WELSSA – Advancing the
Gospel of Jesus Christ
First Lutheran
Lake Geneva, WI
WELSSA Objectives
• Assist congregations with evaluating their
ministries
• Provide a basis for improving schools
• Provide a means for schools to be
accredited
WELSSA Benefits
• Recognize & maintain blessings by identifying
strengths
• Identify areas of ministry that need work
• Involves a large number of people
• Planning instrument for the future
• Marketing tool
• NCPSA & RISA
• Funding options
Exploration
1. Local agency (ECM, LES, LHS) requests information
from the WELS Commission on Parish Schools (CPS).
2. After local agency decides to proceed with the
WELSSA process, the WELSSA Executive Director
assigns a consultant to the school or ECM.
Preparation for Candidacy Status
1. Local agency satisfactorily completes each item in
Checkpoints 1 and 2 with the consultant’s help.
2. Local agency applies for Candidacy Status and
submits the fee.
3. The Executive Director of WELSSA approves the
school for Candidacy Status with the concurrence of the
district’s Parish Schools Coordinator (PSC).
Self-study
1. Using WELSSA resources including the Ten Self-Study
Standards and working with the WELSSA consultant, the local
agency conducts its self-study.
2. Local agency develops its School Self-Study Report using the
template as found in Chapter 9 of the WELSSA Handbook.
3. The administrator of the local agency consults with the district
PSC and the WELSSA Executive Director to select visiting team
members.
4. The local agency submits it self-study report to the visiting team.
Validation
1. Visiting team conducts on-site visit.
2. Visiting team reports findings to local agency
including its recommendation regarding the local
agency’s accreditation status.
3. Visiting team submits its written report to the local
agency, the PSC, and the WELSSA Executive
Director.
COMMISSION DECISION
1. PSC and Executive Director review Visiting Team
Written.
2. The Executive Director submits a recommendation to
the CPS.
3. CPS approves or does not approve Visiting Team and
PSC recommendations. .
If awarded:
1. Accreditation is
renewable for a
maximum of seven
years.
2. Local agency must
submit annual report
of improvement plan
progress to maintain
status.
If deferred: CPS
submits findings to
local agency.
A Challenging Task
1. Begin with prayer…and keep at it!
2. Create consensus and enthusiasm throughout the
congregation and the school
3. Establish a Steering Committee
4. Create “Standard Review Teams”
5. Complete all 10 standard reviews and gather all
documentation and evidences.
6. Prepare for the Visiting Team
7. Complete any immediate deficiencies and begin
making a seven year improvement plan
Resources
Help is available
WELSSA Handbook
Consultant
WELSSA list serve group
Visiting Team Captain
WELSSA Executive Officer
Lord - don’t forget this one
Consultant
Objective of the Position
Provide advice and help
to a school so that it
can achieve
accreditation
Team Captain
Objectives
 Lead the visiting team
 Validate the school’s self-study report
 Help school improve its ministry
Team Captain
Tasks During Visit
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
Check on team’s progress and encourage
Prepare oral report
Decide accreditation status
Lead in presenting oral report
Team Captain
Tasks After Visit
 Complete visiting team’s written report
 Send copy to school, consultant, and
Executive Director
 Send thank you to team members
 Possibly send thank you to school
administrator
Timeline
We would like to do this in _________ months.
We think we can do this in _________ months.
We will hope to do this in _________ months.
We will plan to do this in _________ months.
Steps to Accreditation
Team Involvement:
• Form Teams
• Self Study
• Prepare Report and offer
recommendations and
commendations
Steering Committee
Involvement:
• Visiting Team
• Accreditation
• Future Planning
Timeline:
Now
Now to end of school year
At end of your portion of
the study
After all phases are complete
How do You fit in?
• Join a Team
• Make a Plan
• Gather Information
• Report Findings
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Standards
Mission, Vision and Objectives
School and Relationships
School Climate
School Governance & Administration
Professional Personnel
Curriculum
Instruction
Student Services
Physical Facilities
Planning and Information Management
What’s this going to take
Hours of time
Involvement of many people
Resources
Determination
God’s help