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TI Religious School Earns Outside Validation.........posted Jul 19, 2006

Tikvat Israel's religious school has successfully completed the Community Commendation Process under the auspices of the Partnership for Jewish Life and Learning (the new home of the Board of Jewish Education). Tikvat Israel is one of only 12 Jewish schools in the Washington, D.C., area to do so.

The Community Commendation Process means TI's religious school has been recognized in the larger community for its commitment to excellence. The commendation process certifies that the school underwent a thorough self-study to determine the strengths and needs of the school program to ensure that its mission statement is fulfilled for each student.

To earn commendation, TI undertook a comprehensive self-assessment over the 2005-06 school year, led by TI Education Director Sandy Levine. An internal committee examined every aspect of the school's programming, identifying areas of strength and weakness and planning changes to increase its ability to meet its goals. As part of this process, the educational team was introduced to a curriculum planning model called Understanding By Design endorsed by the Board of Jewish Education of Greater Washington.

A team of outside validators examined the school as to its eligibility for commendation. The validation team completed a careful review of the self-study results and studied the school's stated goals in relation to actual student achievement.

Jonathan Solomon, TI religious school co-chair, says he is delighted that TI has become a commended school. Said Solomon: "We are quite proud of the outstanding program provided by Mrs. Levine and the school staff. The commendation is gratifying as it provides external validation of the high quality of our instruction and programming. And I know Mrs. Levine will use the feedback we've received to make our school even better."

Also receiving commendation status in 2005-06 as part of TI's cohort were the following: Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation, Beth El Hebrew Congregation, Kehilat Shalom Congregation, Sha'are Shalom and Temple Micah.

During the first year of the program, these six local synagogues received commended status: Adat Reyim Congregation, Congregation Har Shalom, Oseh Shalom Congregation, Temple Beth Ami, Temple Emanuel and Temple Rodef Shalom.

The Covenant Foundation, the premier philanthropy in North America dedicated to innovation in Jewish education, supports the local validation program through a grant to the Board of Jewish Education of Greater Washington and its newly formed Partnership for Jewish Life and Learning.