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When St. Augustine Preparatory Academy (Aug Prep) broke ground in Milwaukee almost a decade ago, two worlds collided. The school’s intended location was an “industrial dumping ground,” says Kelsey Brenn, one of the school’s founding members. The property had a number of worn-down buildings, one of which became the new Aug Prep central office: a small yellow house infested with raccoons. “We saw promise there, and God saw promise there,” Brenn said.
We asked Dr. Os Guinness, renowned author, theologian, and speaker at ACSI's Public Policy & Advocacy Summit, some poignant questions about the upcoming documentary, "Truth Rising," and the importance of public policy.
When the hard-working students of Ambassador Christian Academy (ACA) wanted to expand their STEM horizons, they didn’t schedule a field trip to a local science and technology museum. No, they scheduled flights and flew across the country from New Jersey to Phoenix, Arizona, in March 2025 to compete in the International Christian Stem Competition (ICSC) at Grand Canyon University. Much more than a field trip, the entire experience enabled hands-on learning and personal growth from beginning to end.
Dr. Debbie MacCullough, ACSI’s Senior Director of School Improvement, recently shared her insights about the revised edition of the book “Undivided.” “Undivided” is both a philosophical and practical guide to biblical worldview integration in the classroom, offering a compelling framework for how to teach all subjects—even mathematics—with theological depth and coherence. Debbie wrote one of the appendixes and possesses an acute understanding of “Undivided” since it was written by her mother, Dr. Martha MacCullough, a veteran educator with over four decades of experience training Christian teachers.
Beth Afanador grew up attending public schools in Illinois, so she didn't foresee a career in Christian education, let alone overseas. But in seventh grade, her family moved to Mexico for a year due to her father’s grad school program and she experienced Christian education for the first time. That year opened her eyes to the value of teaching overseas, even if her long-term goal was to minister to students in inner-city Los Angeles. When she graduated from Wheaton College and heard about an opportunity to teach in Bogotá, Colombia, she was intrigued.
Featured Event
Public Policy and Advocacy Summit 2025
September 15–17, 2025 | Washington D.C.
Join us in Washington, D.C.! Our annual Public Policy and Advocacy Summit will be held in Washington, D.C., September 15-17. This year's special professional development summit will include panel discussions on important legislative issues, special guest speakers, and so much more.
Blog
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With over 5,000 member schools (2,200 of which are U.S.-based), ACSI is the largest Protestant Christian private school membership association in the world (ECFA, 2025), serving over 650,000 K–12 students (ACSI, 2025). With a renewed emphasis on school choice, ACSI has undertaken a counterfactual thought exercise with implications for U.S. policymakers: If all ACSI students were to enroll in local or regional publicly funded schools suddenly, what would the immediate economic impact on each U.S. state look like in terms of spending and funding?
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The U.S. Secret Service interviewed more than 35 school shooters and discovered a frightening connection between a student bringing a gun to school and what motivated them to murder classmates and faculty.
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I get a lot of questions from Christian teachers lately that sound something like this: “What are we supposed to do with AI in schools? Is this the end of education as we know it?” These are fair questions! AI technology feels mysterious, and maybe even threatening. It can seem almost… magical… so it’s no wonder it causes us to ask big questions. Big questions demand thoughtful answers. For us, as Christian educators, I think this means we need to cultivate an imagination big enough to understand what AI is, what it isn’t, and how we might use it in ways that glorify God and affirm what it means to be truly human.
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The Cognitive Abilities Test™ (CogAT) was designed to empower educators with deeper insights into their students and guide their efforts to adapt instruction to best meet students’ needs and abilities. The key to adapting instruction is CogAT’s unique Ability Profile score, an indicator that concisely conveys the level and pattern of each student’s CogAT scores. Using the Ability Profile is an easy way to visualize the resources and abilities that students bring to their own learning and allows us to link students’ test scores to strength-based instructional strategies.
Podcast
Hear a global update from Latin America, a spotlight on an international school educator, and a word from an Early Education presenter.
Dr. Steve Mason, Student Success Services Teacher at Southside Christian School in South Carolina, joins the Grafted Together Podcast to discuss Artificial Intelligence, biblical worldview integration, and human intelligence.
Josh Leonard and Jerry Nelson discuss targets for students to know, understand, and believe upon graduation. Josh serves at North Raleigh Christian Academy and is currently leading in the role of Dean of Spiritual Formation and Discipleship.
Students are returning to school shaped by culture, for better or for worse. Hear actionable strategies on how to capitalize on the beginning of the school year.
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.
Christian Schools From Around the Globe Join in ACSI’s Annual Day of Prayer
Colorado Springs, CO- Thousands of Christian educators and students from around the world will join in celebrating the seventh annual ACSI Day of Prayer on Tuesday, February 27.
The ACSI Day of Prayer is one of the Association’s most popular events, focusing on advancing Christ-centered education through prayer. ACSI President & CEO Dr. Larry Taylor looks forward to the unification of schools around the world through prayer.
“Now more than ever, there is an increased global desire for Christ-centered education, which is an encouraging trend to witness,” he said. “This not only showcases God’s faithfulness this year, it also reminds us to live in a constant state of praise, grateful for God’s provision and enduring love.”
The theme for this year’s Day of Prayer is “Faithfulness,” emphasizing the importance of God’s steadfast love and unchanging character. According to the website, the Isaiah 25:1 theme reminds individuals that God has a special plan and purpose for each and every one of them.
Mike Epp, ACSI Senior Vice President of Global, believes this event marks a beautiful, renewed commitment to worshipping God and seeking Him wholeheartedly.
“ACSI’s Global Day of Prayer is a profound demonstration of how we are unified, through Jesus Christ, to the passionate mission of teaching and discipling children to fully know Him,” he said. “We chose the theme ‘Faithfulness’ because of God’s constant faithfulness and to salute the perseverance and sacrifice of thousands of educators around the world who deliver the message of His love through their work.”
Schools can participate by submitting their prayer requests through the electronic form, which allows requests to be visible publicly on the ACSI website. They can also download the prayer guide, containing prayer station ideas and thematic Bible verses, to host an in-house Day of Prayer with their school communities.
In 2023, Christian educators from more than 58 countries participated in the Day of Prayer, including Brazil, South Africa, Indonesia, India, and many more. This year, schools from more than 38 countries have already submitted their prayer requests.
Schools creatively structure their in-house Day of Prayer gatherings. In 2023, educators shared their celebration ideas on social media, including school-wide Chapels, Day of Prayer tent stations, art and music projects, and more.
Taylor said the theme of “Faithfulness” has perhaps never been more timely.
“God’s faithfulness throughout the past year at ACSI is apparent as we look at the many Christian educators that are being strengthened across the globe,” he said. “This year’s Day of Prayer will be a catalyst to unite educators in different cultural contexts through the power of prayer. It will be a time to thank God for His continuous faithfulness in bringing the love of Christ to schools and their surrounding communities.”
ACSI member Eastside Christian School participated in the 2023 Day of Prayer. Head of School Dr. Tiffany Stark shared their experience: “Our school loved participating in the ACSI Day of Prayer. There was a reverent attitude among our students as they stepped away from their regular classroom routines to join with schools across the globe to seek the Lord. Students from every grade level led our student body in prayer for our school, community, nation, and the world. What a gift to be part of an organization that aligns with the heartbeat of our school! Thank you, ACSI!”
To learn more about Day of Prayer, visit the website or contact ACSI Care Team by calling (800) 367-0798 or emailing careteam@acsi.org.
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.
