Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI)
Stronger Together



Our Mission

 Featured Story

  Welcome to Stories

 

A School, A Family, and the Gospel: How God Is Working Through Christian Education in Japan

Read time: 5 minutes

Christian schools in Japan serve a unique mission. In a country where Christians make up only about 0.5% of the population, many Christian schools provide one of the first opportunities for students and families to encounter the gospel. “Many Japanese people have never met a Christian or heard the gospel firsthand,” said Peter Lee, ACSI Divisional Director for East Asia. “Christian schools become places where families experience the love of Christ through authentic relationships, biblical teaching, and a caring community.” Cross Mission Christian School in Tsukuba, Japan, has seen that mission lived out.

Multiplying Kingdom Impact in Indonesia Through Christian School Leadership

Read time: 4 minutes

When ACSI launched Paths to School Improvement (PSI) in 2017, the goal was to equip Christian educators with practical tools, biblical foundations, and sustainable systems that could strengthen entire communities through local leadership. Today, PSI operates in 14 countries, with three additional nations preparing to launch the program. PSI first took root across Africa and expanded into its second continent in 2025 when ACSI Asia Pacific introduced PSI in Indonesia. In the short time since, PSI has grown immensely in Indonesia. There are four cohorts being conducted, with 28 schools and 113 leaders in the training. There are 25 certified trainers leading the way.

Leaders Who Love Truth: ACSI Europe Student Leadership Conferences Equip the Next Generation

Read Time = 3 Minutes

Across Europe, Christian school students are being challenged to lean into their faith and lead with truth and courage. That was the focus of ACSI Europe’s 2025 Student Leadership Conferences (SLC) last fall in Budapest, which brought together 410 students and chaperones from 47 schools across Europe. Held over two conference weeks, the gatherings gave students opportunities to worship and grow in their faith while building relationships with Christian peers from other nations.

Hope Amid Darkness: ACSI Cares is Helping Cuban Families in Need

ACSI has teamed up with Rysr and SERV International to provide meals to Christian school families across Cuba. A shipping container holding one million meals is expected to reach port in Cuba soon.

 Featured Event

  Featured Event

 

Leadership Network Meetings

Various Dates & Locations
All ACSI Member school leaders (EE–12) are invited to connect, collaborate, and grow together at Leadership Network Meetings (LNM) this fall! Engage with local peers and gain insights in valuable topics to support your school community.
 
Discussion topics include:

  • Leading Spiritual Formation with Purpose
  • Leading Healthy & High-Performing Teams
  • Leading with Financial Wisdom & Sustainability
  • Leading Through Today's Legal Landscape (Public Policy Updates)
  • Find a date and location nearest you and register today!

Register Today!

Leadership Network Meetings
  Blog and Podcast

  Blog

 

ACSI Bible Program Survey (Part 3): Building an Integrated Bible Program Architecture

This third blog installment of the 2025 Bible Program Survey series identifies two Bible program design features that emerged clearly in the survey data: 1) decision-making structures, and 2) intentional skill formation across grade levels. These aspects appear to individually and collectively shape whether a Bible program emerges as either a collection of somewhat disjointed biblically reinforced activities or a truly intentional and immersive student spiritual formation and biblical worldview roadmap.

Child reading Bible
Helping Students Build Lasting Scripture Habits in Christian Schools

Christian schools care deeply about the Word of God. Bible classes are scheduled. Chapel services are planned. Devotions are encouraged. Yet many educators see the same pattern year after year: students engage with the Bible for a season, then slowly drift away. This isn’t usually rebellion. It isn’t hostility. And it isn’t disbelief. More often, it’s a lack of habit. Many students genuinely value Scripture but struggle to stay consistent with it once the structure around them changes. Understanding why this happens, and what actually helps, can shape how Christian schools approach long-term spiritual formation.

