Welcome to Stories
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In 2025, ACSI set a new milestone by hosting a Student Track at the annual ACSI Public Policy and Advocacy (PPA) Summit in Washington, D.C., nine students from across the country came to the nation's capital to meet with state representatives and learn about advocacy from policy experts. The 2026 Summit will expand the opportunities for student leaders to engage in advocacy. ACSI Vice President of Educational Resources & Student Programs Emily Pigott looks forward to the event.
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Christian schools around the world came together for ACSI’s 2026 Global Day of Prayer, intentionally seeking the Lord and reflecting on this year’s theme, “The Power of Prayer.” ACSI received over 620 prayer submissions from 77 countries, including Brazil, Uganda, and Spain.
Over 25 years, ACSI South Africa has grown from a small fellowship of pioneering schools into a recognized national and continental voice for Christian education. It advocates for Christian schools, provides policies, conferences, workshops, and resources, and partners globally within the ACSI family. Above all, the story reflects God’s faithfulness, provision, and guidance, along with a renewed commitment to advance Christ-centered education across South Africa and Africa for years to come.
Three Christian schools, Oaks Christian School (OCS) in Westlake Village, CA, Calvary Christian High School (CCHS) in Clearwater, FL, and Scottsdale Christian Academy (SCA) in Phoenix, recently earned ACSI’s Exemplary Accreditation status. They will be acknowledged on stage at FSi Dallas in February 2026.
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We asked educators what they love about teaching in Christian schools, inviting them to reflect on their work, their classrooms, and their school communities. "I love teaching at a Christian school because I can freely tell my students about the love of Jesus and I get the honor to pray with my students and families! (I also enjoy) listening to their prayer requests and taking them seriously."
Featured Event
Rooted Educator Worldview Summit '26
June 15–17, 2026 | DoubleTree Hotel | Colorado Springs, CO
Rooted will explore what it means to be human in light of the Christian worldview and how this vision reshapes the aims, practices, and culture of Christian education. Grounded in the biblical narrative—from creation in God’s image, to the distortion of sin, to redemption and restoration in Christ—the conference invites educators to consider how a robust theological understanding of personhood informs formation, teaching, curriculum, and community life. By recovering a hopeful, truthful, and dignifying view of humanity, Christian education can equip students to embrace their identity as image-bearers, their belonging within God’s family, and their call to participate meaningfully in God’s redemptive work in the world.
Blog
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The first hours of a crisis will shape everything that follows. Dr. R. Adams Cowley, widely regarded as the father of trauma medicine, described what he called the “golden hour”—the critical window immediately following a life-threatening injury, during which rapid intervention dramatically increases survival odds. “There is a golden hour between life and death,” he observed. “If you are critically injured, you have less than 60 minutes to survive.” What is true in the trauma bay is equally true in the principal’s office. For the thousands of schools that make up the Association of Christian Schools International, a crisis can arrive without warning and without sympathy for anyone caught unprepared.
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The refrain of “It’s a Man’s World” resurfaces each March, reminding us that even in a world shaped by male innovation, its true meaning is realized only through the presence and influence of women. This truth mirrors today’s educational landscape, where women form the backbone of the workforce yet remain underrepresented in top leadership roles. As we observe Women’s History Month, it is essential to honor not only the contributions women make to our schools but also the redemptive leadership they embody within God’s Kingdom. Women are not auxiliary figures; they are strategic partners in God’s work of creation, redemption, and restoration.
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I began teaching 7th grade math in 1999 after a postbaccalaureate certification program. My mentor teacher provided wisdom, compassion, and advice, supporting me through that challenging first year. She became my role model in later years when I became a mentor teacher. Many new teachers have passed through the doors of our school in Central Asia. Orientation programs include limited time for training in curriculum, classroom management, and culture. To meet the professional and personal needs of the teachers stepping into an international Christian school classroom for the first time, schools need an effective mentoring program.
