These documents will guide and direct the NLSA Evidence Based Accreditation (EBA) process for all elementary, middle and high schools. Please use the links below to access resources to be utilized before the process begins as well as the required school documentation.
Resources to be Used Prior to the EBA Process (Voluntary)
NLSA EBA Getting Ready for National Lutheran School Accreditation 9-2023
NLSA EBA Projected Timeline 9-2023
NLSA EBA Glossary of Terms 9-2023
EBA Documentation for Schools (Required)
NLSA EBA Administrator Manual 9-2023
NLSA-EBA-Self-Study-9-2023-1 (2) (Microsoft Word Version)
NLSA EBA Self-Study (9/2023) (Google Docs Version)
*NOTE: Please be logged into your Google Drive account and choose the “Make a copy…” option in the File menu to create your document copy and to enable edits to the original document.
Survey Instruments
NLSA has developed survey questions that are correlated with the seven standard areas and should be used at the beginning of a self-study process. A school may choose its own personal method of administration of the survey templates below as a part of its needs assessment process. Feel free to add additional questions to the survey but do not remove any already included.
Below is a link to download the old survey tool for NLSA. The data collected from this tool will not be reported to LCMS School Ministry and NLSA. This tool will be deprecated next accreditation cycle (March 2024)
NLSA EBA Surveys 9-2022
(Optional)
Below is the new survey tool.
This tool helps develop new data sets to help schools that are just starting, strategic planning, and much more. These align with Lutheran School Consulting Service surveys and will also begin providing comparison and baseline data for the National, District, State, and Local levels.
NLSA-Survey-Tools-9-2023
NLSA Substantive Changes in Accredited Schools
NLSA Substantive Changes in Accredited Schools 9-2023
For a variety of reasons during an accreditation cycle, a school may choose to make substantive changes in its offerings that significantly alter the status of its school. A school must initiate a substantive change procedure with NLSA if the school experiences a change in any of the following:
- The physical location of the school
- Addition of or transfer of programs to new or different buildings
- Grade level configuration
- Type of school
- Change in ownership and/or control
- Change in legal status or form of control of the institution
- Opening a branch or classroom extension
- Change in established mission or objectives
- Addition of courses or programs that represent a significant departure, in terms of either the content or method of delivery, from those that were offered when NLSA most recently evaluated the institution.