ISM has long recommended that a school’s mission statement be short, memorable, and distinctive—distinguishing the school from its public and private competition. The mission statement should be as much a marketing and public relations tool as a guide to internal decision-making. However, there is one other key, complementary document that helps define your school—a statement of philosophy.
The philosophy statement should be relatively long, written more for the educators on staff than for public consumption. More important, it should be based on the mission statement and be completely consistent with it. Developing this critical document requires a three-component approach: classification, creation of objectives, and a description of the school’s characteristics.
Classification should clarify why your school exists, state the ages or grade levels of the students served, identify the types of students and parents served, and note your school’s special commitments and service expectations. Many of these elements are often taken for granted or assumed at many schools, but detailing them in your philosophy statement will keep your staff on target and mindful of those they serve.
Objectives give perspective to the classification. Objectives both outline the expected development of students capacities, knowledge, character, and achievement in academic and other areas, as well as define your school’s approach to teaching and learning. Your Purpose and Outcome Statements will go far to help you concretize your objectives.
Characteristics consist of brief descriptions that illustrate how your school functions on a day-to-day basis. These are descriptions of the school’s social environment; its academic and cocurricular programs; and the typical attributes of the faculty, staff, and—in some cases—the parents. Focus on those characteristics that best and most accurately define your school and highlight its uniqueness.
A clear, comprehensive mission statement—coupled with a well-conceived philosophy statement—provides Trustees, the School Head, and others with written guidelines that enable all levels to be clear about the school’s raison d’être and the rationale for decisions, large and small. As Trustees, place strong emphasis on continual reference and responsiveness to these two documents.
Additional ISM resources:
ISM Monthly Update for Trustees Vol. 10 No. 6 Does Your Mission Need Review?
Additional ISM resources for Gold Consortium members:
I&P Vol. 37 No. 6 21st Century Schools: The ISM Advancement Model
