Objectives of the Association

The Objectives of the SSDS Association are:

  1. To develop and expand Judaic and General Studies curricula, materials and other education programs in the pursuit of excellence in all aspects of schooling.
  2. To promote the love of, and learning of, Hebrew in both its modern, spoken and literary forms, and as a means for accessing the sacred texts of the Jewish people.
  3. To encourage its Affiliates to provide the highest standards in General Studies in conformity with state/province and local laws.
  4. To encourage its Affiliates to develop in their students good citizenship with respect to the country in which the Day School is located.
  5. To encourage its Affiliates to nurture in their students an identity with k’lal Yisrael – the Jewish people – past and present, local and throughout the world.
  6. To encourage its Affiliates to develop in its students a commitment to Israel as the historical and spiritual home of the Jewish people and to the State of Israel.
  7. To create and to provide – using all manner of communication, tools and training – the opportunities and data to enhance:
    • an awareness of the vision and the mission of the Solomon Schechter Day Schools;
    • the knowledge, skills and awareness of lay leaders and professionals in matters of governance;
    • the knowledge, skills and awareness of professionals in matters of education;
    • the opportunities for our schools to share and to learn from one another;
    • and an awareness of best practices in both professional and lay areas of responsibility.
  8. To encourage and assist member schools in the development of family education.
  9. To advocate for cooperative efforts among individualsand interested groups for the establishment of additional Conservative/Masorti schools worldwide.
  10. To advocate with all of the arms of the Conservative Movement to foster Solomon Schechter Day School education.
  11. To represent the interests of the association to, and to partner with, foundations, associations, commissions, professional schools and granting/accrediting agencies to enhance the effectiveness of Solomon Schechter Day Schools.
  12. To encourage participation by its Affiliates in the Association and in its work.

The SSDS Association links the Solomon Schechter Day Schools to a number of national organizations, such as the Partnership for Excellence in Jewish Education (PEJE), Jewish Educational Services of North America (JESNA), the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), BoardSource, Independent School Management (ISM), and the Council for American Private Education (CAPE).