The school has a written mission statement that articulates clearly to its community why the school exists and who the target audience is. The school also has a written vision statement that contains a shared commitment to continuous school improvement including two essential components: the spiritual growth and academic performance of students.

A school successfully implementing this strand establishes expectations for student growth and learning that are aligned with the school’s mission and vision that are supported by school personnel and school stakeholders. These expectations serve as the central focus for assessing student performance and school effectiveness. The school’s mission and vision guide allocations of time, and human, material, and fiscal resources.

The school intentionally commits to stimulating the spiritual growth and understanding of students by engaging students in the study of the Scriptures, teaching them methods for a life-time of biblical study, showing them how to develop a biblical/transformational world and life view, and providing opportunities throughout the curriculum for them to perceive God at work in all areas of history and life. The school engages students in activities of spiritual renewal and empowerment and provides opportunities for service and application.

Standards

1. School Maintains and Articulates Mission and Vision Statements

   The school has two major, guiding written statements for mission and vision that are consistently reviewed & revised and that articulate clearly 1) its mission, including whether it is intended primarily for children of believers or for outreach, and 2) its vision, including continuous school effectiveness and school improvement.

   Artifacts Postings of Mission/Vision statements School Mission statement School Vision statement

2. School Has Philosophy of Education

   The school has a written philosophy of education, reflecting a commitment to Biblical perspectives and expressing a Reformed and/or transformational position, through which the student is enabled to develop and demonstrate a Christian view of God, man, and the world.

   Artifact Written Philosophy of Education

3. School Has Educational Objectives

   The school translates the mission and vision of the school into written overall educational objectives.

   Artifact Written Educational Objectives

4. School Maintains Admissions Practices

   The school carries out admissions practices for families and students targeted by the mission and purpose statements and enrolls those for whom it has appropriate programs, in compliance with applicable local, state, and federal rules and laws (e.g. ADA).

   Artifacts Admissions Information (eg, brochure) Admissions Interview Schedule

5. School Has Non-Discriminatory Policy

   The school practices a non-discriminatory policy in which gender, race, or ethnicity of students are not factors in admissions or the application of any of its programs or processes.

   Artifacts Non Sexual Harassment Policy * Nondiscrimination Policy (school publications and public advertisements) * Student Handbook *

6. School Communicates Accurate Level of Accreditation

   The school accurately represents the school’s status level of accreditation with CSF to its parent membership and to the public in general.

   Artifacts Admissions Information (eg, brochure) Admissions Web page Public Relations pieces

7. School Maintains Profile of Students

   The school develops and continuously compiles a profile of its students, graduates, and target community.

   Artifact Profile of Graduates

8. School’s Mission and Vision Guide Learning

   The school ensures that the school’s mission and vision guide the teaching and learning process.

   Artifact Curriculum Guide *

9. School Embraces Christian Worldview

   The school embraces a Christian worldview that (a) integrates learning with faith, stimulates informed, biblical thinking, (b) encourages a growing understanding of God as the sovereign lord of the universe, (c) views the church as his transformational agent, (d) encourages a growing understanding of the holy scriptures and its relevancy to personal faith and Christian walk, (e) demonstrates a commitment to presenting each student with her/his need for a personal trust in Jesus Christ alone as Lord and Savior, and (f) demonstrates that it encourages each student towards a knowledge of and love for the Scriptures as the sole rule for faith and practice.

   Artifacts Adherence to Transformational Education Bible Instruction Class Devotions Evidence of Evangelism List of Student Service and Travel Opportunities School’s Statement of Faith Student Chapel Schedules Worldview Training and Integration in Curriculum Guide

10. School Presents Students Opportunities for Lifetime of Christian Ministry

    The school presents to students opportunities to explore avenues for a lifetime of Christian ministry and service in fulfillment of the cultural mandate and the great commission.

    Artifact List of Student Service and Travel Opportunities

11. School Engages Students in Worship

    The school engages students in the practice of worship and praise.

    Artifact Student Chapel Schedules

12. School Provides Opportunities for Christian Service

    The school provides opportunities for Christian service.

