Administrative Books for Starting Christian Schools | Starting a Christian School

General

Butler, J. Donald. Religious Education: The Foundations and Practice of Nurture. Harper & Row, 1962.

Deuink, James, ed. A Fresh Look at Christian Education. BJU Press, 1988. (out of print)

This is a collection of timely essays that will benefit both administrators and teachers. The essays cover topics such as accreditation, standardized testing, the teaching of values, and the inconsistencies of humanism.

Deuink, James, ed. Preparing Schools for the Twenty-first Century. BJU Press, 1991. (out of print)

Contains essays by Christian educators on such topics as standards, objectives, finances, the family, government, sex education, and computers. The essays view the status quo as well as the future of Christian education from a scriptural perspective.

Deuink, James, ed. Some  Light on Christian Education. BJU Press, 1984.

Consists of a collection of key articles of interest and value for everyone in Christian education.Topics include sports, leadership, curriculum, philosophy, staff, and textbooks.

Ediger, Walter  O. The Quest for Excellence in ChristianSchool Education. RPA Associates, 1993.

Gaebelein, Frank E. Christian Education in a Democracy. ACSI, 1995.

Gaebelein, Frank E. The Pattern of God’s Truth. BMHC Press, 1985.

Graendorf, W. C. Introduction to Biblical Christian Education. Moody, 1981.

Greene, Albert. Reclaiming the Future of Christian Education. Purposeful Design, 2003.

Horton, Ronald. Handbook of Christian Education BJU Press, 2017.

The premises of Christian education are sincerely held and self-consistent, for they are convictions based on the facts and principles of Scripture. Rooted in the infallible, supernaturally revealed truth of God.

The philosophy statements in this series are concise statements of the biblical basis for Christian education generally and for individual disciplines specifically. The series includes the foundational statements—The Christian Philosophy of Education, Christian Teaching and Learning, Christian Educational Methods—and the specialized statements on the Christian teaching of art, Bible, business, English, history, home economics, math, music, physical education, science, and speech. These statements are conveniently gathered into one volume, Handbook of Christian Education.

Kienel, Paul A. Christian School: Why It Is Right for Your Child. HarperCollins College Div., 1974.

Lebar, Lois E. Education That Is Christian. David C. Cook, 2000.

This is a classic bestseller with fresh insights from James E. Plueddemann. This book focuses on distinctively Christian ways for educating for the purpose of enabling persons to know God. The author examines the teaching methods of Jesus and insights from other parts of the Scriptures. This book addresses the use of the Bible in teaching, the teaching-learning process, authority and creativity, and structuring the curriculum. It also discusses patterns for education and the interaction between the human teacher and the divine teacher. At the end of each unit there is a section called "Implications and Questions for Group Discussion" that transform this book into a wonderful tool for any form of Christian Education teacher training classes. This book is foundational to anyone involved in Christian education in any form—at home, in schools, or in churches.

McLachlan, Douglas, and Les Ollila. Reclaiming Authentic Fundamentalism. AACS, 1993.

Perks, Stephen C. Christian Philosophy of Education Explained. Avant, 1992.

Peshkin, Alan. God’s Choice: The Total World of a Fundamentalist Christian School. U of Chicago Press, 1988.

Schultz, Glen. Kingdom Education: God’s Plan for Educating Future Generations. LifeWay Press, 1998.

Stormer, John A. None Dare Call It Education. Liberty Bell Press, 1999.

Weeks, Noel. The Christian School: An Introduction. Banner of Truth, 1988.

Wilson, Douglas. Excused Absence: Should Christian Kids Leave the Public Schools? Cannon Press, 2001.

Wilson, Douglas. Repairing the Ruins: The Classical and Christian Challenge to Modern Education. Cannon Press, 1996

Administration/Board

Boardsource. The Nonprofit Board Answer Book. A Practical Guide for Board Members and Chief Executives. Jossey-Bass, 2007.

Brown, Gordon B. Guiding Faculty to Excellence: Instructional Supervision in the Christian School. Purposeful Design, 2002.

Carver, John. Empowering Boards for Leadership. Jossey-Bass, 1992. (2 hour audio recording)

Carver, John and Miriam. The CEO Role Under Policy Governance. Jossey-Bass, 1997.

Carver, John and Miriam. Reinventing Your Board. Jossey-Bass, 2006.

Demuth, Dennis M. and Carol. Christian School Administration: Management Guide. Del Publications, 2005.

Gangel, Kenneth O. Leadership for Church Education. Moody, 1971.

Gangel, Kenneth O. Team Leadership in ChristianMinistry. Moody, 1997.

Johnson, Eric. Evaluating the Performance of Trustees and School Heads. National Association of Independent Schools, 1986.

A guide to evaluation as a bridge to effective board-head relations and to showing people how to perform at their best.

Assessment

Deuink, James. The Proper Use of Standardized Tests. BJU Press, 1986.

Standardized tests provide a means of academic measurement. This booklet explains the reports from commonly used standardized tests and takes a look at the common criticisms, problems, and uses of tests.

Christian Discipleship/Counseling

Berg, Jim. Changed into His Image. BJU Press, 1999.

Knowing God and understanding His ways bring about the growth God expects in His children.Through clear biblical teaching and practical examples, Jim Berg teaches how to build an intimateand completely satisfying relationship with God through exposure to God Himself.

