Cardus Review Endorses Flourishing Faith Index as a Leading Tool for Student Spiritual Formation Assessment July 29, 2024

Colorado Springs, CO – The Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) is thrilled to announce that the Flourishing Faith Index (FFI) has successfully undergone a comprehensive independent review facilitated by Cardus, a leading think tank specializing in education and culture. This marks a significant milestone for the FFI, which is an integral tool in assessing the spiritual development of students in Christian schools.

According to the review, the FFI stands out for its comprehensive approach, thorough data collection, and insightful analysis, making it an indispensable tool for school leaders striving to nurture and gauge spiritual development in students.

ACSI President & CEO Dr. Larry Taylor shared his excitement surrounding this accomplishment.

"We are incredibly proud of this validation from the independent review facilitated by Cardus," Taylor said. "This recognition is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our team and our commitment to providing our Christian schools with the tools they need to foster spiritual growth and a biblical worldview in their students."

In 2022, ACSI embarked on a mission to develop a new assessment tool to assist school leaders in gauging their effectiveness in helping advance spiritual and biblical worldview development in students. The FFI, in tandem with the Flourishing Faith Model (FFM), serves as a pioneering framework designed to help Christian schools flourish through a holistic understanding of various spiritual domains.

The independent review found the FFI has a solid theoretical foundation and methodological rigor to yield insights from over 10,000 Christian school participants.

Dr. Lisa Richmond, Vice President for Research at Cardus, stated, “Like the Flourishing School Culture Instrument that precedes it, the Flourishing Faith Index has passed a rigorous independent review that found it to be a methodologically sound and highly useful tool for Christian schools to measure their efforts and inform change initiatives.”

For more information about the Flourishing Faith Index, visit the website.

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. Serving more than 25,000 schools in 108 countries, ACSI helps more than 5.5 million students worldwide connect to Christian education. 

About Cardus:

Cardus is a leading Canadian think tank dedicated to promoting a flourishing society through research and dialogue in areas including education, social architecture, and faith in public life. Cardus conducts independent research and provides policy recommendations to advance the common good and human dignity.