THE MISSION STATEMENT

By Steven D. Bishopp—The BEST Company
sbishopp@orcalink.com

Some of this information was adapted from a report by the NASSP Council on Middle Level Education, "Developing a Mission Statement for the Middle Level School, 1985.¹

The mission statement is a powerful tool for school development. It is the compass by which everyone connected with the school assumes responsibility for the for the school’s ultimate direction. It is a guide for decisions by which to measure the schools progress toward a defined purpose. Without such a statement the mission of the Christian school can change over the years from what was originally envisioned. Dr. Derek J. Keenan, Vice President of Academic Affairs, Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) has stated "A school maintains its viability as an institution when its mission and purpose are clearly understood and supported by its constituency."² Indeed, all activities in the school, from growth management, curriculum development, to the athletic program are driven and guided by the mission statement compass of the school.

What is a Mission Statement?²

A mission is the special purpose established for a school. A mission is the shared vision of people in the school about what their ultimate purpose really is. To be effective the vision must be shared among teachers, administrators, board members, students and parents. It is something to which everyone is committed. With this commitment the mission statement become a powerful tool in planning, decision making, and evaluating.

Mission statements differ from philosophy statements, goal statements or the lists of objectives. The school’s educational philosophy tells what the people in the school believe about students, society, and how education is to affect the students. A mission statement uses these beliefs to establish an overall purpose for the school. Mission statements differ from goal statements because goals set rather specific directions.. On the other hand objectives are how we plan to accomplish goals.

Mission statements are short (preferably 25 words or less) and should be easy to remember. Displaying the mission statement wherever possible keeps the commitment in focus at all times.

How to Develop A Mission Statement

The mission statement is a shared vision and this fact makes I mandatory that the development process be open, deliberative, and include all of the school’s constituents. Suggested steps and guidelines in the process are listed here.

1. Identify the major groups connected with the school.
2. Appoint a committee to identify, from these groups, what they believe is the mission of the school..
3. Analyze and compile this preliminary data.
4. Develop a survey instrument from the data to determine major points of agreement among all involved.
5. Using the results of the survey draft a preliminary mission statement.
6. Solicit agreement on the draft statement.
7. Revise an prepare the final draft.
8. Seek final approval of the final draft.
9. Approval by the school board of the final draft.
10. Include the mission statement as part of the policy manual.
11. Disseminate the final draft to all interested parties and display in prominent places.

Obviously these steps contain many sub parts which require coordination and time if the mission statement is to be the foundation upon which the school is build. It should be built on solid rock not sinking sand. Matthew 7:24-27. BEST can provide the consultative services that make such tasks possible.

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1NASSP Council on Middle School Level Education, Developing a Mission Statement for the Middle School, 1904 Association Drive, Reston, Virginia 22091, 1987

²Lakeland Christian School. Admission Information, Lakeland, Florida, 1990

[Please be sure to visit Steve Bishopp's new website at http://www.csrnet.org/bestcompany --Dr. Mills]

Copyright © 1998 The BEST Company
This publication may be reprinted in any format without expressed written permission, but notification is appreciated. mailto:sbishopp@orcalink.com
This page was last updated on: March 19, 2001