Christian Schools of Florida
Explanatory Standards

Explanatory Standard 3.1-14
Governance and Leadership

1. The school must be governed by a board of directors which employs the following:
   
   
   1. a policy manual which is consistently kept current and with all board minutes on file in written or electronic format;
   2. established spiritual qualifications for board membership and consistent adherence to its process for selecting and establishing officers and committees with clearly outlined duties;
   3. a process by which it delegates executive and administrative functions to the chief administrative officer who is recognized as the head of the school;
   4. a process that governs the relationship between the board and the chief
      administrative officer of the school which fosters a relationship that is positive,
      constructive, and mutually honoring;
   5. a process by which the Board annually evaluates the chief administrator in a written format;
   6. a clear definition in the case of a church operated/affiliated school of the role and relationship between the pastor and school head, and between the church’s governing board and the school’s governing board, relative to the administration of the school.
   7. a process that establishes and maintains good communication and mutual respect between the board, the administration, the faculty and staff, the parents, and the students.
   8. a process for strategic and master planning to address the present and future needs of the school.
      
      
2. Proprietary Schools:
   
   
   1. A proprietary school shall not be required to maintain a School Board for purposes of governing the school. However, its policy manual must contain processes that are expected of all other member schools as listed in Standards 3 and 4 above to ensure
      a healthy, professional environment for faculty, support staff, and students, and
      processes that ensure school and parent relationships that are expected for all other
      member schools.
   2. The school may be governed by a board of directors, advisory council, or by the
      ownership of the school operating under the school’s constitution (or Articles of
      Incorporation) and by-laws.
   3. The Articles of Incorporation for a proprietary school shall be considered the
      equivalency to by-laws required of non-profit schools for purposes of determining
      suitability for associate membership and/or accredited membership in CSF.
   4. The proprietor, if not serving as the administrative head, must delegate executive
      and administrative functions to a chief administrative officer who is recognized as the
      head of the school. The relationship between the proprietor and the head of school
      must be strong and open. The proprietor must formally evaluate annually in writing
      the chief administrator.
   5. For purposes of establishing and maintaining a process for school improvement, a
      proprietary school shall establish and maintain processes that involve the stake
      holders of the school in the process.