Christian Schools of Florida
Accreditation Standards

Strand 1: Clear Purpose: Mission and Vision Statements

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.

In addressing the following Standards for this Strand, the school:

1.1
has two major, guiding written statements for mission and vision 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.

1.2
has a written philosophy of education, reflecting a commitment to Biblical perspectives
and expressing a reformed/transformational position, through which the student is
enabled to develop and demonstrate a Christian view of God, man, and the world.

1.3
translates the mission and vision of the school into written overall educational
objectives.

1.4
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).

1.5
practices a non-discriminatory policy in which gender, race, or ethnicity are not factors
in admissions or the application of any of its programs or processes.

1.6
adheres to all legal and ethical considerations regarding the content and release of
information to the public, including an accurate representation of the status level of
accreditation with CSF in an honest and professional manner to its parent membership
and to the public in general.

1.7
demonstrates a commitment to presenting each student with her/his need for a
personal trust in Jesus Christ alone as Lord and Savior.

1.8
demonstrates that it encourages each student towards a knowledge of and love for the
Scriptures as the sole rule for faith and practice.

1.9
establishes short-term and long-term goals to advance the school’s mission and vision
and codifies these in a written plan.

1.10
develops and continuously compiles a profile of its students, graduates, and target
community.

1.11
ensures that the school’s mission and vision guide the teaching and learning process.

1.12
reviews its vision and purpose systematically and revises them when appropriate.

1.13
shows adherence to Reformed/transformational principles by embracing 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