Begin the Journey to Flourishing Faith in Your School Community!


Following the groundbreaking work of the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) in developing the industry standard Flourishing School Culture Instrument (FSCI), many of our member schools raised questions as to whether it was possible to develop a similar survey instrument for understanding and measuring spiritual formation and biblical worldview development.

FFI Diagram

In 2022, ACSI Research sought to answer these questions through new research on biblical worldview and spiritual formation development in Christian schools by developing and validating a new research tool—the Flourishing Faith Index (FFI).

Download Flourishing Faith Research Reports
  • Download the free FFI Research report. This report provides an overview of the research, including literature review, methodology, validation process, and initial findings.
  • You may also download Learning to Lead (Administrator Pipeline Report) and Tending the Teacher (Teacher Pipeline Report). These recently published reports analyze the leader and teacher pipelines in Christian schools and provide important insights into staffing patterns and career pathways of Christian school teachers and administrators.

Sign up now for Flourishing Faith Index Administration

Please Note: Preregister now for the 2024-2025 school year. 
The FFI survey administration begins September 15, 2024.

Preregister For Flourishing Faith Index

 

The FSCI and FFI are available for a discounted bundle price that will allow you to get the most out of your Flourishing Journey.

FFI & FSCI Bundle

Learn More about the FFI & FSCI Bundle

Defining Well-Being

Well-being is an important domain for both student and educator flourishing. The FSCI identified three constructs related to well-being—one for teachers and leaders (Stress), and two for students (Healthy Living and Resilience). This domain and related constructs demonstrate that the well-being of educators and students is not a secondary concern—but an essential contributor to flourishing outcomes.

Well-Being FSCM Constructs

Stress – Constant feelings of stress and being overwhelmed accompany a lack of time to prepare for instruction (Teachers) or to focus on physical health (Leaders).

Healthy Living – Students are happy with their physical health, including sufficient exercise and a healthy diet.

Resilience – Students handle stress effectively and respond well to/bounce back from difficult situations.

Defining Purpose

A Christian perspective on education provides the telos, or purposeful aim, of Christian schooling. The FSCI identified a commitment on the part of all school constituencies to the central purposes of education as strongly connected with flourishing outcomes.

Purpose FSCM Constructs

Responsibility – Leaders, teachers, and support staff feel a sense of shared ownership for school mission, success, and improvement.

Holistic Teaching – Teaching involves helping students develop spiritually and emotionally (teaching the heart and soul, as well as the mind).

Integrated Worldview – Christian worldview changes how we educate; there is no such thing as a secular sphere.

God’s Story – Students believe they are a part of God’s bigger plan and can be used by him to “make a difference.”

Questioning – Students have doubts about their faith, lack time to pray or study the Bible, and feel that most Christians are too judgmental.

Partnership – Families feel they are a part of the school’s mission, and that their child’s spiritual development requires their partnering with and being involved at the school.

Spiritual Formation – Alumni report that their Christian faith is stronger thanks to attending a Christian school, and they believe people can change with God’s help.

Defining Expertise & Resources

While a sense of purpose is essential for Christian school leaders and teachers, their ability to fulfill that purpose is necessarily dependent upon their expertise as educators. FCSI research shows that flourishing is connected to excellence in educational and school management practices.

Expertise & Resources FSCM Constructs

Qualified Staff – New teacher hires are credentialed (licensed/certified) and have classroom experience.

Responsiveness to Special Needs – Teaching staff works together to serve students with special needs, aided by processes and resources for identifying and responding to those needs.

Resources – Materials and resources for teaching, including technology, are sufficient, and the school building is in good physical condition.

Resource Planning – A strategic financial plan and master facilities plan is in place, and financial planning is a strength of the board.

Resource Constraints – The school has financial resources to operate effectively; or, we could be more effective as a school if not for fiscal constraints, and we lack the resources we need to make changes in our school.

Opening Evening

Opening Evening Schedule

Day One

Day One Schedule

Day Two

Day Two Schedule

*Please note this is a sample schedule and the final schedule can change per specific location.