Welcome to Stories
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Schools are inevitably faced with the task of selecting a curriculum, whether they are a new school just starting out or an established school looking to update their current curriculum.
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We asked ACSI Exemplary Accredited educators who serve in the school library what they love most about their role in Christian education. Here's what they shared.
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Through Sevenstar Academy, students like Max can take classes ahead of schedule if they’re able, such as his high-school-level Chinese class. Plus, he can eventually earn a U.S. high school diploma even while in China.
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Michael McNabb swore he was not going to be a teacher. As a young man, he planned to get a science education and work in the oil industry near his home city of Houston. What he didn’t plan on was the tug toward ministry he began to feel when he went away to college.
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It can happen at any school: the staff is hired for the next year, the curriculum established, the textbooks purchased... but are there new families? If parents of potential new students don’t hear about the school, enrollment will inevitably reflect it. So how can Christian schools get the word out?
Featured Event
Rooted Educator Worldview Summit
This June, ACSI and the Colson Center are partnering together for an educators "worldview summit" to discuss how to more effectively engage students in the spiritual formation journey and help develop deeper roots in the flourishing soil of a biblical worldview. Join June 24-26 for the Rooted Educator Worldview Summit in Black Mountain, NC.
Blog
Building Life-long Resilience: The Social-Emotional Skills Connection
Kathy Howard |
April 16, 2024
When I was growing up, difficult things didn’t scare me. Life was simple, and I was content with what we had. I felt loved and valued at home, which reflected positively in my relationships and academic efforts. Many colleagues of my generation had similar experiences in their youth.
Podcast
Student Leadership & Learning Ep 4: Student Leadership Development - It Matters
Emily Pigott | April 15, 2024
A graduate of a Christian high school in Miami, Catherine Dorcinvil joins Emily Pigott to reflect on the positive impact of teachers and leadership development.
Stay Informed on ACSI's Events and Resources
President's Office
“I can think of no greater cause than to partner with you to advance Christ-centered education.” Dr. Larry Taylor, ACSI President & CEO
Dr. Taylor has been serving in education for over 30 years. He is passionate about training up this generation of disciples for Jesus Christ through Christian education.
Prior to accepting the President position at ACSI, Dr. Larry Taylor served twenty years as the Head of School at Prestonwood Christian Academy (PCA) in Plano, Texas. Prestonwood Christian Academy serves more than 1,600 students enrolled at four campuses as part of its school system.
Click the link below to read more.
ACSI's Mission
ACSI exists to strengthen Christian schools and equip Christian educators worldwide as they prepare students academically and inspire them to become devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
ACSI's Foundational 3 Pillars
Advancing
Leading Christ-centered education toward excellence and flourishing
We want all schools to aspire to, achieve, and remain committed to a biblically-based philosophy of education, standards that are measurable, and flourishing-related criteria. ACSI strives to lead, support, and serve Christian schools, and educators, by placing them on a path of growth and flourishing using the research-based Flourishing Schools Initiative. This model should link leadership and faculty professional development accreditation, and every culture-driving component of a school. A common philosophy, and a flourishing-based metric, would unify our efforts of advancing Christian schools and educators.
Access
Making Christ-centered education available and obtainable
ACSI is committed to making Kingdom education available to as many children and families as desire it, believing that such an education offers students an opportunity to grow in a loving relationship with their Creator, come to know His saving work through Jesus, and flourish in His Ephesians 2:10 calling for their lives. This commitment requires removing barriers to access for those who traditionally have not benefited from Christian school, as well as seeking out new ways to create access points to Kingdom education and the ability to thrive and be successful in that education—for all those who desire it.
Advocacy
Promoting and protecting Christ-centered education for today and tomorrow
As the largest evangelical Christian school association in the world, ACSI is by default viewed as the spokesperson for Christian schooling in the public square. In order to discharge this responsibility with excellence and seasoned speech (Colossians 4:6), and to equip our member schools to do the same, ACSI must invest in developing public-facing resources and forming strategic relationships with those working in the area of advocacy for Christian Education and for religious liberty.
Stay Connected to ACSI
The ACSI Community online forum exists to provide connection, collaboration, and networking with Christ-centered education advocates, educators, and influencers in a protected online environment.
ACSI Community offers Christian educators opportunities to Connect, Collaborate, Compel, Captivate, and Comprehend. Join thousands of like-minded education professionals around to globe to grow in knowledge, sharpen skills, and deepen your faith, in a safe, authentic virtual environment.
ACSI provide helpful tools for you to find the next position God has for you through a resume review search and career planning portal. You can also discover ACSI positions.