    Artifact List of Student Service and Travel Opportunities

13. School Shows Adherence to Transformational Ed and/or Historic Creeds

    The school shows adherence to the principles of transformational education and/or embraces one or several of the following historic creeds:
    

    • The Westminster Confession of Faith and the Larger and Shorter Catechisms
    • The Heidelberg Catechism
    • The Canons of Dordt
    • The Thirty-nine Articles of the Anglican Church
    • The Second London Confession of Faith
    • The Philadelphia Confession of Faith
    • The Augsburg Confession
    • The Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord
    
    
    Artifacts Adherence to Historic Creed Adherence to Transformational Education School’s Statement of Faith

The school maintains a system promoting continuous school effectiveness and school improvement that focuses on student spiritual growth and academic performance, and it aligns all functions of the school with the adopted expectations for student spiritual growth and academic performance. Improvement efforts and activities are prompted and informed by the information obtained through earlier data gathering and by reflecting on and assessing the various components of the school effectiveness and school improvement process.

The school encourages and maintains communication and collaboration with Board-determined stakeholders/ministry partners to garner their support, understanding, and awareness and to secure their prayer, financial, and other supporting activities for the purpose of advancing student spiritual growth and academic learning for the glory of God.

Standards

1. School Maintains a Systematic Plan

   The school intentionally maintains a systematic plan for effectiveness and improvement that (a) centrally focuses on the mission and purpose established for the school; (b) maintains an accurate current description of its students, including their spiritual growth and academic performance; (c) measures school effectiveness; (d) establishes and pursues measurable goals focused on student growth and performance; (e) documents and uses objective and verifiable information that the processes yield, highlights major foci for school improvement; and, (f) documents and uses the information to determine what the foci should be for school improvement.

   Artifact School’s Strategic Master Plan

2. School Identifies 3–5 Focus Areas

   The school identifies 3-5 Focus Areas for special emphasis in the systematic plan that are realistic, obtainable, observable, and measurable.

   Artifact School Improvement Plan (csfla.org console)

3. School Employs Benchmarked Improvement Plan

   The school employs in the improvement plan a specific and realistic timeline with benchmarks and projected target dates for the completion of identified goals (Action Steps within each Focus Area), which include not only academic, financial, or physical plant goals, but also distinctively Christian objectives — or those features of the school’s intended purpose which distinguish it from the secular schools in the community.

   Artifact School Improvement Plan (csfla.org console)

4. School Engages Stakeholders in Improvement plan

   The school engages board-defined ministry partners/stakeholders in the process of continuous improvement.

   Artifacts Board Committees Community Resources Parent Aides and Helpers PTF Committees and Volunteers Stakeholder Survey

5. School Aligns the Improvement Plan with Mission and Vision

   The school aligns the plans for continuous effectiveness and improvement with the mission and purpose of the school and the expectations for student growth and performance. To this end, Focus Areas should address at least one spiritual and one teaching/learning area.

   Artifact School Improvement Plan (csfla.org console)

6. School Provides Training for Staff in Use of Delivery Systems and Interventions

   The school provides training/professional development for school staff to help them to understand and use delivery systems and interventions to achieve growth and performance goals.

   Artifacts Anonymized staff inservice record sample Hard Copies of Annual Inservicing of Staff School’s Inservice Activities (csfla.org console)

7. School Maintains and Communicates Data for Accountability

   The school maintains the data gathered and communicates the results to board-determined stakeholders in order to maintain accountability.

   Artifact Results of stakeholder survey report to School Board & community

8. School Gathers, Evaluates, and Documents Effectiveness

   The school gathers, evaluates, and documents the effectiveness of its continuous process of improvement.

   Artifact School Improvement Plan (csfla.org console)

9. School Provides Student Progress Information for Stakeholder Involvement

   The school provides ongoing information about students’ expectations, their performance, and school effectiveness that encourages the prayer, financial, and activity support of the ministry partners/stakeholders.

   Artifacts Evidence of specific fundraising efforts or support School Head Reports to Board School News (csfla.org path) School Newsletters

10. School Creates and Uses Formal Communication Channels

    The school creates and uses formal channels to listen to and communicate with ministry partners/stakeholders, including required Parent/Student Handbook.

