENHANCING EARLY CHILDHOOD OPPORTUNITIES

Number of Accredited Schools

Accredited Schools By TypeTotal: 759

Distribution of Co-Accredited Schools (Total: 188)

History of NLSA Fees

2015 Candidate Schools Type of School

35 Early Childhood Centers

127 Elementary Schools

15 High Schools

177 Candidates

70 Evidence Based Accreditation

34 Early Childhood Centers

20 AdvancEd entities (24 schools)

2015 Candidate Schools by Protocol used177 accrediting entities – 182 schools

15 WASC

24 Standards Based

12 Ongoing Improvement

1 Middle States/Ongoing Improvement

Our Secular Accrediting PartnersCo-accrediting Partnerships - AdvancED,

WASC, Middle States

Significant Partnerships with State Agencies - Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan (non-public), Minnesota (non-public), Missouri (non-public) Ohio, Tennessee, Texas (non-public) Wisconsin

Coalition of Christian School AccreditorsAssociation of Christian Schools International

Christian Schools InternationalInternational Christian Accrediting Association

National Christian School Association

Our Partnership with the Consortium of Classical Lutheran Education

Dr Merry Clark

Joel Wahlers

Dr. Jackquelyn VeithCheryl Swope

Level and Award Changes Effective Immediately

Accredited in Good Standing

Accredited with Provision

Accredited with Distinction

Accredited In Good StandingA school successfully concludes an NLSA process or completes a process associated with recognized accreditation partners, complies with required standards and indicators of success, and is committed to continuing school improvement.

THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENT!

Accredited with ProvisionAn accredited school concludes an NLSA process or completes a process associated with recognized accreditation partners. The school has failed to comply with any single required evidence or indicator, or has major deficiencies, but demonstrates a commitment to continuing school improvement. A school using the EBA protocol that is assigned any general indicator rating of “1” results in the automatic designation of Accreditation with Provision.

MAJOR DEFICIENCY: Any condition that is based on an NLSA standard which has a severe negative effect on the quality of education, the ministry of the school, and/or endangers the health or safety of the school population. The deficiency must be remedied by the school within the time parameters (no longer than 2 years) prescribed by the visiting team and approved by the NAC.

Accredited with DistinctionAccreditation with Distinction may be awarded to schools with overall school accreditation averages that fall within the top 5 percent of the group of schools that were accredited within the year.

Schools using a protocol other than EBA as their primary accrediting process may be considered upon the request of their district.

Identifying Schools with POWERFUL PRACTICES

A Powerful Practice is much more than an expectation that quantifies standard compliance. It innovates and exceeds accreditation expectations. It is an uncommon, calculated risk that has resulted in significant reward for the students. Therefore it is a desirable condition that has ramifications for our schools within the LCMS alliance.

Identifying Schools with POWERFUL PRACTICES

These practices dramatically improve the overall quality of education provided to students by the school or enhances ministry opportunities that are available to the school and its congregation(s).

Powerful Practices need not be associated with Schools of Distinction

Powerful Practices drive systemic

change and innovation.

National Accreditation Commission

July 29, 2015

2015 Potential Powerful Practices

1) Small School that Thinks BIGRedeemer Lutheran – Verona, PA

2) Art Integration with Special Needs StudentsLutheran Special School and

Education Services - Milwaukee, WI3) Junior High Apologetics

St. Matthew Lutheran – Walled Lake, MI4) Maximizing the Impact of an NLSA Process

First Lutheran School – Cedarburg, WI

NLSA School Shepherd AwardEligibility

•NLSA visiting teams or district accreditation commissions are encouraged to nominate pastors demonstrating outstanding support, service and encouragement for their schools.

•Nominations shall be considered based upon evidence presented to and practices that are observed and confirmed by the visiting team during the NLSA site visit.

•Eligibility for this award is limited to consideration during the year that a school completes its NLSA self study process and engages in a successful site visit.

•If an NLSA team identifies a pastor they feel is worthy of consideration for the Lutheran School Shepherd Award the team captain may complete an on-line nomination form that is located on the NLSA tab of the Lutheran school portal.

The School Shepherd AwardA Pastor who is nominated must:•Understand and possess a clear philosophy of Lutheran education.•Provide spiritual encouragement, guidance and support for the school.•Engage regularly with school activities.•Work well with the school board and/or parent advisory association.•Support school administration.•Engage the congregation and community in providing financial support for the school.•Receive endorsements from the principal, faculty members, school board members and parents.•Receive the endorsement of the district education executive and district president.•Have a minimum of 3 years of service at the school in which he serves.

