Welcome to Stories
Firm Foundation Christian School (FFCS), a beautiful campus serving preschool to senior students in Battle Ground, Washington, immerses students in a family-friendly environment that helps them develop their God-given gifts. Steve Jorgensen, Bible teacher and senior class adviser, is passionate about discipleship and spiritual formation. He has served as a pastor of youth, missions, and discipleship for more than 25 years in various states, including California, Colorado, and Missouri. Now serving at FFCS, Jorgensen has launched a new student discipleship program, the FFCS Leadership Academy, which “provides an in-depth Christian leadership development experience that will equip students to lead with confidence in the vocations in which God calls them.”
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If Tim Shuman had a highlight reel from his 15 years working with ACSI, many of the snapshots would be from the school visits and international conferences he helped plan. “It was never my favorite thing to sit in the office, but to be out at the schools and conferences, face to face with the people we serve,” Shuman said. “That's always what filled my tank.”
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In the hills of Appalachian Virginia, you’ll find a school whose idea of the three R’s is different than most. Mountain Mission School in Grundy, Virginia, was founded in 1921 and is devoted to “rescuing kids, raising leaders, and reaching nations.” Children pass through these doors already facing harsh realities—homelessness, poverty, and the like. Mountain Mission School stands as a warm shelter for these kids—not just a school but also a home and a church.
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David Ray, Assistant Vice President for ACSI USA and Director for Florida with 46 years of Christian education experience, is retiring from this position in December. As he looks forward to new opportunities, he reflects on the past 46 years of Christian education and the changes that have deeply affected it.
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Evangeline from North Valley Christian Academy in Phoenix, AZ created an inspiring piece of art called “Phases Through Faith.” “This art piece reflects the emotions we go through in life and how, with God, those struggles can become easier to handle… Ultimately, it’s a reminder that God’s presence can guide us through life’s challenges.” - Evangeline
Featured Event
Public Policy and Advocacy Summit 2025
September 15–17, 2025 | Washington D.C.
Join us in Washington, D.C.! Our annual Public Policy and Advocacy Summit will be held in Washington, D.C., September 15-17. This year's special professional development summit will include panel discussions on important legislative issues, special guest speakers, and so much more.
Blog
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I distinctly remember a student asking me how to respond to her friend who was struggling with gender identity. She was heartbroken because her friend kept getting mad and telling her that if she really loved her, she would accept the “real me.” In my little over a decade in Christian education, I have witnessed a significant shift in the type of questions students asked. What began as “What is on the test?” or “Do I really need to know this to get into college?” evolved into something much deeper and more complex.
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Since 1992, ACSI has had the privilege of working alongside Christian schools in Europe. We’ve listened to school leaders wrestle with real tensions, prayed with teachers navigating cultural headwinds, and rejoiced together as God continues to build His kingdom through Christian education. It’s clear: Christian education in Europe is facing serious challenges. But that’s not the whole story.
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Michael Reeves quips in his book “Delighting in the Trinity” that Christians have reduced the doctrine of the Trinity to shamrocks, apples, and eggs. No wonder, he bemoans, that understanding the Trinity often seems irrelevant. Yet, the triune God is the most relevant reality there is. For us Christ-centered educators, however, it can be a struggle to understand or explain the Trinity.
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When the Lord said to Joshua, “Go up and attack Ai” (Joshua 8:1), I’m pretty sure he wasn’t talking about ChatGPT. Yet sometimes, it seems like that’s how we treat Scripture—searching for a proof-text answer to contemporary issues. Is the Bible telling us that we should take up arms against algorithms? Smash the supercomputers? Obliterate the large language models? Clearly not. (Though I’ll admit the mental picture here was too good to resist!)
Podcast
Jerry Nelson and Mark Senseman, Director of Business Development with Servant Solutions, discuss stewardship over finances, a biblical view of retirement, and other important topics that affect educators' lives in and out of the classroom.
How do we know if we're producing faithful followers of Jesus? Paris Shewey, campus pastor at King's Way Christian Schools (WA), joins the podcast to share a simple survey he uses to evaluate spiritual formation in his students.
Steve Dang joins the podcast to discuss spiritual formation, how to share the gospel based on varying school contexts.
Educators can help students understand their identity in Christ and foster genuine relationships in a digitally connected but lonely world. Learn more about equipping students to make a courageous influence.
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 Awarded Prestigious Gold Seal Designation by Florida Department of Children and Families
Colorado Springs, CO – The Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) is thrilled to announce that it has received the prestigious Gold Seal Quality Care designation from Florida’s Department of Children and Families (DCF). This honor is a testament to the excellence of ACSI’s Early Education Florida Approval Program (FAP), which achieved an impressive 97% compliance score, surpassing the required 85% for Gold Seal accreditation.
This designation enhances ACSI’s accreditation standards beyond the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and Florida Association for the Education of Young Children (FLAEYC) levels, giving ACSI Early Education (EE) schools a significant competitive advantage over non-Gold Seal designated schools, both secular and religious, throughout Florida.
ACSI President & CEO Dr. Larry Taylor shared the significance of this achievement for Christian education.
“At ACSI, we continuously strive for excellence in Christian education,” he said. “This Gold Seal recognition exemplifies our commitment to providing students with high-quality, Christ-centered learning environments that exceed required expectations. I am so proud of our team, including ACSI Director of Early Education Dr. Althea Penn, Early Education Administrative Assistant Raevin Mahaney, and Early Education Florida Program Coordinator Tammy Hicks, for making their hard work.”
ACSI accredited schools that are recognized by the Florida Approval Program and exceed licensing regulations will now benefit from a variety of enhancements. These include the ability to offer credentialed early educators in classrooms that adhere to national health and safety standards, such as lower student-to-teacher ratios. Moreover, Gold Seal-designated schools are eligible for higher school readiness subsidy/reimbursement payments, participation in the Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) program, sales tax exemptions on educational materials, and more.
The review process for the Gold Seal designation is extensive, with DCF forming evaluation teams composed of members from various Florida educational organizations, including the Florida Department of Education, the Florida Head Start Director’s Association, and the Florida Association of Child Care Management, among others.
The Gold Seal designation is valid for up to five years, and ACSI-accredited schools seeking this certification must demonstrate adherence to the rigorous standards set forth in the ACSI Florida Approval Program Gold Seal Manual.
For more information or to apply for Gold Seal designation, ACSI Early Education schools can contact Tammy Hicks, Florida Approval Program Coordinator, at tammy_hicks@acsi.org.
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.