    Artifacts Evidence of formal communication channels Evidence of parent/teacher conferences Parent/Student Handbook Parent/Teacher Association Meeting Minutes and Reports School Board Meeting Agendas, Minutes & Reports

11. School Solicits Stakeholder Resources

    The school solicits the knowledge, skills, and resources of ministry partners/ stakeholders to enhance the work of the school. The school involves all ministry partners/stakeholders in the process of maintaining and evaluating continuous school improvement.

    Artifacts Evidence of Board Committee Work Evidence of Community Involvement Evidence of PTF, Parent Work

12. School Employs Reflective Process

    The school employs a process to reflect on its performance collectively and individually in light of the school’s mission and commitment to school improvement and student performance.

    Artifact Evidence of Reflection on School Survey Results in Board/PTF Minutes

The school provides godly leadership and governance that promote student performance and school effectiveness within its mission and vision perspectives.

The school has a clearly defined governance structure that adheres to recognized best governance practices allowing the leaders to advocate for and guard the school’s mission and vision, for the school head and professional staff to operate with sufficient freedom towards those ends, and for the school’s continued efforts towards effectiveness and improvement. Leaders provide clear direction and allocate sufficient human, material, and financial resources necessary to carry out high quality instruction and support programs. Leaders encourage collaboration among stakeholders/ministry partners and provide avenues to support the program with financial gifts and prayer.

The school’s policies, procedures, practices, and organizational structure ensure equity of learning opportunities for all students admitted into the school and support for ongoing innovation and improvement.

Standards

1. School is Incorporated as an Independent Christian School

   The school is incorporated as an independent Christian school or a ministry of a Bible-based church guided by Reformed/transformational beliefs, with a written constitution and bylaws containing adoption/incorporation dates.

   Artifacts Articles of Incorporation School’s Constitution/ByLaws

2. School is an Early-Childhood or Day School

   The school is an independent early childhood or day school, offering a quality academic program in Christian education with written curriculum guides for all age/grade levels, and is not an independent day care center, home school association, or boarding school.

   Artifacts Curriculum Guide * Public Relations pieces School Website

3. School Recognizes and Preserves Administrative Perogatives

   The school recognizes and preserves by policy and practice the executive, administrative, and leadership perogatives and functions of the administrative head of the school.

   Artifacts Board Policy Manual * Governance flowchart

4. School Ensures Compliance with Laws and Regulations

   The school ensures compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws, standards, and regulations.

   Artifacts ADA Policy Non-Discriminatory Statement Non-Harassment Policy

5. School Maintains Board Manual and Minutes

   The school maintains a reviewed and up-to-date policy manual and a separate record of all board minutes.

   Artifacts Board Policy Manual * School Board Meeting Agendas, Minutes & Reports

6. School Adheres to Board Member Policies

   The school adheres to the policies and processes contained in the policy manual for recruiting, nominating, electing, selecting officers, and establishing spiritual qualifications and duties of all candidates, nominees, and current board members.

   Artifact Board Qualifications and Selection Process

7. School Operates under a Governing Board

   The school operates under a governing board that establishes written policies and procedures within a constitution, bylaws, and board manual that provide for the effective operation of the school.

   Artifacts Board Committees Board Policy Manual * Clearly Defined Church/Board Relationship Evidence of Board Involvement in Strategic Planning

8. Board Utilizes Process for Strategic Planning

   The board utilizes a process for strategic and master planning to address the present and future needs of the school.

   Artifact School’s Strategic Master Plan

9. School Delegates to Chief Administrator

   The school delegates executive and administrative functions to the chief administrative officer who is recognized as the head of the school.

   Artifact School Head Job Description

10. School Has Written Organizational Plan of Leadership

    The school has a written organizational plan of leadership that articulates the responsibilities, accountabilities, and reporting systems from one level of leadership to the other.

    Artifact Governance flowchart

11. School Board Maintains Relationship with and Evaluation of School Head

    The school board employs a process to maintain a strong, open, mutually honoring relationship with the school head and annually conducts a formal, written evaluation of her/his performance.

    Artifact Annual Written Evaluation of School Head / Chief Administrator

12. School Maintains Communication with Stakeholders

    The school employs a process to maintain good communication and mutual respect between the board, the administration, the faculty and staff, the parents, the students, and all other ministry partners/stakeholders.

