Education

LCMS School Ministry

Early Childhood Centers, Elementary Schools & High Schools


Congregations and Christian day schools of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod operate more than 1,600 early childhood centers and preschools, and they serve more than 100,000 children ranging from infants and toddlers to 5-year-olds.

LCMS congregations operate more than 800 elementary schools with approximately 78,000 students. More than 650 early childhood centers and elementary schools are accredited under the National Lutheran School Accreditation program.

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Resources and Services

  • LuthEd.org

  • LuthEd.org


    Encouraging, Connecting and Informing Lutheran Schools

    The LuthEd.org website provides Lutheran teachers with spiritual, academic and communication support. The website offers a growing array of resources, devotions and discounted services. Additional resources are being produced for the site.

    Visit LuthEd.org

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  • School Ministry Mailing
  • School Ministry Mailing

    The School/Early Childhood Mailing, published quarterly, offers excellent resources and ideas for administrators, directors, pastors, teachers, board members and parents.

    All School Ministry Mailing articles are free to download for all Lutheran schools through the LuthEd.org website. Please contact LCMS School Ministry for more information.

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  • In His Hands

  • In His Hands

    In His Hands is a resource manual for starting, expanding or improving a Christ-centered early childhood development ministry.

    This resource is available in a soft-bound book as well as in electronic PDF format.

    For more information about In His Hands, contact LCMS School Ministry at 888-THE LCMS or by email.

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  • Accreditation

  • National Lutheran School Accreditation

    National Lutheran School Accreditation (NLSA) encourages and recognizes Lutheran schools that provide quality Christian education and engage in continuous improvement.

    It is completely voluntary and is available for every school operated by a single congregation, by an association of congregations, or by a Recognized Service Organization of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod or the Lutheran Church—Canada.

    NLSA serves a variety of levels of schools — early childhood, elementary and high schools and all combinations of the aforementioned.  It helps Lutheran schools evaluate their academic quality and the spiritual dimension of the school. The standards and report forms are similar to other accrediting processes, both secular and religious.


    Benefits of Accreditation

    • Publicly acknowledges the quality of the school through an objective outside agency
    • Employs the expertise of an objective site visit team
    • Validates the mission of the school
    • Measures a school with a set of objective national standards
    • Examines the spiritual component of the school
    • Identifies and celebrates the strengths of the school
    • Pinpoints weaknesses for correction
    • Provides a solid foundation for faculty professional development
    • Provides accountability for the school, constituents, congregation, and school community
    • Provides the “blueprint” for school improvement for the next five years
    • Involves the support and involvement of a broad constituency
    • Provides the opportunity for public acknowledgment and celebration
    • Connects a school to a network of several hundred LCMS-accredited schools


    Evidence Based Accreditation

    In 2014, the NLSA National Accreditation Commission adopted the Evidence Based Accreditation (EBA) process for LCMS schools. Read an explanation of the Evidence Based Accreditation process.


    Information and Application

    Introduction to NLSA — This document provides an introduction to the NLSA program, including answers to frequently asked questions as well as information on:

    • NLSA Standards: Early Childhood, Elementary & High School
    • Co-Accrediting Partners
    • The National Accreditation Commission

    For more information about NLSA, or to apply, contact LCMS School Ministry.

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  • Consultations

  • Lutheran School Consulting Services

    The purpose of Lutheran School Consulting Services (LSCS) is to strengthen and revitalize Lutheran schools so God's children are well served and His kingdom expanded.

    LSCS focuses on the school and its ministry. As schools are strengthened, so are congregations and their ministries.


    How does it work?

    LSCS services include the following:


    1. An Assessment Visit

    A trained assessment consultant will visit the school and its supporting congregation(s) for one or two days. The primary purposes of this assessment visit are to identify school opportunities and challenges and to assess the probability of a positive intervention that will strengthen the school’s ministry.


    The assessment process uses:

    • The school’s application,
    • The district education executive’s knowledge,
    • A targeted leadership survey,
    • Additional information provided by the school,
    • General constituent surveys, and
    • The assessment consultant’s observations during the visit.

    These are used to determine relevant recommendations and assist the school in developing and implementing a plan to address those recommendations. There are two types of recommendations:

    • Recommendations that the church and school can accomplish without further LSCS intervention support, and
    • Recommendations that could be best accomplished with LSCS leadership and guidance. LSCS will cover the cost of the interventions that need outside assistance.


    2. Follow-up Visits

    There are a variety of potential interventions. The LSCS director will seek counsel from the district education executive and the consultant who did the assessment in selecting the appropriate process, potential individuals or LSCS consultants best equipped to serve in that specific school.


    School Ministry ‘Expert’ Consultant

    LSCS ministry ‘expert’ consultants have specific expertise to assist a school in developing and implementing strategic plans specifically designed for accomplishing the recommendations. This is usually a one- or two-day visit followed by continuing remote assistance and accountability.

    There is the possibility that several different consultants with expertise related to specific recommendations could be working with the school simultaneously.

    Schools interested in LSCS services must apply for the program. Applications are available online and through each LCMS district office.

    The district individual with responsibilities for services to Lutheran schools will be asked to sign the application and to support it before the process begins.

    Read the LSCS brochure or email LCMS School Ministry for more information about LSCS.

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  • Leadership

  • School Leadership Development Project

    The School Leadership Development Project (SLED) seeks to identify and equip potential Lutheran school leaders. This is done through a process of nomination, selection and intense training over the course of an academic year.

    Those selected for the program are required to attend and participate at two specially designed training events and are mentored over the course of the project by well-respected, experienced Lutheran school administrators.

    Since 1989, the SLED Project has trained more than 600 elementary school administrators now serving in Lutheran schools.

    For more information about SLED, contact LCMS School Ministry.

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The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod Inc., including Mission Central (in Mapleton, Iowa), is an IRS registered 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charity.

A contribution designated (restricted) for a specific purpose, when accepted, will be used only to fund expenses related to that purpose. Occasionally, we may receive more in contributions for a particular purpose than can be wisely applied to it in the foreseeable future or the purpose may cease to be feasible. In these situations, the LCMS will make reasonable attempts to contact contributors to apply their contribution toward another aspect of ministry that aligns closely the contributor’s goals and values. If a contributor cannot be contacted, the LCMS will use the gift to meet a similar pressing need that most closely matches the contributor's original intent.

Consistent with Synod Board policy and in recognition of a more challenging economic and philanthropic/fundraising environment due to inflationary pressure, not more than 13.5 percent of any charitable contribution will be allocated to administering gifts and communicating with contributors. Contributions received and accepted by the LCMS are deemed to be in agreement with this statement.

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