Ken Smitherman, President, Association of Christian Schools International (retired 2009)
Guiding Principles That Enable Christian Schooling
I will never cease to take the opportunity to commend families who make the extraordinary sacrifice to enroll their child(ren) in a Christian school. This is no insignificant effort when in many parts of the world there exists the option of enrolling children in the local government school system—usually at little or no cost. The Christian schooling choice can be a costly one and may require some reprioritizing of family spending.
There exists a relatively broad array of Christian schools, most often distinguished by their admission standards and sponsorship, and ranging from church sponsored to independent. The common thread running through Christian schools worldwide is a Bible-centered foundation that focuses on teaching from a Christian worldview. More than 5,000 of these identified Christian schools have chosen to be a part of the Association of Christian Schools International, an association whose mission is to enable Christian educators and schools worldwide.
The Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) operates within a set of guiding principles or core values that drive and determine our enabling mission. It is in this context that our Association is committed to serving and strengthening the Christian school in which your students are enrolled. We are committed to these values, and on them we base our programs and services to your school and the more than 5,000 others that we serve around the world.
ACSI’s Core Values
We believe that:
- Biblical Philosophy A thoroughly biblical philosophy of education should be implemented in Christian schools in all cultural contexts.
- Critical Thinking Students should learn how to process information and think critically in the context of a biblical worldview.
- Parental Education Responsibility Parents have the primary responsibility for the education of their children; the school serves the Christian home.
- Bible as a Core Subject The teaching of Bible as a core subject is essential to the academic curriculum.
- Academic Excellence Schools should be committed to academic excellence, maximizing each student’s potential.
- Professional Development Professional resources and training are vital for the development and growth of Christian educators and schools. Volume 33, Number 9 A Publication of the Association of Christian Schools International
- The Great Commission Students and educators in Christian schools worldwide should be involved in fulfilling the Great Commission.
- Biblical Integration The biblical integration of every planned learning experience is crucial to effective Christian schooling.
- Educational Choice The opportunity for Christian schooling should be accessible to families as a means of evangelizing, nurturing, and discipling students for a life of service to God and society.
- School Improvement Christian schools should be involved in a plan of consistent evaluation and assessment for continuous improvement.
- Nondiscrimination The teaching/learning process in Christian schools should reflect a Christlike sensitivity, relevant to a diverse school community.
- Networking The ministry of Christian schooling can best be accomplished through cooperation with other appropriate individuals, agencies, and organizations in providing programs, materials, and services.
It is our vision that your children will acquire wisdom, knowledge, and a biblical worldview as evidenced by a lifestyle of character, leadership, service, stewardship, and worship. Your choice of Christian schooling is a significant element in bringing that vision to reality.
Guiding Principles That Enable Christian Schooling 33.9