    Artifact Interviews with appropriate stakeholders

13. School Maintains Relationship with Church

    The school, if church-operated or affiliated, defines and maintains a strong, open relationship with the governing body of the local church, and works to maintain a similar relationship between the senior minister and the school head.

    Artifacts Evidence of school head / pastor relationship Governance flowchart

14. Proprietary School Compliance

    The proprietary school must comply with all Leadership and Governance standards with some modifications.

    See Explanatory Standards for artifacts

    Explanatory Standards 3.14.1–5

15. School Fosters Learning Community

    The school fosters a learning community.

    Artifacts Evidence of grade-level sharing Evidence of mentoring processes Evidence of new teacher orientation Faculty meeting agendas/minutes

16. School Exemplifies Servant Spirit

    The school exemplifies a servant spirit exercised through high quality spiritual, professional leadership.

    Artifacts Evidence of training in or application of Transformational Education Mission trips Student service opportunities

17. School Provides Opportunities to Lead and Innovate

    The school provides teachers and students opportunities to lead and to innovate.

    Artifacts Evidence of student leadership Evidence of teacher initiatives Faculty meeting agendas/minutes Student Council agendas/minutes

18. School Provides Meaningful Roles to Stakeholders

    The school provides stakeholders/ministry partners meaningful roles in the decision-making process that promote a culture of participation, responsibility, and ownership.

    Artifacts Evidence of Board Committee Work Evidence of Community Involvement Parent/Teacher Association Meeting Minutes and Reports

19. School Controls All School-Sponsored Activities

    The school controls all business, financial, curricular, extracurricular and support activities that are sponsored by the school.

    Artifact Governance flowchart

The school provides a researched-based curriculum and instructional methods that facilitate achievement for all students. The curriculum is based on clear and measurable expectations/objectives for student learning and provides opportunities for all students admitted to the school to acquire knowledge, skills, and attitudes within a biblical framework.

Teachers use proven instructional practices that effectively engage students in the learning process and provide opportunities for students to apply their knowledge and skills in real world situations as Christians. Teachers give to students sufficient feedback to improve their performance.

Teachers provide spiritual and professional role models that encourage students to aspire to a lifetime of learning as Christians and to view the world from a consistent biblical/transformational worldview.

Standards

1. School Implements Clearly-Defined Learner Outcomes

   The school develops and implements a curriculum based on clearly-defined learner outcomes.

   Artifact Curriculum Guide *

2. School Improvement Plan Considers Community

   The school demonstrates in the school improvement plan a knowledge and understanding of the community for which the school is founded (e.g. opportunities for recruiting families and students, attitudes of the local Christian community and local pastors toward the school, and the impact of demographic and economic trends on enrollment).

   Artifacts Demographic studies Evidence of Interaction with local Christian leaders Stakeholder Survey Tracked and projected enrollment figures

3. School Promotes Higher-Order Thinking Skills

   The school promotes the use of higher-order thinking skills and guides students to be actively involved in accompanying learning process.

   Artifacts Curriculum Guide * Evidence of STEM/STEAM or robotics offerings Incorporation of Bloom’s Taxonomy

4. School Offers Curriculum of Challenge and Equity

   The school offers a curriculum that challenges each student to excel, reflects a commitment to equity within the scope of student needs and admission policies, and demonstrates a willingness to value and address diversities.

   Artifacts Admissions Policy Curriculum Guide * Evidence of addressing diverse learning needs (eg ESE/SWD, gifted) Evidence of diversity training

5. School Conforms to Florida Compulsory Attendance Law

   The school allocates and guards instructional time within the school day and school calendar in order to maximize time on task and student learning, conforming the school year to the Florida Compulsory School Attendance Law and the interpretation of that Law by the FLDOE.

   See Explanatory Standards for artifacts

   Explanatory Standards 4.5.1–2

6. School Maintains Written Curricular Alignment in Scope and Sequence

   The school maintains and follows an up-to-date, written curricular alignment in scope and sequence among all levels of learners for all current courses and subject areas. It includes (a) a Christian philosophy of teaching and learning; (b) instructional objectives and learner outcomes; (c) student assessments; (d) course outlines that identify concepts; and (e) materials and resources used to accomplish the goals and outcomes.

