wfn.org | [LCMSNews] Record 86 schools receive accreditation

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	September 9, 2003 .................... LCMSNews -- No. 100

	Record 86 schools receive accreditation

	Eighty-six Lutheran schools received accreditation from the
National Lutheran School Accreditation (NLSA) national commission during
its July 31-Aug. 1 meeting in St. Louis.

	That is a record number of schools that the commission has
granted accreditation in a single year.

	Of the 86 schools accredited this year, 73 are elementary
schools, seven high schools and six early childhood centers.
Twenty-three schools received accreditation for the first time.

	There are now 526 schools in The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod
and Lutheran Church--Canada that have NLSA accreditation, which was
started in 1987. The accreditation is authorized by the LCMS Board for
District and Congregational Services (DCS) as a service of its
school-ministry office, and it is administered by district NLSA
commissions.

	During its meeting, the national commission honored Dr. Carl
Moser, the founding NLSA director, who retires from the post Sept. 4.
Moser is former director of DCS--School Ministry.

	Terry Schmidt, associate director of School Ministry since
joining the Synod staff Aug. 1, is the new NLSA director.

	Schmidt described the NLSA accreditation process for schools as
"a voluntary, rigorous self-evaluation based on a set of standards, with
a follow-up visit by a team of observers -- all to help Lutheran schools
improve the quality of their programs.

	"NLSA accreditation is unique," Schmidt said, "since, along with
the school's academic quality, it evaluates the school's spiritual
dimension -- what makes it uniquely Lutheran in how it proclaims Jesus
Christ as Savior."

	He said that the academic standards and report forms for NLSA
are based on other accrediting programs, and that NLSA has been used as
a model for others who are establishing accreditation criteria.

	"There are a number of reasons for a Lutheran school to seek
NLSA accreditation," Schmidt said. "While it means that a school already
meets rigorous standards, it helps the school improve its quality. It
also gives evidence of professionalism based on an objective evaluation
by education professionals not personally involved in the school."

	"When parents are looking for schools for their children,"
Schmidt said, "they can be sure that a quality school program exists
wherever NLSA accreditation is found. It is the highest accreditation a
Lutheran school can achieve."

	Administrators interested in applying for NLSA accreditation for
their schools should contact their respective district education
executive or Terry Schmidt, LCMS District and Congregational Services,
1333 S. Kirkwood Road, St. Louis, MO 63122-7295; (314) 996 1292;
terry.schmidt@lcms.org .

	****************************************

	If you have questions or comments about this LCMSNews release,
contact Joe Isenhower Jr. at joe.isenhower@lcms.org or (314) 996-1231,
or Paula Schlueter Ross at paula.ross@lcms.org or (314) 996-1230.

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