Accreditation Workshop

     On September 26-28, 2003, a workshop was held in Chicago to acquaint three pilot project schools with the new ELEA Elementary Accreditation instrument.  Recognizing the need to satisfy state requirements, a team under the direction of Gayle Denny (ELEA, Everett, WA ) and Dr. Cynde Kuck (Concordia University, River Forest, IL)  developed an instrument that utilizes standards-based evaluation in keeping with the direction most states are taking.  Other reinvention team members are:  Mary Ann Pollock (St. John’s Christian Day School) Baltimore, MD;  Hugh Kress (Grace Lutheran School) River Forest, IL; David Maring (Pilgrim Lutheran School) Chicago, IL; and Bob Federwitz (ELCA Director for Schools) Chicago, IL.   In addition, several future site visit leaders were invited to participate.

     The three ELEA schools piloting the new instrument are:  , Bethel Lutheran School, St. Louis, MO—Sandy Kalin, Principal; Christ Lutheran School, Cape Coral, FL—Anita Libby, Principal and St. Luke Academy, Chicago, IL—Pat Grunde, Principal.

     In addition to being based primarily upon national standards, this new process does not focus on inputs - books, size of library, teacher knowledge, etc.  Instead, the focus is on 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, parent, and the visiting team to believe that they are meeting the standards?

      The on-site visitation team will spend less time on classroom observations and more time on examining materials that give evidence of a school’s meeting ELEA stated standards developed from national standards.  Religion standards have also been developed and included.

     As part of the performance assessment, each teacher and administrator will assemble a professional portfolio that is standards-based, thereby demonstrating their meeting of standards.

     This new accreditation instrument will be available to schools in early 2005.  Until then, schools may still use the existing Accreditation document and process offered through ELEA—call 800-500-7644 or visit our web site at www.eleanational.org.
 

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