   See Explanatory Standards for artifacts

   Explanatory Standards 4.6.1–4

7. School Evidences Intra- and Inter-Departmental Cooperation

   The school evidences cooperative vertical, horizontal, intra-departmental, and inter-departmental planning and coordinating the curriculum.

   Artifact Inter- and Intra-Departmental meeting agendas/minutes

8. School Addresses Special Needs Assistance

   The school implements processes and utilizes personnel necessary to address student learning for those needing special assistance.

   See Explanatory Standards for artifacts

   Explanatory Standards 4.8.1–4

9. School Provides Spiritual, Academic, and Career Counseling

   The school provides appropriate guidance and counseling services for students’ spiritual, academic, and career counseling.

   Artifact Plans for spiritual, academic & career counseling

10. School Employs Guidance Counseling Personnel or Plan

    The school employs a guidance counselor or contracted consultant for high schools dependent upon the full-time equivalent student population. A written guidance plan is followed for the provision of counseling services for elementary and middle schools.

    See Explanatory Standards for artifacts

    Explanatory Standards 4.10.1–3

11. School Provides Comprehensive Technology and Media Services and Personnel

    The school provides access for all students to comprehensive technology and media services and personnel that support the curricular and instructional programs.

    See Explanatory Standards for artifacts

    Explanatory Standards 4.11.1–3

12. School Establishes and Maintains Student Discipline

    The school establishes and maintains student discipline processes, dress codes, and student behavior expectations that are appropriate in nature, are clearly defined in written form, are fairly and consistently implemented, are documented when necessary, and are distributed to the school families, faculty, and staff. These include important topics including attendance, suspension and expulsion, substance abuse, and sexual harassment. The school monitors its climate and campus, and consistently takes steps to ensure they are conducive to safe and unhindered learning.

    Artifact Student Handbook *

13. Transfer of Credit

    Member schools are encouraged to accept credit for academic work accomplished at schools accredited by a recognized accrediting agency (see below for definition of recognized accrediting agency).

    Member schools will not award academic credit for course work completed under a private tutor or a non-accredited program unless validated by either an End-Of-Course Assessment (EOCA) approved by the receiving school or by the student’s performance as validated during at least one grading period in the receiving school. This does not apply to students taking online courses offered by accredited delivery programs.

    Recognized Accrediting Agencies:

    • Regional Accrediting Agencies: Cognia, MSSA, NCACS, NEACS, WACS, NWACS
    • Member Accrediting Agencies of the Florida Association of Academic Nonpublic Schools (FAANS)
    • Member Accrediting Agencies of the National Council for Private School Accreditation (NCPSA)
    Artifacts Anonymized student transfer transcripts Evidence of student performance assessment Evidence of transfer of credit Sample of EOCA

The school has adopted and uses a comprehensive process that monitors, documents, and assesses (1) student performance based on adopted expectations/objectives for learning, (2) the effectiveness of curriculum and instruction in meeting those expectations/objectives, and (3) overall school effectiveness.

The school uses the information yielded by this process to determine improvements needed to increase overall student performance and to provide timely and accurate information to administrators, teachers, students, and parents about student performance, instructional effectiveness, and overall school effectiveness. It also tracks and reports the results of the school’s overall improvement efforts and provides the data necessary to lead the school to increasing improvement.

Standards

1. School Employs Comprehensive Assessment Program

   The school employs a comprehensive assessment program that provides for analysis and review of student performance and school effectiveness.

   Narrative required

2. School Establishes Performance Measures Based on Instructional Objectives

   The school establishes performance measures based on adopted instructional objectives for student learning that provide information that is concrete, accurate, reliable, and valid, rather than individual or institutional subjective opinions or perceptions.

   Narrative required

3. School’s Written Assessment Plan Determines Student, Instructional, and Curricular Improvement

   The school has a written student assessment plan that serves as the basis for how the school (a) constructs student assessments, (b) conducts student assessments, and (c) uses the results of student assessments for determining student progress/needs, improving instruction, and improving curricular offerings.

   Artifact Student assessment policy and process (clearly-defined and comprehensive) *

4. School Gathers, Analyzes, and Uses Student Assessment Data

   The school gathers, analyzes, and uses student assessment data for determining instructional and learning effectiveness and uses the results for making decisions for continuous improvement of teaching and learning processes.

