FCCPSA Standards

Florida Coalition of Christian Private Schools Association, Inc. (FCCPSA) is an accrediting agency for faith-based schools that are in agreement with and daily uphold in practice our statement of faith, vision and mission.

Our ultimate standards are the Bible and our relationship to Christ. All courses taught by FCCPSA accredited schools will reflect a Biblical world view and Christian principles, as outlined in the scriptures, including (but not limited to) those outlined in our statement of faith. This applies to all students regardless of grade level.

FCCPSA is a Christian organization that adheres to the conviction that God has ordained that parents are responsible for the education of their children. Institutions can only derive authority to assist in that education when individual parents delegate it to them. FCCPSA schools do not attempt to replace a parent’s role, but, rather, serve as partners with the parents as they seek to do God’s will in the education of each child. Deuteronomy 6:5-7

We believe that God has given every family member a purpose. From janitor to doctor, all vocations are honorable. Education for the Christian consists of two parts: academic training, that the children may become responsible and productive adults in society, and spiritual training, that they may become effective stewards of God’s Word. FCCPSA desires to equip traditional and non-traditional Christian schools, with the tools necessary to carry out their administrative responsibilities maintaining high academic standards and providing a place where families and children can fulfill the purpose that God has set before them. Proverbs 22:5-7

Overview of Accreditation Standards

FCCPSA is committed to supporting quality Christian education in both traditional and non-traditional school settings. Each school accredited by FCCPSA is required to maintain a high level of integrity and accountability.

Standard I	Vision, & Mission
Standard II	Corporate Structure, Business, Facility & Transportation
Standard III	Faculty and Staff, Employment & Qualifications
Standard IV	Administration: Communication, Enrollment, & Health and Safety
Standard V	Academic Quality: Curriculum, Evaluating Progress, & Records
Standard VI	High School: Planning, Graduation, & Diplomas

The Accreditation Process

Private schools must be a member in good standing with FCCPSA for one school year before applying for accreditation. After application is made, schools will be required to provide detailed information concerning their school’s policies and procedures. A thorough evaluation is made to ensure that the standards of FCCPSA are being upheld in every aspect of the school. The process culminates in an on-­‐site visit and final appraisal. Schools are re-inspected and evaluated every three years.

Standard I   Vision and Mission

“Where there is no vision, the people perish”... Proverbs 29:18

All FCCPSA accredited schools will:

• Have written Vision and Mission Statements.
• Demonstrate clearly how the vision and mission statement is carried out.
• Have the vision and mission of the school reflected in its policies and frameworks.
• Maintain an authority structure and educational philosophy that represents and supports the vision statement of the school.
• Have vision and mission statements that are consistent with the FCCPSA Statement of Faith.

Standard II   Corporate Structure, Business, Facility, and Transportation

Matthew 7:24-25 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the Rock; and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the Rock.”

Corporate Structure

All FCCPSA accredited schools:

• Will be incorporated under either Florida Statute 607, 617, 623, or be a ministry of an established parent church.
• Will clearly establish the authority structure of the corporation and define the relationship of the administrators to the board.
  • If under a church, the oversight of the church leadership must be clearly defined in their bylaws.

Business

All FCCPSA accredited schools will:

• Meet ALL requirements of federal, state, county and city regulations and laws that pertain to them, including their operations and services.
  • It is the school leadership’s responsibility to determine what is required of them as a school. FCCPSA will not be held responsible for schools that are not in compliance with the laws & regulations that govern their organization. Upon finding that a school is not in compliance with the laws and regulations governing them, their accreditation will be forfeited.

Concerning finances, all FCCPSA accredited schools will:

• Show that they operate an adequate accounting system.
• Qualify to meet FCCPSA’s approval in all of their financial practices.
  • If your school’s budget exceeds $250,000 annually OR you receive any state or federal money you MUST have a certified CPA review your records and submit a letter to the office of FCCPSA stating that your financial or accounting system is adequate.
  • If your school’s budget is under $250,000 annually you must submit your tax return once every 3 years to the office of FCCPSA
  • If a school receives public money, they must meet all the rules of the state, which govern those funds.

Facility

All FCCPSA accredited schools will:

• Provide for the security, protection, health and well-being of all students, employees, properties etc.
• Provide adequate room (square footage), storage, lighting, ventilation, restroom facilities, and properly sized furniture for the students and staff.
• Properly maintain their facilities keeping all portions of the buildings, grounds and equipment in safe and sanitary working condition.
• Demonstrate that fire, radon, evacuation etc. policies are in place.
• Document that the school upholds all federal, state, and local laws and regulations concerning the facility, its grounds and equipment.

Transportation

All FCCPSA accredited schools that provide transportation will:

• Have the safety and well-being of the students as their primary objective.
• Keep all vehicles in safe mechanical working order at all times.
• Require transportation personnel to have and maintain a clean driving record, be properly insured, trained and have the appropriate licensing.

Standard III   Faculty/Staff, Employment, and Qualifications

1st Timothy 5:18 “For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle the ox while it treads out the grain.” And, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” 2nd Timothy 2:15 “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Faculty and Staff

FCCPSA accredited schools will hire:

• Adequate numbers of faculty and staff members to cover all facets of school operation and assure the safety and well being of every student and employee.
• Employees and staff members that reflect and uphold the mission, values, standards and goals of the school and of FCCPSA.