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As we approach Women’s History Month, we reflect on the countless women who have shaped the United States through their faith, wisdom, and diligence. The Proverbs 31 woman is a model of virtue, embodying strength, intelligence, and compassion—qualities seen in women throughout American history who have overcome challenges to serve their families, communities, and God’s kingdom.
Podcast
Deon Parker rejoins the Grafted Together Podcast to discuss biblical themes stemming from the recent ACSI Biblical Unity Summit. Deon is the author of ChristiUnity: The History of God-authored Unity as well as Biblical Unity: It Takes You And Me.
When a school leader gets fired up about the right things, transformation happens. Dr. Cy Smith joins Jerry Nelson to discuss practical ways for spiritual formation directors to influence students.
Jerry Nelson discusses Gospel-centered racial reconciliation with Dr. James Noble, the Vice President for the Center of Community, Dignity, and Inclusive Campus Family at Anderson University (SC), and the Pastor of Kingdom Community Church of Anderson.
Why do some students seem to be ready for leadership but don't take the initiative, and what can we do about it? Emily Pigott has insights on what leads to the leadership gap and how educators can help bridge it.
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.
Christian School Educators Embrace AI Risks, Benefits
OTTAWA, ON & COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – A new study finds that around 38% of Christian school educators use artificial intelligence (AI) at least sometimes at work. An almost equal proportion (37%) reports never using AI. Those findings come from "Navigating AI in Christian Schools," a report published by think tank Cardus based on an Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) survey of educators (teachers and leaders) at its member schools.
The report also found that:
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70% of educators report being at least somewhat familiar with AI
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87% of educators agree that AI can help teachers save time and effort
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60% of educators agree AI can help teachers create more effective curriculum and lesson plans
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Only 18% of educators indicated their school banned students’ use of AI
ACSI President & CEO Dr. Larry Taylor believes educators’ faith should inform how they leverage AI.
“I believe AI has tremendous potential, but it’s imperative that we exemplify how to use it in a Christ-like, biblically honoring way,” he shared. “This report is extremely timely as we navigate the new norms that AI has already brought into the world of education.”
Despite educators’ familiarity with and use of AI, they’re also concerned about the potential downsides of the technology for students. Many worry that AI could lead students to cheat, stunt their critical thinking skills, invade privacy, or even undermine students’ faith. In fact, educators’ top use of AI is to detect student plagiarism. They also use it to find teaching ideas and resources, or to prepare emails and lesson plans. Dr. Lynn E. Swaner, a report co-author, President - US at Cardus and ACSI Senior Fellow, says many Christian schools are only just starting to come to grips with how widespread AI has become.
“Ever since ChatGPT exploded onto our screens in 2022, Christian schools have had to navigate their way toward finding the appropriate place for AI,” Swaner said. “Hopefully, our study will help educators see the big picture of how Christian schools are finding their way through the world of AI and spark conversations about how AI fits within their school’s mission and values.”
ACSI Director of Research Rian Djita echoed Swaner’s sentiment, stating, “This ground-breaking research, the first of its kind in Christian education, positions ACSI as a leader in navigating the potential of AI in Christian schools."
"Navigating AI in Christian Schools" is freely available online and is the first of many conversations ACSI and Cardus will provide Christian education leaders on this new technology in the coming months.
Media Inquiries:
Caitlyn Harding
ACSI – Corporate Communications & PR Manager
613-899-5174 719-867-0243
media_inquiries@acsi.org
Daniel Proussalidis
Cardus – Director of Communications
media@cardus.ca
About The Association of Christian Schools International
Headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the Association of Christian Schools International (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. Serving more than 25,000 schools in 108 countries, ACSI helps more than 5.5 million students worldwide connect to Christian education.
About Cardus – Imagination toward a thriving society
Cardus is a non-partisan think tank dedicated to clarifying and strengthening, through research and dialogue, the ways in which society’s institutions can work together for the common good.
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.
