Early Childhood Centers and Elementary Schools

National Lutheran School Accreditation (NLSA) encourages and recognizes Lutheran schools that provide quality Christian education and engage in continuous improvement. It is completely voluntary and is available for every school operated by a single congregation, by an association of congregations, or by a Recognized Service Organization of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod or the Lutheran Church—Canada.

NLSA serves a variety of levels of schools; early childhood, elementary and high schools and all combinations of the aforementioned.  It helps Lutheran schools evaluate their academic quality and the spiritual dimension of the school. The standards and report forms are similar to other accrediting processes, both secular and religious.

Benefits of Accreditation

Information and Application

Introduction to NLSA
This document provides an introduction to the NLSA program including answers to frequently asked questions as well as information on:

• How schools apply
• NLSA Standards: Early Childhood, Elementary & High School
• Currently Accredited Schools
• Co-accrediting Partners
• The National Accreditation Commission

For more information about NLSA, contact LCMS School Ministry.

Are you looking for NLSA-related downloadable documents? We're currently working on adding these documents to the site.  In the meantime, please contact LCMS School Ministry with any of your document needs.  Thank you for your patience.

 Chapel Talks will be offered in a downloadable format (PDF) format only. Two components will be available – one geared for elementary students and one high school students. The cost is $15 for each set or $25 for both sets.
 
Beginning July 1, 2012, Chapel Talks can be ordered at The LCMS Online Store using Visa or MasterCard (search for "Chapel Talks").
 
Chapel Talks is produced by the LCMS Office of National Mission. Permission is granted to reproduce Chapel Talks for use in school worship services. For additional information, please contact Office of National Mission - Schools.

Strengthening Schools and Congregations (SSAC) provides diagnostic services designed to strengthen and re-vitalize Lutheran elementary schools that are experiencing problems, so that the mission of sharing Christ with children and their families can more effectively be accomplished in that place.

The services of SSAC are divided into two specific dimensions:

1. The Diagnostic Visit
   A team of three trained consultants will visit the school and its congregation for three days, usually Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. During this time, the team of three consultants will attempt to determine the causes of difficulty in that place, write a report which will identify the school’s problems, and make recommenda- tions for school and congregation improvement.
2. Ongoing Consultant Visits
   An ongoing consultant visit will be made by one of the Team members within a two-month period of the Diagnostic Visit. The congregation also has the option to have two additional ongoing consultant visits. All visits must be completed within 18 months of the Diagnostic Visit. During these visits the consultant will help the school and its congregation in accomplishing the recommendations of the Diagnostic Team, and work toward improvement. These one-day visits will include discussions with the various boards, committees, and leaders of the congregation, and will result in a brief report.

Schools interested in SSAC services must apply. Applications are available through each LCMS District Office. The District individual with responsibilities for services to Lutheran schools will be asked to sign the application and to support it.

For more information about the SSAC consultation services, read the SSAC brochure or contact LCMS School Ministry

The School Leadership Development Project (SLED) seeks to identify and equip potential Lutheran elementary school leaders. This is done through a process of nomination, selection and intense training over the course of an academic year. Those selected for the program are required to attend and participate at three specially designed training events and are mentored over the course of the project by well respected, experienced Lutheran school administrators. Since 1989, the SLED Project has trained over 200 elementary school administrators now serving in Lutheran schools.

For more information about SLED leadership development, contact LCMS School Ministry.

The School/Early Childhood Mailing, published monthly September-May, offers excellent resources and ideas for administrators, directors, pastors, teachers, board members and parents.
 

