The ELEA is preparing a new self-study accreditation program for use in elementary schools. This program will be very different from the existing program in that it is standards based. The use of a standards based program is based on three assumptions. First, the ELEA believes that a high quality educational program is required of ELCA schools. Second, Lutheran schools strive to be Christian communities where students are introduced to Jesus Christ and faith is nurtured. Third, Lutheran schools strive to meet and, where possible, exceed all local, state, regional, and federal guidelines for public schools.

The change in focus means that the emphasis is not on “inputs” - books, size of the library, teacher knowledge, etc. Instead the emphasis is on “outputs”- the students. What is the evidence that they are learning and growing in knowledge, skills, and faith? How are the children assessed that would lead a teacher, administrator, parents, and the visiting team to believe they are meeting the standards? Through this instrument, a school will be asked to gather many different kinds of data and information and reflect upon how such data will help a school make decisions about its program.

The study by a school desiring accreditation will be more extensive and thorough than the existing program and will require the school to evaluate itself against a set of quality, national (in most cases) standards. An on-going improvement plan prepared at the conclusion of the accreditation team’s visit will be required to make sure the school continues to excel.

Because of the extensive and thorough study involved in this new program, accreditation will be for seven years. A school falling short of accreditation will have one to two years to bring itself into compliance. At the end of that time either it will be accredited for the rest of the seven years or it will be denied accreditation.

The program will be divided into four sections: Conceptual Framework (which includes a school overview and the Christian mission statement and educational philosophy), Professional Personnel (which are the administrators and teaching staff), the Curriculum, and Governance and Resources (structure, governing board and committees, finances, resources, and facilities).

The committee will select three schools as “pilots” to test the new process. It is the expectation that these schools will begin the process in the fall of 2003. They will be expected to have completed their work by late fall of 2004. The first accreditation teams (made up of committee members putting together the new document) will visit the schools by early 2005. It is the hope and expectation that the document will be refined and ready for general use by the fall of 2005.

The fees for this program will be $250 to receive the self-study materials, a visitation fee which will vary depending on the size of the school (this money will be used for travel expenses, room and board, and honoraria for the mentor and other visiting team members), and a yearly fee of $100 for each of the seven years of accreditation. All fees will be paid to the ELEA Executive Director and she will distribute them.

The committee working on this new accreditation document is composed of Cynde Kuck, Dean of College of Ed, Concordia University; Gayle Denny, ELEA Executive Director; Bob Federwitz, ELCA Director for Schools; Hugh Kress, Principal of Grace Lutheran School, River Forest, IL; Dave Maring, Principal of Pilgrim Lutheran school, Chicago; and Mary Ann Pollock, Principal of St. John’s Lutheran School, Baltimore, MD.

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