Learning and Development
The Science of Math: Advancing Instruction Through Research-Aligned Practice

In recent years, the education community has witnessed a significant shift in literacy instruction through the widespread adoption of the Science of Reading. Grounded in cognitive science and decades of research, this movement has reshaped how educators approach reading instruction—prioritizing explicit, systematic teaching of foundational skills. Mathematics is now at a similar turning point. Across K–12 education, there is growing recognition that math instruction should align with the science of how students learn. This is where the Science of Math comes in. The Science of Math is a research-informed framework that emphasizes explicit, systematic, and coherent instruction designed to build deep and lasting mathematical understanding. At its core, it integrates several essential and interconnected elements: conceptual understanding, procedural fluency, number sense, mathematical reasoning, and problem-solving. These are not isolated skills taught in silos; rather, they work together to develop students who can think flexibly, reason logically, and apply mathematics with confidence.

Five Ways Christian School Leaders Can Meaningfully Engage Grandparents

There is a quiet revolution happening in Christian education, and it is sitting in the pews, the bleachers, and the volunteer rooms of our schools. Grandparents represent one of the most underutilized yet profoundly strategic partners available to Christian school leaders today. Research consistently confirms what Scripture has long declared: the multigenerational transmission of faith is not an accident. Psalm 78:4–7 calls each generation to make God's deeds known to their children and their children's children. Deuteronomy 6:2 frames the commands of God as a multigenerational inheritance. The family in its broadest and most extended sense is God's design for discipleship.

  Podcast

 

Stronger Together Ep 20: John Stonestreet on Christ-Centered Education & Dr. Steve Whitaker on the FFI
Stronger Together Ep 20: John Stonestreet on Christ-Centered Education & Dr. Steve Whitaker on the FFI

Hear a portion of John Stonestreet's presentation at the Rooted Educator Worldview Summit earlier this year. Plus, Dr. Steve Whitaker, Head of School at The First Academy (FL), shares how the ACSI Flourishing Faith Index can help.

Grafted Together Ep 77: Kingdom Athletics Series: Determine your “Why” then Developing Your Vision
Grafted Together Ep 77: Kingdom Athletics Series: Determine your “Why” then Developing Your Vision

Part Two of the Kingdom Athletics Series focuses on how identifying your goals will lead to forming your vision. Billy Sparacio, longtime athletic director and educator, rejoins the Grafted Together Podcast.

Grafted Together Ep 76: Kingdom Athletics Series: Victory Formation, with Billy Sparacio
Grafted Together Ep 76: Kingdom Athletics Series: Victory Formation, with Billy Sparacio

Billy Sparacio, longtime athletic director and educator, rejoins the Grafted Together Podcast to discuss Kingdom athletics and how to forge deeper connections and discipleship through sports.

Stronger Together Ep 20: Accreditation Story with Heather Hager & School Spotlight w/ David Kilgore
Stronger Together Ep 20: Accreditation Story with Heather Hager & School Spotlight w/ David Kilgore

Heather Hager, Head of School at Harp's Crossing Christian Academy (GA), shows how impactful ACSI accreditation can be. Hear her school's story and also learn what makes Calvary Christian High School (FL) unique with Head of School David Kilgore.


Stay Informed on ACSI's Events and Resources



 



Larry Taylors Picture

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.

 

Visit the President's Page

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
pillar_logo

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.

More

Access

pillar_logoAccess

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.

More

Advocacy

pillar_logoAdvocacy

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.

More

Stay Connected to ACSI

Community Network

ACSI Community Network Image

 

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.

Check it Out

Career Center

Career_Center_Homepage

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.

Go to the ACSI Career Center  

News & Press Releases



Christian School Educators Embrace AI Risks, Benefits

May 6, 2024, 11:02 by Caitlyn Harding

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: 

  • 70% of educators report being at least somewhat familiar with AI 

  • 87% of educators agree that AI can help teachers save time and effort 

  • 60% of educators agree AI can help teachers create more effective curriculum and lesson plans 

  • 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.”

Report coverDespite 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.

View Strategic Partners

 

 

Mark your calendar and plan to participate in the exciting range of new
ACSI events and experiences! View Events and Register