• School Shepherd – Tips and support for Pastors of congregations with schools
• Early Childhood Devotions  - Devotional activities for children ages 3 to 7
• NLSA Best Practices – Exemplary Schools share their Best Practices
• Growing in Governing –  Growth topics and discussions for Lutheran school governing boards
• Professionally Speaking – Motivation and encouragement for the Lutheran educator
• Time Out for Directors – Leadership development tips for directors of Early Childhood Centers
• Alight/Monthly Calendar – For Administrators and Educators
• Rattles and Prattles – Resources for caregivers of infants and toddlers
• Insights and Ideas – Resources for teachers of children ages 3 to 7
• It’s Elementary – Thoughts and ideas for teachers of grades 1-4
• Computer File – Tips for using technology in the classroom
• Parent Pages – Resources for Christian parents in the 21st Century
• Family Matters – Christ-centered resources for families and teachers

 
A Lutheran School Portal membership includes on-line access to the current and archived issues of the School/Early Childhood Mailing. To learn more or to receive the School/Early Childhood Mailing via E-mail or in paper format, please contact Office of National Mission – Schools.

LUTHERAN SCHOOL PORTAL
Encouraging, Connecting, Informing

The Lutheran School Portal is a web-based resource that provides Lutheran teachers with spiritual, academic and communication support! The portal offers a growing array of resources, devotions, discounted services and more.

The updated Lutheran School Portal is on track to be launched June 1, 2012.

The revised portal will retain all of the popular features of the current portal: Access to view and print the monthly School/Early Childhood Mailing, view appropriate web resources, get the latest news from the national office, update personal profiles (LEIF), access special rates for premium services such as Discovery Education Video Streaming.

A few highlights the new portal will offer:

Integration with Google Apps for Education - A single sign-on will access Google docs from within the portal, providing links to groups, mail, calendaring and more.

New Mail system - Integrated with Google Apps, current lsportal.net address, add a luthed.org address or link an existing email address to the system. The new mail system provides additional storage and improved performance.

Search – The new portal allows searching the contents of the past years of resources by key word or title. Search over 400 devotions for a topic, search web site listings or even search the contents of the mailings!

Groups – Want to create a group for the athletic directors in your region? What about those that love children’s literature? Form new groups, invite members and maintain a list of resources for your group.

Vacancies – Maintain your LEIF on the portal AND have access to a list of vacancies posted by administrators from all around our Synod.

Blogs – Want to create a blog? Link to a Blog? Make your blog public? New features in the portal let you decide who can access your blog entries.

Visit the Lutheran School Portal

Starting in 2013 and continuing in following years, Lutheran Schools Week will begin on the 4th Sunday in January

• January 27-February 2, 2013
• January 26-February 1, 2014
• January 25-31, 2015

 
Thematic material will be based on Witness Always, Mercy Forever, Life Together.
 
These phrases – Witness, Mercy, Life Together – illustrate how the church lives and works together to proclaim the Gospel and to provide for our brothers and sisters in Christ in our congregations, communities and throughout the world. And in all we do, Christ is at the center, leading us, sustaining us, keeping us focused on our mission. This will never change. The Witness, Mercy, Life Together logo expresses the emphasis for the church.
Each of the emphasis areas is represented visually. Witness is characterized by a flame, a symbol of the Holy Spirit, whose light guides the world to Christ. Mercy is portrayed as a heart, calling God’s people to care for those who are suffering, heeding Christ’s call that “As you do for these My brothers, you have also done for Me.” Life Together, depicted in a chalice and grapevine, reminds the church that, on account of Christ, they are in full communion with one another and with the saints who have died in Christ. At the center of the logo is the cross of the crucified Christ, who ultimately forms our Witness, guides our Mercy work, and creates our Life Together.
 
Why the date change for NLSW?
 
When National Lutheran Schools Week was established, the first week of March was chosen to coincide with re-enrollment time. The focus on this week offers a opportunity to tell the unique story of Lutheran education through open houses and other events held within Districts, communities and congregations.
The trend in recent years has been to begin the re-enrollment process earlier in the school year. The celebration of Lutheran Schools Week during March can also be a conflict with the penitential, somber season of Lent.
Therefore, it was decided by the School Cabinet to begin Lutheran Schools Week on the fourth Sunday in January.
As has been true in the past, schools can make the decision to move the week to meet their needs.