1. 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.

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

3. 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!

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

5. 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

6. 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.

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

8. 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

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

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

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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: _______

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

16. 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: $ $
Annual Fee: $450.00/NLSA
$350.00/DISTRICT

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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.

20. Are we accredited now?

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

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

23. 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!

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