Our Greatest Challenge

Evidence and Practices provide support for indicator ratings.

Evidence - Documentation (handbooks, curriculum maps, lesson plans, meeting minutes, job descriptions, recorded lessons, portfolios, etc.)

Practice- Things that you do at your school that support an indicator. These are the way that you do what you do.

Rating the Indicators

69 Schools used the Evidence Based Accreditation Protocol

Average Score 3.01

In 2014-15

10 schools were awarded scores

higher than 3.25

16 schools scoring above the average53 schools scoring below the average

3.01

EBA - Rating the Indicators/ Wording Changes

Highly Functional(4) This is an area of outstanding strength of the school. It not only meets ALL of the rubrics related to the general indicator, but is supported by extensive documentation and/or observable practices that exceed expectations related to this indicator. This indicator establishes practices for other Lutheran schools to consider. The Visiting Team will verify that these practices and/or documentation exceed the Operational(3) level.

Highly Functional — This is an area of outstanding strength at the school. The preferred condition is documented, understood and accepted by staff, students and school constituents and is easily observable throughout the school. It is supported by observable practices, written documentation and evidence.

EBA - Rating the Indicators/ Wording Changes

Operational(3) This is the expected rating for a strong Lutheran school. ALL rubrics must be met completely for this indicator to be considered Operational. The condition is supported with documentation and/or observable practices that support the rating.

Operational — This is the expected operating condition. The condition is in place and functionally supported and practiced. The school performs consistently in this area.

EBA - Rating the Indicators/ Wording Changes

Emerging(2) If one or more rubrics are not fully met, the rating must be Emerging. Improvement is required in this area. This indicator is recognized as important by the school, but is inconsistently applied. Any rubric not fully met must be addressed in the School Action Plan.

Emerging — Improvement is required in this area. The condition is recognized as important by the school but is inconsistently or irregularly applied. It is not supported with sufficient practices, evidence or documentation.

EBA - Rating the Indicators/Wording Changes

Not Evident (1) There is observable conflict or deficiency with this indicator at the school. Less than the majority of the expected rubrics are not met or addressed with sufficient practices, evidence, or documentation. This rating shall result in the assignment of Provisional Status. This must be addressed in the School Action Plan.

Not Evident — There is observable conflict or deficiency with the condition at the school. The school does not enact this condition.

Summary and Response Wording ChangesBased on any general indicator ratings of “1” or “2”, the school must develop specific plans to improve. Plans must include specific targeted completion dates and assignments.

At the discretion of the school, actions may be developed for indicators that have been rated as “3”.

Practice Pre-rating the Indicators

•READ AND REVIEW YOUR ASSIGNED GENERAL INDICATORS

•BASED UPON WHAT HAS BEEN SHARED BY THE SCHOOL IN ITS REPORT ASSIGN A PRELIMINARY RATING TO THE INDICATOR

•DETERMINE WHAT YOU WOULD NEED TO DO AT THE SCHOOL TO VERIFY THAT THE INFORMATION PROVIDED SUFFICIENTLY SUPPORTS THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE INDICATOR

The OPERATIONAL Level (3) is the level of engagement that NLSA expects for the school. When a (3) rating is assigned by the visiting team it indicates that the school is operating acceptably in this area and all of the related rubrics have been completely accomplished.

When a school rates an indicator Level (4) Highly Functional it not only complies fully with every associated rubric but exceeds one or more, creating a WOW moment for the visiting team. A highly functional rating is rare and may be associated with a Powerful Practice that may be replicable by other schools.

VISITING TEAMS MUST DEMONSTRATE DISCERNMENT

MOVING FORWARD WITH

EBA

•Consider and implement suggestions made from districts related to improving the protocol and quality of materials

47 Requests Received from Districts

MOVING FORWARD WITH

EBA•Develop and implement a faith-based student engagement index•Provide additional training opportunities (Captains, Consultants, Team Members)•Provide staff development for schools•Staff and empower visiting teams for success (6 team members)

RequestsFrom your National

Office Staff Susan Green

Processing Changes•The NEW and IMPROVED NLSA database

•Accreditation WITHOUT the portal

•Paperless Report Submission

Changes Coming with Early Childhood Accreditation

Rebecca Schmidt

45

Since 1986, no other single program or process has done so much to improve the overall quality of

Lutheran schools.

•Working on behalf of every Lutheran school.

•Recognizing quality and encouraging commitment to intentional ongoing improvement.•Linking schools and leading systemic change.

We Thank You Very Much for Playing

Well with us in the Sandbox.