Employment

FCCPSA accredited schools will hire employees and staff members that:

• Present documentation of employment qualifications, submitting a resume and participating in the interview process.
• Pass a Level I security clearance by being fingerprinted with the local sheriff’s department.
• Maintain credibility, quality, and a professional attitude in the school.
• Present themselves appropriately always maintaining a safe atmosphere that honors the parents and glorifies God.
• Participate in in-house training for: fire safety procedures, first aid instruction, child abuse/neglect recognition policies, health, sanitation etc.

Qualifications

All FCCPSA accredited schools will:

• Hire qualified employees and staff members with the appropriate skills and qualifications to perform their duties with excellence
• Require documentation of qualifications for employment with the school.
• Provide appropriate training throughout the year as it pertains to the principles, policies and standards of the school for all faculty and staff members.
• Require faculty and staff members to adhere to a written code of conduct that reflects Christian principles both on and off campus.
• Require faculty and staff to obtain necessary and appropriate ongoing training and continue professional development in the areas of academics, technology, health, safety etc.

Standard IV   Administration: Communication, Enrollment, & Health and Safety

James 5:12b “But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’, and your ‘No,’ ‘No… 1st Timothy 5:21 “I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality.” 1st Peter 2:13-14a “Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake whether to the king as supreme, or to the governors, as to those who are sent by him...

Communication

All FCCPSA accredited schools will:

• Make clear and concise communication a key element.
• Communicate their policies and standards (requirements, deadlines, discipline/conduct etc.) with parents, students, faculty and staff by all appropriate means available including meetings, email, writing, phone, publications and web based networking.
• Provide faculty, staff and parents with ongoing training concerning the importance of meaningful communication.
• Make available in writing to all faculty, staff, parents and students all policies, procedures, regulations and requirements in the form of various manuals
• Present all forms of communication in a Christ-like and professional manner.

Enrollment

All FCCPSA schools will:

• Verify that all policies concerning enrollment reflect the school’s vision and mission.
• Clearly outline and communicate all policies, steps, requirements and deadlines concerning the enrollment process.
• Require that all candidates for enrollment accept and abide by the school’s philosophies, standards policies and rules.
• Establish standards for good standing status that verify a family has met all financial, attendance, academic and conduct requirements.
• Require that families be in good standing to remain enrolled or be re-enrolled.
• Clearly communication their policies for dismissal and reinstatement.

Health and Safety

All FCCPSA accredited schools will:

• Set the health, safety and well being of each student as a priority of each school.
• Implement policies for health and safety that are approved by FCCPSA and meet all federal, state and local regulations.
• Provide for the supervision of students on campus and at no time will students be left unsupervised.
• Have practical working policies addressing outside threats whether it is a person, potential weather disaster or environmental issues providing a zone of safety for all students, faculty and staff.

Standard V   Academic Quality: Curriculum, Evaluating Progress, & Records

2nd Timothy 2:15 “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 1st Corinthians 3:11-13 “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work of what sort it is.

Academic Quality: Curriculum

All FCCPSA accredited schools will:

• Prepare a yearly academic plan/program for each student to be approved prior to the beginning of the school year with the goal of fulfilling each student’s purpose/goals.
• Choose curriculum that is comprehensive and approved by the school and FCCPSA.
• Select curriculum that meets or exceeds the Florida Sunshine Standards.
• Verify that the implementation of the curriculum supports a Christian worldview and supports the school’s Statement of Faith, vision and mission.

Academic Quality: Evaluating Progress

All FCCPSA accredited schools will:

• Clearly define, communicate and validate the process for reporting and evaluating student progress.
• Require students to earn a percentage grade of 70% or higher in core courses to be considered proficient and eligible for promotion and/or graduation.
• Establish policies that clearly define and identify when a student or teacher is substandard and a plan of action to bring the student or teacher up to acceptable standards.
• Issue periodic progress reports and/or grade cards.
• Demonstrate that the progress and proficiency of the student is reflected accurately in the grading system.
• Utilize such tools as, standardized testing, national testing, assessments, and evaluations to determine overall mastery.

Records

All FCCPSA accredited schools will:

• Maintain all records in a safe, secure, confidential and professional manner.
• Verify that all records maintained meet state, local agency, FCCPSA and accreditation requirements.
• Have policies for the receiving, copying, and transferring of school records that meets FCCPSA approval.
• Adhere to attendance policies that meet state standards.

Standard VI   High School: Planning, Graduation, & Diplomas

Philippians 3:14 “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” 2nd Timothy 4:7 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

High School: Planning

All FCCPSA accredited schools will:

• Have an approved 5-yr academic plan leading to high school graduation beginning in 8th grade.
• Implement this 5-yr plan developed individually with the goal of seeing each student fulfill his or her purpose.
• Clearly articulate and communicate this graduation plan to each student/family.
• Provide the proper guidance and assistance in developing the academic course of study for each student.
• Provide guidance and information for college/trade school entrance including application assistance and scholarship information.
• Provide information and assistance to families concerning college entrance tests (SAT, ACT etc.).

High School: Graduation & Diplomas

All FCCPSA accredited schools will:

• Present graduation requirements and standards that meet or exceed the state requirements and are approved by FCCPSA.
• Develop diploma criteria that is approved by FCCPSA
• Provide a quality transcript that is approved and accepted by FCCPSA.
• Require all high school credits, including transferred credits, be earned with a grade of 70% (C) or higher.
• Provide a variety of opportunities for students to prepare them for college and career. (These would include but not be limited to a college prep program, work-study, apprenticeship and/or technical program.)