Auerbach Central Agency for Jewish Education

Communal and Synagogue Schools

Movement Consultants

A Framework for Excellence for the Conservative Synagogue School

In August of 1999, a Blue Ribbon Task Force on Educational Standards was created by the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. For the first time in four decades, new standards were developed and accepted. These take into consideration the beliefs and needs of the movement, current knowledge about how people learn, and the 21st century demography of American Jews.

These new program of standards, called "A Framework for Excellence for the Conservative Synagogue School," will enable today’s congregations to study their educational programs, and refine them in ways that will add depth, flexibility, and increased quality to their schools. It is a very exciting development in Conservative education, and bears serious study by all those involved and interested in supplementary school learning. You can access this document at: http://www.uscj.org/Blue_Ribbon_Report6668.html.

There are three components to the Framework for Excellence.

The first, "Aims of the Conservative Synagogue School," is content specific, outlining goals for the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of a graduate from such a school. Although the aims are included in the full draft of the Framework, you can read them separately at http://www.uscj.org/Synagogue_Schools5107.html. should you choose. Examine the Aims carefully with your faculty, your Board of Education, your parents’ organization. Does your school reflect these themes and subjects? This document could well be used as the basis of a seminar on the core beliefs, attitudes, and practices of Conservative Judaism.

The second component is the section called "Benchmarks." These basic principles will guide all Conservative schools, and establish a framework for quality Jewish education. Each of these can and should be discussed, in terms of theory and of actual practice. These address such essential issues as:

Family Education
Addressing the Head, Hand, and Heart
Involvement of Rabbi and Hazzan
Ongoing Professional Development
Licensing and Credentials
Articulated Philosophy and Curriculum
Assessment
Education Committee
Coordination with Early Childhood and Adolescent Education

The third component is "The Choice of a Model." Six different models are presented for the structure of a Conservative Synagogue School. They are not hierarchical. They do not reflect more or less preferred positions, or more or less serious positions on Jewish education. Rather, they enable each synagogue, with its own demographics, and its own philosophy and interests, within the range of Conservative Judaism, to develop a program which uniquely and effectively meets its needs. Although the number of hours in program, and how those hours are spend may differ, each is a serious plan with much to recommend it. This section certainly should be studied and explored, as it will be an essential guide Synagogue Schools in future planning.

And while you are accessing the Framework for Excellence, remember to browse the United Synagogue for Conservative Judaism site for other opportunities to learn and grow — http://www.uscj.org/index1.html.