Vision and Mission Statements
What We're Doing and Why

To create citizens of character by enriching the next generation with knowledge of the Bible.

Our Vision

To be the resource developer for biblical literacy in the Hamilton County public schools and consultant to other Tennessee public school districts serving as a model for the nation.

Our Mission

To enrich the next generation with the wisdom and knowledge of the Bible by developing curriculum, training, and financial resources for elective, for-credit courses in Bible history, using the Bible as the text, taught in a controlled curriculum by trained and certified middle and high school teachers, employed by the Hamilton County Department of Education.

To make available to others through a comprehensive web site the Chattanooga model, to link Bible in the Schools to other organizations with similar goals and to consult with individuals, sponsorship groups or school districts across the nation.

Strategic Themes

• The Opportunity for Every Student
  In order to serve the greater Hamilton County public middle and high school students, Bible in the Schools must initiate efforts to provide each student the opportunity to elect Bible history courses. Course scheduling and school elective offerings must not be limitations for students who desire to choose Bible history courses.
• The Excellence of All Courses
  In order to ensure curriculum quality and relevance, Bible in the Schools must initiate efforts to develop the highest quality academic environment. We must examine the implementation of the 1980 court-approved curriculum guide in partnership with the Hamilton County Department of Education’s “Strategic Plan 2011.” Course offerings need to reflect a diversity of reading literacy and biblical literacy levels. Additional course offerings need to be examined to expand students’ academic aptitude in Bible history.
• The Proficiency of Each Instructor
  In order to ensure that each student is taught by a trained and certified teacher, Bible in the Schools must provide the necessary resources so that every public middle school and high school student is academically challenged by proficient, and committed Bible history instructors.
• The Modeling of the Trust
  In order to fulfill the special trust that was given to Bible in the Schools and the Hamilton County area in 1922 and the legacy that has been enjoyed, Bible in the Schools must initiate efforts to represent the broadest, largest, community-supported Bible history program in the country.

Teachers are instructed to use only the language of the Bible and under no circumstances to engage in denominational controversy. Teachers are hired and employed by the Hamilton County Department of Education, and licensed by the State of Tennessee. The must have a minimum of 12 semester hours (or its equivalent) of Bible courses as part of their college or graduate school education.

Students

Approximately half of the students taking Bible have no prior biblical knowledge and a large percentage have never owned a Bible. Students enrolled mirror the makeup of each school.

Funding

Bible in the Schools is totally funded by gift support from individuals, churches, corporations and foundations. No tax dollars are used to fund the program.