Self-Study Instrument for Early Childhood Centers 2011-2012 EDITION National Lutheran School Accreditation Mission Statement encourages, assists, and recognizes schools that provide quality Christian education and engage in continuous improvement.

Florida-Georgia District and National Lutheran School Accreditation Orientation Visit for the Early Childhood Process

Why NLSA Early Childhood? Prepared by Early Childhood Educators for Early Childhood Centers Validates your credibility through an objective outside agency Provides Continuity Allows you to identify and celebrate your strengths Gives recognition and strengthens your image in the community Students and staff grow Most of all…God is Glorified and His People are Blessed!

Key Participants Administrator Teachers and Support Staff Lay Leaders Pastor School Parents NLSA Consultant & Team Captain

Who is Responsible for Managing the Process? The EC Steering Committee Names Subcommittee Members Establishes the Schedule Secures Materials and Supplies for Subcommittees Edits Subcommittee Reports Makes Final Decisions

How Long Does the Process Take? The Team Visit must take place no fewer than nine months and no more than two years after application.

What are the Key Components? 7 Standards Sections General Information/School Profile Exhibits

What are the Standards Sections? Statements Philosophy Mission and Ministry Relationships Home/Parent Congregational School-To-Center Administration The Early Childhood Governing Authority The Early Childhood Director

What are the Standards Sections? (continued) Personnel Teacher/Child Relations Indoor/Outdoor Environment and Health and Safety Curriculum

The Standards Checklist Required Indicators of Success General Indicators of Success Rating the Indicators Narrative Statement (Comments)

How Do We Rate the Indicators of Success? GENERAL INDICATORS OF SUCCESS: General Indicators of Success help the school quantify its compliance with the Required Standard. Evaluate your school’s compliance with each General Indicator of Success using the criterion defined below. In the “Comments” section related to that indicator, specify how your school falls short of full compliance for any indicator marked less than “Met in Full”. Met in Full – The indicator of success has been completely accomplished by the school. It is verifiable through evidence and documentation. Mostly Met – The indicator of success has been partially accomplished by the school. Documentation and evidence regularly indicate that the school is well on the way toward full accomplishment of the indicator. Rarely Met – Infrequent implementation of an indicator of success. This indicator rarely occurs in the school and evidence and documentation for compliance are minimally present. Not Presently Met – There has been no progress by the school toward the accomplishment of this indicator of success.

Personnel (continued) STANDARD 4 Personnel (continued) Required Indicators of Success: Indicate whether or not the school meets the required indicators of success by circling YES or NO. YES NO *4:01 The program employs and supports a teaching staff that has the educational qualifications, knowledge, professional and Christian commitment necessary to promote children’s learning and development. YES NO *4:02 All teachers demonstrate agreement with the stated school mission.

Personnel (continued) STANDARD 4 Personnel (continued) Evaluate the level of implementation for each of the General Indicators of Success, total your points, and explain your responses in the comment section. 4:03 All early childhood teachers have at least a two-year degree in child development, early childhood, or its equivalent. __Met in Full (3) __Mostly Met (2) __Rarely Met (1) __Not Presently Met (0) COMMENTS: 4:04 Each staff member attends regularly scheduled meetings, workshops, conferences, seminars and training appropriate to their position. 4:05 Each teacher has responsibility for developing relationships with a specific group of children. 4:06 Each teacher is a member of an early childhood professional organization.

Personnel (continued) STANDARD 4 Personnel (continued) COMMENT on Standard 4. Personnel: Are the Required Indicators of Success met? Is the total for the General Indicators of Success a minimum of 16 points? Based on this portion of the self-study, what are the strengths of your school? Based on the concerns identified in your self-study, you will develop future plans to improve your school. Identify every item marked as less than “Met in Full” with specific plans for action to be taken by the school over the next cycle of accreditation. Any areas identified as needing improvement in the “Respond to: “ component must also be included in the proposed school action plan and addressed in the cumulative annual report. What are the total number of points accumulated in this section? You must score 16 points to assure compliance with this Standard. Your point total is: _______

Samples of Required Exhibits School Calendar Curriculum Emergency Procedures Itemized budget Parent Newsletter

What is the cost? Application fee: Same as annual fee Costs associated with the visiting team: travel, accommodations, fees for substitute teachers. Costs associated with assembling and distributing self-study Self Study Year: $600.00-$1000.00 Annual Fee: $450.00/NLSA $350.00/DISTRICT

Where do we start? Form the steering committee and subcommittees Set a timeline Begin collecting and preparing exhibits Prepare required materials for presentation to the commission Keep in touch with your consultant Remember this is a team effort

Administrator/DAC Meet Meet at Educators Conference Will Present: List of all committee members, self-study timetable, and other required documents DAC sets date for site visit and appoints Team Captain

Site Visit A team of well-respected early childhood educators validate the school’s self-study report and makes recommendations to improve the center. Team members are recruited and suggested by the administrator, recommended by the DAC, and appointed by the NLSA director. The visit usually lasts two to three days.

Are we accredited now?

Almost… Visiting team recommends Reviewed and recommended by the DAC Reviewed and accredited by National Accreditation Commission

CELEBRATE YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS! Announce it – local news release Involve the church in your celebration – presentation during the service Advertise it

What’s next? Establish a process that addresses all concerns that were noted by the visiting team. Submit an annual report detailing progress in meeting the concerns addressed by the visiting team. Keep improving!

Are you excited yet? You should be. Your school is about to become a nationally accredited Early Childhood Center. TO GOD BE THE GLORY!