National Lutheran School Accreditation
These documents will guide and direct the NLSA Evidence Based Accreditation (EBA) process for all early childhood, 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.
Routes to Accreditation (8/2026)
EBA Paper Application (9/2026)
Substantive Changes in Accredited Schools – Instructions (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:
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Physical location of the school
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Addition of or transfer of programs to new or different buildings
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Grade-level configuration
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Type of school
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Change in ownership and/or control
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Change in legal status or form of control of the institution
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Opening a branch or classroom extension
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Change in established mission or objectives
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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.
Protocol G
The following documents are for schools to utilize as they work through the Evidence Based Accreditation (EBA) School Accreditation process for Protocol G.
Protocol G – Getting Ready for National Lutheran School Accreditation (9/2023)
Protocol G – Projected Timeline (9/2023)
Protocol G – Glossary of Terms (9/2022)
Protocol G – Video Overview (4/2024)
Protocol G – FAQs about NLSA (4/2024)
Protocol G – Administrator Manual (4/2024)
Protocol G – Self-Study (4/2024)
Protocol G – School Action Plan Template (4/2024)
The following resources are for schools to utilize as they work through the Evidence Based Accreditation (EBA) process. Please note that these are supplied as resources to be utilized, adjusted, and modified by the school in going through the Accreditation process to fulfil the needed documentation of evidence necessary in the EBA indicators.
Surveys and Observation Tools
NLSA has developed survey questions that are correlated with the eight 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 their needs assessment process. Feel free to add additional questions to the survey but do not remove any already included.
NLSA Survey Tools (9/2023)
NLSA Classroom Observation Tool (9/2022)
NLSA Classroom Observation Tool w/ Explanations (9/2022)
Early Childhood – Protocol A
These documents will guide and direct the NLSA Early Childhood Accreditation process for Protocol A. Use the links below to access documents that will be utilized before the process begins as well as the required school documentation.
Protocol A – Getting Ready for National Lutheran School Accreditation (9/2023)
Protocol A – Projected Timeline (9/2022)
Protocol A – Glossary of Terms (9/2022)
Protocol A – Self-Study Overview (9/2023)
Protocol A – Administrator Manual (9/2023)
Protocol A – Self Study (9/2022)
Protocol A – School Action Plan Template
The following resources are for schools to utilize as they work through the Evidence Based Accreditation (EBA) process. Please note that these are supplied as resources to be utilized, adjusted, and modified by the school in going through the Accreditation process to fulfil the needed documentation of evidence necessary in the EBA indicators.
Surveys and Observation Tools
NLSA has developed these surveys that correlate specifically with the accreditation of Early Childhood Centers 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 their needs assessment process. Feel free to add additional questions to the survey but do not remove any already included.
NLSA EC Survey Tools (9/2022)
NLSA Classroom Observation Tool (9/2022)
NLSA Classroom Observation Tool w/ Explanations (9/2022)
Early Childhood – Protocol B
These documents will guide and direct the NLSA Early Childhood Accreditation process for Protocol B. Use the links below to access documents that will be utilized before the process begins as well as the required school documentation.
Protocol B – Getting Ready for National Lutheran School Accreditation
Protocol B – Projected Timeline (9/2022)
Protocol B – Glossary of Terms (9/2023)
Protocol B – Self-Study Overview
Protocol B – Administrator Manual
Protocol B – Self-Study (7/2024)
Protocol B – School Action Plan Template
The following resources are for schools to utilize as they work through the Evidence Based Accreditation (EBA) process. Please note that these are supplied as resources to be utilized, adjusted, and modified by the school in going through the Accreditation process to fulfil the needed documentation of evidence necessary in the EBA indicators.
Surveys and Observation Tools
NLSA has developed these surveys that correlate specifically with the accreditation of Early Childhood Centers 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 their needs assessment process. Feel free to add additional questions to the survey but do not remove any already included.
NLSA EC Survey Tools (9/2022)
NLSA Classroom Observation Tool (9/2022)
NLSA Classroom Observation Tool w/ Explanations (9/2022)
Protocol H
The following documents are for high schools (grades 9-12 or grades 6-12) to utilize as they work through the Evidence Based Accreditation (EBA) School Accreditation process for Protocol H.
Protocol H – Getting Ready for National Lutheran School Accreditation (9/2023)
Protocol H – Projected Timeline (9/2023)
Protocol H – Glossary of Terms (9/2022)
Protocol H – Self-Study Overview
Protocol H – Administrator Manual
Protocol H – Self-Study
Protocol H – School Action Plan Template (4/2024)
The following resources are for schools to utilize as they work through the Evidence Based Accreditation (EBA) process. Please note that these are supplied as resources to be utilized, adjusted, and modified by the school in going through the Accreditation process to fulfil the needed documentation of evidence necessary in the EBA indicators.
Surveys and Observation Tools
NLSA has developed survey questions that are correlated with the eight 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 their needs assessment process. Feel free to add additional questions to the survey but do not remove any already included.
NLSA Survey Tools (9/2023)
NLSA Classroom Observation Tool (9/2022)
NLSA Classroom Observation Tool w/ Explanations (9/2022)
Questions About the School Resources?
If you have questions related to any of the above NLSA School Documents and Resources, please either contact your local LCMS District office or District Commissioner through the links below. They are equipped to guide you and your schools through the complete NLSA process to completion. Additionally, if you are wanting to include any of the official NLSA logos and images in any of your publications, please feel free to do so using the resources available through the “NLSA Media Downloads” button.