Thinking about serving internationally? PFO2Go will provide the confidence to enter a new culture in which to both work and live outside the United States. Also, don’t miss the International Schools Job Fair.
New Book by Association of Christian Schools International and Cardus Reveals Roadmap to Financial Sustainability for Christian Schools
Colorado Springs, Colo.– The Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) and Cardus have partnered to release a timely new book sharing research on how Christian schools are adapting to and embracing change as they advance the mission of Christian education. Chronicling the stories of 11 Christian schools and networks across the U.S., “Future Ready: Innovative Missions and Models in Christian Education” identifies innovative structures and strategies to support long-term mission attainment and overall school health.
The publication is a collaboration by authors Dr. Lynn E. Swaner, Dr. Jon Eckert, Erik Ellefsen and Dr. Matthew H. Lee.
According to Swaner, ACSI Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer and Cardus Senior Fellow, the release of this resource comes at an opportune time.
“It has perhaps never been more imperative that Christian schools embrace a fundamental mindset change around what it means to sustain their missions into the future,” she shared. “The stories of the 11 Christian schools and networks our team researched will inspire school leaders with new ideas and approaches to address the myriad of challenges and new opportunities facing their schools.”
Some of the innovative structures and strategies explored in the study include school mergers, online academies, microschools, Christian school districts, entrepreneurship and facilities leasing, and leveraging school choice programs.
David Hunt, Cardus Education Program Director, shared, "The most common questions I hear from Christian school leaders are around financial challenges, like how to make up for lost revenue from the drop in international student enrolment since 2020. But I also get questions about changing school models, hybrid schools, and finding ways to come alongside homeschool families,” he said. “In ‘Future Ready,’ you'll read about what 11 exemplary Christian schools have done – and are doing right now– to overcome challenges similar to yours. Every Christian school leader will benefit from Future Ready's fresh, creative insights."
‘Future Ready’ is already receiving recognition from thought leaders across the globe.
Dr. Ashley Berner, Director at Johns Hopkins Institute for Education Policy, shared that “the scholars who crafted this book bring substantial research credibility and practical wisdom to their study of the future of Christian schools. They challenge leaders to broaden their outreach to historically underserved young people, build cultures of opportunity and innovation, and sustain the mission of Christian schooling while exploring new models. ‘Future Ready’ should be required reading for Christian school leaders and their boards.”
Dr. Jay Ferguson, ACSI Board Chair and Head of School at Grace Community School in Tyler, Texas, explained, “Christian schools are developing novel, creative business strategies that can serve as a guiding beacon to all. ‘Future Ready’ gathers top minds in Christian school research to unpack these innovations, drawing out themes and ideas that can assist all leaders in designing new models for their own schools’ future viability.”
Swaner anticipates the release will serve as a much-needed roadmap to sustainability for Christian schools.
“Encouraging our school leaders to think innovatively about how we accomplish our mission of discipling the next generation is very important,” she shared. “We want to equip leaders so that Christian education continues influencing our culture far into the future.”
The book will be available for purchase on ACSI’s Purposeful Design website in print or Ebook format in November 2022. A free excerpt of the book is available now at https://www.acsi.org/futureready.
About ACSI:
Headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, ACSI exists to strengthen Christian schools and equip Christian educators worldwide as they prepare students academically and inspire them to become devoted followers of Jesus Christ. ACSI advances excellence in Christian schools by enhancing the professional and personal development of Christian educators and providing vital support functions for Christian schools through multiple services including teacher and administrator certification, school accreditation, legal/legislative assistance, and curriculum publishing. ACSI supports more than 5,000 member schools throughout the United States and around the world, which collectively serve approximately 1.2 million students. Through additional training programs, materials, and expertise provided to other educational groups worldwide, ACSI’s overall influence and positive impact reaches more than 26,000 schools operating in 100 countries, together serving 5.5 million people.
Follow ACSI on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Linkedin | Instagram
About Cardus:
Cardus is a Christian, non-partisan, not-for-profit public policy think tank focused on the following areas: education, family, work & economics, communities, end-of-life care, and religious freedom. Cardus conducts independent and original research, produces several periodicals, and regularly stages events with Senior Fellows and interested constituents across Canada and the U.S. Their work in education involves original research and policy studies on educational pluralism, excellence in education, and graduate outcomes.
To learn more about Cardus, please visit www.cardus.ca. You can follow Cardus on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
Strategic Partners
ACSI proudly presents the Strategic Partnership Program, which includes companies, organizations, and ministries who have been carefully chosen to benefit you—our member schools—and to assist you in accomplishing your life-changing mission.
