Welcome to Stories
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More than 200 Christian school leaders, educators, and staff members gathered in person in Denver, Colorado, and virtually for ACSI’s one-day mental health symposium, Secure & Sound: Cultivating Mental Health and Safety in Christian Schools. The event brought together schools from across the country to discuss the growing mental health challenges facing students and educators while exploring practical ways Christian schools can cultivate healthier and safer learning environments.
Vanessa Cheng and Dr. Minta Hardman share more than a passion for Christian education. Both have recently faced serious legislative threats to school choice and religious liberty—and responded with bold, community-driven advocacy. Though separated by nearly 10,000 miles, both leaders confronted legislation that would restrict Christian schools’ ability to hire staff aligned with their faith. Inspired by one another’s efforts, Cheng and Hardman each mobilized their communities, resulting in significant wins for religious freedom.
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The Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) hosted its annual International Math Competition, featuring three different levels of competition in the areas of computation and reasoning for grades 3-8. Designed to celebrate and cultivate mathematical excellence worldwide, the competition included nearly 7,000 registrations across five countries, including Indonesia, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Taiwan, and the United States.
Wheaton Christian Grammar School (WCGS) is the center of a thriving, Christ-honoring community in Winfield, Illinois. Founded in 1942 by a group of parents who desired to integrate the Bible into every aspect of student learning, the school has experienced remarkable growth—particularly over the past five years. Today, with a record enrollment of 736 students, the K–8 school has expanded its campus, adapted to changing needs, and built a strong legacy of more than 3,000 graduates.
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The campus of Grand Canyon University buzzed with excitement as more than 120 middle and high school students from Christian schools around the globe (including U.S., Dominican Republic, and Singapore) gathered in Phoenix to participate in the International Christian STEM Competition (ICSC) and Venture: Entrepreneurial Innovation Challenge.
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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For decades, schools have poured resources into curriculum, tutoring, intervention staffing, and MTSS frameworks—yet national outcomes remain stubbornly flat. Only about one‑third of U.S. fourth graders are proficient in reading or math, and achievement gaps have barely shifted in a generation. The uncomfortable truth is that by the time grade 3 accountability data arrives, four years of instructional trajectory are already set. Leaders are reacting to lagging indicators rather than shaping early learning pathways.
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One of the greatest challenges facing Christian schools today is ensuring income is at least equal to the operational costs of implementing the mission. It’s a simple equation: Income – Expenses = Positive Number Unfortunately, this challenge is not that rare in our world today. But unlike our nation, schools don’t have the luxury of incurring large deficits year after year. And while there are lots of tools and guidance to help schools deepen the Christian and educational aspects of their missions, there is little available to school leaders to help run the business of the school.
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At a time when the world can feel divided and uncertain, Christian schools have both a calling and an opportunity to teach students about America’s Judeo-Christian heritage and the importance of preserving the values that propelled our nation to a beacon of freedom and opportunity like the world has never seen. Through civics education, we help children understand how their faith, freedom, and responsibility to others are woven into the fabric of our nation’s story, and how those principles will impact its future.
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As educators, learning is our foundation and passion. In most schools, including private Christian institutions, the value of student learning is expressed in its core values, mission and vision statements, and expected student outcomes (ESOs). Ideally, this should make a culture of learning easy to identify. Yet, because school culture evolves gradually, it’s easy to drift off course over time. This can happen due to inconsistent alignment with core values, an overemphasis on grading, resistance to change, little or no professional development, or a lack of intentional faith integration. School culture is essentially “the way we do things around here” (Baker, 2023). It’s powerful and accumulates over time, so cultivating a learning-focused culture requires intentionality and leadership. Here are five strategies to promote and sustain a culture of learning.
Podcast
Rachael Jones sits down with Dr. Edward Bunn to explore ways leaders can listen beyond the silence to uncover hidden disengagement, misalignment, or burnout.
This episode features Mike Epp, ACSI Senior Vice President of Global Development, speaking on the Holy Spirit during a recent ACSI Chapel service.
Jenn Lindemuth is the Curriculum Director of Chang Rai International Christian School in Thailand. She sits down with ACSI Chief Ministry Officer Dr. Gavin Brettenny to discuss the makeup of her school and her journey in Christ-centered education.
Dr. Tim Padgett, Resident Theologian with the Colson Center, and Megan Almon, a speaker with Stand to Reason, are both keynote presenters at the upcoming Rooted Educator Worldview Summit (June 15-17 in Colorado Springs).
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.
ACSI Reaches Highest Tier Attainable in the Best Christian Workplaces Survey, Earning “Flourishing Status”
The Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) is proud to announce that it has once again earned “Flourishing Status” through the Best Christian Workplaces Survey.
In a multi-year trend upward, ACSI employees ranked the organization as being the highest tier attainable in the Best Christian Workplaces Survey—a thorough employee engagement survey assessing organizational culture.
The association’s score this year lands in the 83rd percentile, which is 20% higher than in 2023, with areas of strength including high commitment to excellence and effective teamwork. One of the organization’s largest jumps in improvement was helping each other with healthy work/life integration.
ACSI President & CEO Dr. Larry Taylor is thrilled by this great accomplishment.
“At ACSI, our dedication to excellence in serving our communities and partners stems from an unwavering commitment for Jesus Christ,” he said. “This recognition highlights our significant progress in areas where we’ve previously sought improvement, actively incorporating employee feedback into our decision-making processes, and fostering a culture of innovation and exploration. We are enthusiastic about continuing to develop and nurture a thriving workplace environment that exemplifies what it means to be a dynamic and flourishing organization.”
Best Christian Workplaces Consulting Director Cary Humphries is excited about the survey results and is honored to serve as ACSI’s engagement partner.
“ACSI has demonstrated a commitment to regularly measure the health of their workplace culture,” he said. “This year’s actions and survey progress display excellence and the increased opportunity for full engagement of the ACSI team.”
The organization conducted this anonymous survey to all employees in May of 2024 and analyzed the data in June.
ACSI Vice President of Human Resources Chris Loncar looks forward to implementing strategies to address the data specifically regarding areas that present opportunities for growth.
“In recent years, we have targeted lower scoring areas that are representative of where we can improve. We continue to see progress in several of those areas as we make efforts post survey to address areas of employee concern. By doing this, we will continue to affirm our commitment to improving our culture at ACSI,” he shared.
Taylor believes the future of Christian education is bright.
“We deeply appreciate our team’s dedication to ACSI's mission and vision,” he stated. “Their commitment empowers us to shape future leaders who will advance our goals and make a significant impact globally, furthering the reach and influence of Christian education.”
To learn more about the Best Christian Workplaces Certified Workplaces, visit the website at https://workplaces.org/certification. To learn more about ACSI, visit the website at https://www.acsi.org/.
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 Best Christian Workplaces:
Best Christian Workplaces exists to equip and inspire Christian leaders to create an engaged, flourishing workplace. Since 2003, the ministry has surveyed over 1,000 churches, nonprofits, businesses, and educators. Their vision is that Christian-led workplaces set the standard as the best, most effective places to work in the world.
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.