   Narrative required

5. School Communicates Assessment Results to Stakeholders

   The school communicates the results of student performance, instructional effectiveness, and overall school effectiveness to all pertinent stakeholders in a reporting process as determined by the school’s governing board. This includes sending to parents and guardians periodic progress reports, quarterly and semester academic reports, and annually the results of a national norm-referenced test. Parent conferences are held at least annually in at least grades Pre-K through 5 to discuss individual student progress.

   Narrative required Artifacts Anonymized student progress report Evidence of parent/teacher conferences Evidence of student achievement (e.g. standardized test scores, PSAT, SAT, ACT scores, etc.) * Quarterly and semester academic report

6. School Conducts Annual Norm-Referenced Standardized Testing

   The school conducts annually a national norm-referenced test for grades selected by the school and sends results to parents annually.

   Artifacts Evidence of student achievement (e.g. standardized test scores, PSAT, SAT, ACT scores, etc.) * Sample of norm-referenced test used

7. School Documents Use of Nationally-Normed Norm-Referenced Standardized Testing

   The school documents the use of nationally norm-referenced test that includes: (a) what instrument(s) is(are) used, (b) when it is administered, (c) how the results are used for determining individual student progress/needs, and (d) how the results are used for for curriculum modification and improving instruction. (See Strand 7 for appropriate Early Childhood assessment)

   Artifacts Sample of analysis data and process Sample of norm-referenced test used

8. School Demonstrates with Objective Data

   The school demonstrates through objective data proven growth and improvement in student performance, instructional effectiveness, and overall school effectiveness.

   Artifact Sample of analysis data and process

9. School Seeking Common Core Aligned Accreditation Incorporates FL Common Core Standards

   The school seeking common core aligned accreditation has incorporated Florida Common Core Standards into its curriculum.

   Artifact Common-core curricular information

10. School Seeking Common Core Aligned Accreditation Conducts Annual Criterion Reference Testing

    The school seeking common core aligned accreditation conducts annual criterion reference testing that is published by a nationally-recognized agency and is in alignment with the Florida Common Core Standards.

    Artifact Sample of criterion referenced test

11. School Seeking Common Core Aligned Accreditation Has Written Testing

    The school seeking common core aligned accreditation has a written plan for national criterion reference testing that includes (a) what nationally-recognized instrument(s) is(are) used, (b) when administered, (c) how the results are used for determining individual student progress/needs, and (d) how the results are used for curriculum modification and improving instruction.

    Artifacts Sample of analysis data and process Sample of criterion referenced test

The school allocates sufficient material, personnel, and financial resources to implement, support, and achieve its mission, vision, and comprehensive plan for continuous school effectiveness and improvement. The school employs and assigns administrative, instructional, and support staff who are qualified for their assignments, and provides professional development programs to improve their effectiveness. The school complies with applicable local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations.

Standards

1. School Complies with Health, Safety, and Sanitation Laws

   The school complies with all national, state, and local laws for health, safety, sanitation, and background screening in order to maintain a safe and healthy environment.

   See Explanatory Standards for artifacts

   Explanatory Standards 6.1.1–14

2. School Employs and Supervises Appropriate Staff

   The school employs, assigns, mentors, and monitors quality instructional, administrative, and support staff capable by training and experience of fulfilling their specific assigned roles and responsibilities.

   See Explanatory Standards for artifacts

   Explanatory Standards 6.2.1–4

3. School Engages Staff in Continuous Professional Development

   The school engages all professional staff in a program of continuous professional development.

   See Explanatory Standards for artifacts

   Explanatory Standards 6.3.1–2

4. School Provides Sufficient Staff

   The school provides sufficient staff in number to meet the mission, vision and purpose of the school.

   See Explanatory Standards for artifacts

   Explanatory Standards 6.4.1–3

5. School Budgets and Raises Sufficient Financial Resources

   The school budgets and raises sufficient financial resources to enable the ongoing implementation of the mission, vision and purpose of the school, and its improvement plan. [Note: While specific items from time to time will have to be delayed or modified due to the absence of sufficient resources, normally the budget of the school should reflect the importance and priority of the School Effectiveness and Improvement Plan (SESIP) by assigning sufficient funds to achieve its accomplishment.]