Berg, Jim. Changed into His Image, Student Edition. BJU Press,  2000.

This special student edition combines a shortened and simplified text of Changed into His Image, with the interactivity of a workbook. It is set up for the student to cover each chapter of the book in a week. Each week is broken down into five days of devotional reading and questions for each chapter. Special instructions are provided at the end of the book for its use in small groups of individual discipleship. This interactive student text is great for teens or new Christians.

Berg, Jim. Taking Time to Change. Interactive Study Guide. BJU Press, 1999.

A 13-week study that leads you into a more intimate fellowship with God—the heart of biblical change. Each week's study unit will guide you into daily activities that will help you apply to your life the truths taught in Changed into His Image.

Curriculum

Clem, Stephen C., and Z. Vance Wilson. Paths to a New Curriculum. National Association of Independent Schools, 1991.

This handbook offers a model process for evaluation and review of curriculum. Its approach is flexible enough to allow for different kinds of schools, and stresses collaborative decision making. Thoughtful curriculum review can reap enormous benefits. Students are better educated—and the school is better able to differentiate itself from other choices available to parents.

Steensma, Geraldine J., and Harrow Van Brummelen, eds. Shaping School Curriculum: A Biblical View. Signal, 1977.

Van Brummelen, Harro. Stepping Stones to Curriculum. Alta Vista College Press, 2000.

Financial Issues

Aitken, H. Peter. Access and Affordability: Strategic Planning Perspective for Independent Schools. National Association of Independent Schools, 1994.

Colson, Helen A. Philanthropy at Independent Schools. National Association of Independent Schools, 2002.

Newly revised and expanded, this just-released NAIS book covers fund raising for independent schools' heads, development directors, and trustees. For school heads, the book serves broadly as a backgrounder on gifts and knowing what it is-and is not-the head's fund raising duties. For school development directors, the book offers detailed guidance:

• No-surprises techniques to make trustees better fund raisers
• Segmenting and scheduling the annual fund
• The nuts and bolts of capital campaigns
• Step-by-step advice on starting (and finding time for) a promising program
• Why major gifts must be a top priority-and how to manage it

For trustees, the book offers advice on the board's role in developing fundraising, including development of committee job descriptions, responsibilities of independent school trustees, involving trustees in capital campaign, and ensuring board quality and effectiveness. This updated version offers a new chapter on policies and guides to gift valuation and planned giving and endowment policies. Plus, it is full of sample development and campaign plans, gift tables, budgeting, and gift-acceptance policies.

Edles, L. Peter. Fund Raising: Hands-on Tactics for Nonprofit Groups, McGraw-Hill, 2005.

Keegan, P. Burke. Fundraising for Nonprofits: How to Build a Community Partnership. Harper Collins, 1994.

McCamy, Ann C. Financial Priorities: “Straight Talk” to School Leaders. LifeWay Christian School Resources, 1999.

Legal Issues

Demuth, Dennis M. and Carol. Legal Requirements for Christian Schools: Legal Check up for Christian Schools. Del Publications, 1993.

Use this text to conduct a legal health checkup of your school. Three units provide information for Christian educators on legal considerations in establishing a school, preparing to open the school, and in operating the school. Over 1500 Christian schools are using this text to help reduce legal risks.

Marketing/Business Management

Grace, Catherine O’Neill. Marketing Independent Schools for the 21st Century. National Association of Independent Schools, 2001.

This book, written for independent schools, offers insight and practical tips on how to adopt good marketing principles at your school to help you face some of today’s many challenges, including economic and demographic shifts and a consumer-driven market. Chapters cover the mission and principles of marketing, the value of market research, defining your school’s image, tackling affordability issues, internal marketing, and web marketing tools and tactics.

Kaull, James, ed. Business Management for Independent Schools. National Association of Independent Schools, 1997.

Chapters in this updated manual examine internal controls, endowment management, uniform accounting procedures, understandable financial reporting, managerial uses of accounting data, budgeting, cash management, financial planning, computerization, physical plant management, and records retention.

Middle Schools

Finks, Harry. Middle School Handbook. National Association of Independent Schools, 1989.

The special role and function of the middle school and middle school educators as they work with early adolescents and their parents. It also deals with middle school issues and curriculum.

Parent Relations

Whitaker, Todd, and Douglas J. Fiore. Dealing with Difficult Parents and with Parents in Difficult Situations. Eye on Education, 2001.

Written for teachers, school administrators, and other educators. It helps you work with the most challenging parents in the most challenging situations. It shows you how to:

• Avoid the "trigger" words that serve only to make bad situations worse
• Deal with parents who accuse you of not being "fair"
• Build positive relationships with even the most challenging parents

Recruitment

Demuth, Dennis M. and Carol. Recruiting Strategies for Christian Schools: How to Recruit and Retain Students. Del Publications, 1992.

A practical guide to recruiting and retaining quality students. This book contains over 250 pages of proven strategies used in building student enrollment. The best recruiting tool is a strong Christian school. When used in conjunction with Christian Schools: How To Get a School Going and Keep It Growing, every school can have quality programs that maximize enrollment.

Teaching

Braley, James. Classroom Perspectives: Teachers Committed to Excellence. LifeWay Christian School Resources, 2000.

Berry, Sharon. Classroom Perspectives: Strategies for Classroom Management. LifeWay Christian School Resources, 2000.