What services does Christian Schools of Florida provide?

• Accreditation Process
• FLDOE-Recognized School Accreditation
• Co-Accreditation
• Eligibility for Participation in the Florida VPK
• Exemption for Early Childhood Programs
• FHSAA
• Teacher Certification
• Teacher Professional Development / Master Inservice Program
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Statewide Inservice Seminars
• FAANS
• NCPSA
• Electronic Newsletters and Emails
• Quarterly Meetings
• CSF is Heavily Participatory
• The CSF Discussion Group on Google
• Spiritual Fellowship
• Group Purchasing with HRS/Amerinet

Accreditation Process

FLDOE-Recognized School Accreditation

CSF provides high-quality and FLDOE-recognized school accreditation through participation in the School Effectiveness and School Improvement Program (SESIP). The strands, standards, and processes are research-based and reflect the highest national consensus and study.

Visits are conducted by Peer Review Teams comprised of members from other CSF accredited schools. The emphasis is upon school effectiveness and school improvement based upon objective data, so that each school can be assured that it is engaged in a continuous process of becoming more effective.

The SESIP provides each school with an excellent program for self-evaluation, measurement, and goal setting, and is one of the main benefits of CSF membership.

Co-Accreditation

Co-Accreditation is available with the National Council for Private Schools Accreditation (NCPSA), the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSSACS), the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS/CASI), and Christian Schools International (CSI).

Eligibility for Participation in the Florida VPK

Eligibility for participation in the Florida Voluntary Pre-kindergarten Program (VPK) is provided in accordance with state statute for all CSF-accredited schools. Although accreditation is not required at this time for participation in the other two state scholarship programs, the McKay and the Florida Tax Scholarship programs, support for maintaining eligibility in these two programs are readily shared among participating member schools.

Exemption for Early Childhood Programs

Exemption for early childhood programs from state licensing is provided under FS 402.316 for all CSF member schools. All license exempt EC programs must be inspected at least annually under the direction of the CSF director of early childhood education. All license exempt VPK programs and Gold Seal programs must be inspected twice annually under the direction of the CSF director of early childhood education.

• New Early Childhood Strand
• HSS and Background Screening Checklist
• Background Screening
• New Contact Information
• New requirement for exemption from EC licensing asks for minister’s letter
• If we are license exempt, what EC training requirements are still mandated for all schools?

FHSAA

The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) accepts CSF accreditation for membership into its association.

Teacher Certification

CSF helps member schools handle teacher certification and re-certification. CSF’s director of teacher certification provides direct access to the DoE Bureau of Educator Certification and is available to member schools for guidance and assistance. CSF has an FLDOE-approved process that enables teachers to meet state certification requirements for demonstrating professional competencies.

• Certification for new teachers: updated information!

Teacher Professional Development / Master Inservice Program

Teacher professional development is led by a director of professional development who oversees an outstanding web-based CSF Master Inservice Program. Components satisfy FDOE requirements for re-certification. Member schools share components, workshops, and seminars via the web-based program with over 200 components available.

• CT116 Verification of Inservice Points

Professional Development Opportunities

Professional development opportunities are advertised by member schools with open invitations to participate with them in these activities.

Statewide Inservice Seminars

Statewide inservice seminars and workshops are planned by the director of teacher inservice activities. These are occasional one day drive in workshops.

FAANS

Each member school has a voice at the Florida Association of Academic Nonpublic Schools (FAANS) meetings through a CSF representative. CSF is one of the founding member organizations of FAANS. One of its staff is the immediate past president of FAANS. CSF is an approved accrediting member of FAANS, enabling member schools to participate in VPK and state corporate tax scholarship programs, to receive exemption from state licensing, and to participate as members in the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA).

NCPSA

Each member school has a Voice at the National Council of Private School Accreditation meetings throught a CSF representative. CSF is an approved accrediting member of the NCPSA, enabling member schools to receive national co accreditation from the NCPSA and eligible for cooperative accreditation from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and any other NCPSA member accrediting organization.

Electronic Newsletters and Emails

Electronic newsletters and emails are sent each month to member schools containing leading-edge education articles, legislative news, professional development ideas and opportunities, and news from and about member schools.

Quarterly Meetings

Quarterly school head and academic division leader meetings are held in Tampa and Orlando in order to conduct the business of the organization. Accreditation is addressed at these meetings, including reviewing and modifying accreditation standards and processes, as well as taking action on individual schools and reports received from the peer review visiting teams. All member schools vote on the continuing accredited membership of schools.

CSF is Heavily Participatory

CSF is heavily participatory without employing policies and practices of a national body or a highly empowered state level executive committee. CSF offers the advantage of being a statewide organization where member school heads and division leaders participate together to determine the programs and directions of the organization. Member schools build and manage the programs and processes of the organization by which they voluntarily agree to participate and support each other towards effectiveness and continuous school improvement.

The CSF Discussion Group on Google

The CSF discussion group on Google gives teachers and school administrators opportunity to converse with other member school personnel about issues, problems, programs, etc. This is a close forum accessible by password only.

Spiritual Fellowship

Spiritual fellowship is a feature of the quarterly meetings. Godly fellowship, times for prayer, mutual encouragement and support, sharing common problems and solutions are major elements in the quarterly meetings.

Group Purchasing with HRS/Amerinet

CSF has partnered with Health Resource Services/Amerinet (HRS) to bring member schools a wider offering of discounts. HRS has been providing members with discounts on products and services for over 30 years. CSF’s partnership with HRS is designed to bring even more value to your CSF membership because the access to national contracts through HRS is free to CSF schools.

To access the HRS vendors please contact Mary DeLancy at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call 206.515.5205.

Our vendor partners include Home Depot, Office Depot, Office Max, Century Link, School Services, Sherman Williams, and many more. Virtually anything a school needs can be obtained at discount through this membership.