   See Explanatory Standards for artifacts

   Explanatory Standards 6.5.1–5

6. School Provides Board D&O Protection

   The school provides protection for board members through directors and officers liability insurance (D&O), and school personnel through adequate liability insurance.

   Artifact Evidence of D&O policy

7. School Conducts Financial Transactions within Best Practices

   The school conducts all financial transactions within CSF’s suggested best practices audited accounting system, including an annual financial report reviewed by a licensed CPA using one of required monitoring methods. The CPA may not be a member of the faculty, staff, or governing board of the school.

   Narrative required if non-compliant with any Explanatory Standards 6.7.1–2 See Explanatory Standards for artifacts

   Explanatory Standards 6.7.1–2

8. School Maintains Physical Plant and Related Environment

   The school maintains the physical plant and related fields, parking areas, and equipment to provide a safe, clean, pleasant, and orderly environment for learning and instructing, in compliance with local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations.

   Narrative required if non-compliant with any Explanatory Standards 6.8.1–10

   Explanatory Standards 6.8.1–10

9. School Utilizes Written Emergency Action/Security Plan

   The school utilizes a written emergency action/security plan with periodic training of all personnel and students and with regularly scheduled practice drills.

   Artifact Crisis Management Plan and School Lockdown Plan *

10. School Maintains Student Record System

    The school maintains a secure, accurate, and complete student record system that guards against unauthorized manipulation of data, and complies with institutional, state, and federal policies and regulations; the student record system is housed in a secure and fire-resistant facility and/or in electronic format at a secure location off campus, and contains permanent and current records showing each child’s name, address, parent or guardian’s name(s), telephone numbers (home, work and emergency), attendance, birth certificate or notarized affidavit of birthdate, physicals and immunizations, cumulative academic progress, periodic progress reports to parents, and individual results on standardized tests.

    Artifacts Evidence of student health & immunization records * Evidence of student records system

11. School Adheres to Content and Release of Information Laws and Ethics

    The school adheres to all legal and ethical considerations regarding the content and release of information to the public.

    Artifact Evidence of procedures for release of information to public

12. School (if defunct) Transfers Student Records

    The school shall transfer, should the school become defunct, all permanent information contained in student records to the district school superintendent of the public school district in which the private school was located; or shall transfer that information to the executive director of Christian Schools of Florida (FL Statute 1002.42).

    Artifact Statement of destination school district for student records transfer

The early childhood school program addresses all domains of child development and learning, including spiritual, intellectual, social, emotional and physical growth. The curriculum, teaching strategies, and environment reflect research-based knowledge about the way children develop and learn. The school provides a safe, positive learning environment in which children can experience the wonder of God’s world through developmentally appropriate activities.

Early childhood programs that are exempt from licensing under FS402.316 shall be subject to these standards.

Standards

1. Early Childhood Program Complies with Health and Safety Standards

   The Early Childhood Program successfully demonstrates compliance with the Early Childhood Health and Safety Standards as evidenced by an up-to-date inspection by CSF using the EC-1 Checklist or by regular state inspections for schools operating in home-rule counties, state-licensed schools, or school participating in School Readiness.

   See Explanatory Standards for artifacts

   Explanatory Standards 7.1.1–6

2. Early Childhood Program Utilizes Developmentally-Appropriate Practices

   The Early Childhood Program, in implementing the curriculum, utilizes developmentally-appropriate practices which address each individual child’s spiritual, social, emotional, physical, and academic growth.

   See Explanatory Standards for artifacts

   Explanatory Standards 7.2.1–2

3. Early Childhood Program Uses Developmentally-Appropriate Assessment

   The Early Childhood Program ensures that the children’s progress is measured through the use of a variety of developmentally-appropriate assessment techniques and reported with supporting documentation.

   See Explanatory Standards for artifacts

   Explanatory Standards 7.3.1–6

4. Early Childhood Program Partners and Communicates with Parents

   The Early Childhood Program initiates, develops, and maintains a partnership with parents through an ongoing system of communication including conferences, parent involvement, training, and referrals to community resources.

   See Explanatory Standards for artifacts

   Explanatory Standards 7.4.1–8