ACSI identifies and analyzes a broad array of national legal and legislative issues through its office in Washington, D.C. Dr. John Holmes, Director for Government Affairs, monitors issues of national concern. He also produces National Notes, which are emailed monthly to member schools with current information on pending congressional legislation, education reform, religious freedom, trends, and higher education. Members are urged to be proactive on legislative fronts that affect the Christian school movement and religious liberty, both nationally and internationally.

In Colorado Springs, Dr. Tom Cathey, ACSI’s Director for Legal/Legislative Issues, tracks legislation for all fifty states. Reports are generated for each state and are available under Legislative Tracking.

Sign Up Now! In today’s litigious society, Christian schools often find it necessary to defend themselves against expensive lawsuits, even when the accusations may be groundless or frivolous. For an annual fee of $195 (regardless of the number of employees in the school) ACSI will reimburse member schools up to $30,000 per year for legal defense costs arising out of employment related disputes and student related lawsuits. An explanation of the program, application to participate, and claim form are below. For further information call (719) 528-6906 x 135.

NEW for 2008-09 school year -- ACSI has expanded the program to include reimbursement of attorney fees of up to $500.00 for a participating member school to obtain legal advice for pre-litigation attorney consultations for threatened employment-related litigation. The exact per hour limit and other terms and conditions are contained in the LDRP Indemnity Agreement.

Legal/Legislative Update is produced at the Colorado office for member schools. It covers the latest news of interest to Christian school administrators and board members. The Administrators’ Notebook section features articles on effective school operation. Check the ACSI online store for a CD-ROM entitled, “The Best of Legal/Legislative Update,” containing more than 1,200 pages of material from the past fifteen years of this newsletter. All articles have been updated during 2006. This newsletter is a membership benefit and is not available by subscription.

A sample issue can be downloaded here.

National Notes is published eight times a year. The quick-read newsletter helps to keep Christian schools up-to-date on what’s happening on Capitol Hill and the Executive Branch agencies regarding education reform, freedom’s challenge, and colleges.

In today’s rigorous legal and regulatory climate, it is important for administrators and school board members to make sure that their schools are in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. Failure to do so could subject the individuals and their schools to fines, penalties, and adverse publicity. ACSI maintains a checklist to help schools to comply with the law.

Finances are an important part of operating a Christian school. Here’s the latest ACSI checklist for IRS and financial requirements for operating your school.

What policies and procedures does a school need to protect its financial integrity? Read the checklist for some good ideas.

U.S. House of Representatives:
http://www.house.gov/writerep/

U.S. Senate:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Use these hotlinks to contact your Congressional officials. All you have to do is enter your state and zip code to locate your U.S. Representative in the top hotlink. Use the bottom hotlink to locate your U.S. Senator. Both hotlinks will give you address and telephone contact information. You can also send email messages to these individuals through these hotlinks.

Tom Cathey also coordinates the ACSI Legal Defense Fund, which provides legal fees for selected cases and actions affecting ACSI member schools. Many member schools provide donations to this fund.

When contacting these individuals, it is helpful if you include your city, state, and daytime telephone number.

John C. Holmes, Ed.D. - Director, Government Affairs
2512 Parker Avenue · Wheaton, MD 20902
Phone: 301-933-7758 · Fax: 301-933-7759
 john_holmes@acsi.org

Thomas J. Cathey, Ed.D. - Director, Legal/Legislative Issues
PO Box 65130 · Colo Spgs, CO 80962-5130
Phone: 719-528-6906 · Fax: 719-531-0631
 tom_cathey@acsi.org