Association of Christian Schools International
Encyclopedia
The Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) is an association of evangelical
Protestant Christian school
s.
schools, impacts nearly 23,000 schools and transforms the lives of more than 3.9 million students worldwide. The principles it supports include a belief that Scripture is the revealed Word of God and should be taught as truth.
The association offers accreditation for early-education programs, primary, and secondary school
s; teacher certification; curriculum; legal/legislative services; and urban school services.
Because ACSI does not accredit college
s or universities, it is not recognized as an accreditor of higher education institutions by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation
or the United States Department of Education
. However, the organization does allow institutions of higher learning to be "member" schools, which should not be confused with accreditation. In 1994 ACSI's primary school and secondary school programs became officially recognized by the National Council for Private School Accreditation
(NCPSA). The United States Department of Education does not recognize or certify agencies for the accreditation of primary and secondary schools, including regional accrediting
agencies.
ACSI was first headquartered in La Habra, California
, and moved to its larger headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colorado
, in 1994. Today, in addition to the headquarters facility, ACSI has 27 regional offices worldwide and serves 23,400 member schools in 106 countries. ACSI is a 501(c)(3)nonprofit organization governed by a 36-member Executive Board elected by member schools.
system alleging that the rejection of several Christian science courses was "viewpoint discrimination" which violated the constitution
al rights of applicants from Christian schools whose high school coursework is deemed inadequate preparation for college. The lawsuit was brought by the parents of six children who had not been rejected from the university. In August 2006, the case Association of Christian Schools International v. Roman Stearns was allowed to proceed against the university while lawsuit
s against individual school officials were thrown out.
The National Center for Science Education
noted, "One of the lawyers representing the plaintiffs is Wendell Bird
, a former staff attorney for the Institute for Creation Research
. As a special assistant attorney general for Louisiana
, he defended the state's "equal time" law, which was ruled to be unconstitutional in Edwards v. Aguillard
. The National Center for Science Education works in collaboration with National Academy of Sciences
, the National Association of Biology Teachers
and the National Science Teachers Association
, which consider creationism
and intelligent design
to be pseudoscience
.
The Association retained leading intelligent design
proponent Michael Behe
to testify in the case as an expert witness. Behe's expert witness report claimed that the Christian textbooks were excellent works for high school students and he defended that view in a deposition.
On March 28, 2008 the defendants won a legal victory when their motion for partial summary judgment was granted, and the plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment was denied. On August 8, 2008, Judge Otero entered summary judgment against plaintiff ACSI.
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
Protestant Christian school
Christian school
A Christian school is a school run on Christian principles or by a Christian organization.The nature of Christian schools varies enormously from country to country, according to the religious, educational, and political cultures...
s.
Purposes
ACSI, a protestant association for ChristianChristian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
schools, impacts nearly 23,000 schools and transforms the lives of more than 3.9 million students worldwide. The principles it supports include a belief that Scripture is the revealed Word of God and should be taught as truth.
The association offers accreditation for early-education programs, primary, and secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
s; teacher certification; curriculum; legal/legislative services; and urban school services.
Because ACSI does not accredit college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
s or universities, it is not recognized as an accreditor of higher education institutions by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation
Council for Higher Education Accreditation
The Council for Higher Education Accreditation is a United States organization of degree-granting colleges and universities. It identifies its purpose as providing national advocacy for self-regulation of academic quality through accreditation in order to certify the quality of higher education...
or the United States Department of Education
United States Department of Education
The United States Department of Education, also referred to as ED or the ED for Education Department, is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government...
. However, the organization does allow institutions of higher learning to be "member" schools, which should not be confused with accreditation. In 1994 ACSI's primary school and secondary school programs became officially recognized by the National Council for Private School Accreditation
National Council for Private School Accreditation
The National Council for Private School Accreditation is a private organization dedicated to accrediting American private schools on a national level. It was created in 1993 to form at-large standards after the U.S. Department of Education in 1985 deemed the Department did not have legal authority...
(NCPSA). The United States Department of Education does not recognize or certify agencies for the accreditation of primary and secondary schools, including regional accrediting
Regional accreditation
Regional accreditation is a term used in the United States to refer to educational accreditation conducted by any of several accreditation bodies established to serve six defined geographic areas of the country for accreditation of schools, colleges, and universities...
agencies.
History
ACSI was founded in 1978 through the merger of three associations: The National Christian School Education Association; The Ohio Association of Christian Schools; and the Western Association of Christian Schools. Soon after the new association formed, several other Christian school associations joined ACSI: The Southeast Association of Christian Schools; the Association of Teachers of Christian Schools (Midwest); the Great Plains Association of Christian Schools; and the Texas Association of Christian Schools.ACSI was first headquartered in La Habra, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, and moved to its larger headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and most populous city of El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Colorado Springs is located in South-Central Colorado, in the southern portion of the state. It is situated on Fountain Creek and is located south of the Colorado...
, in 1994. Today, in addition to the headquarters facility, ACSI has 27 regional offices worldwide and serves 23,400 member schools in 106 countries. ACSI is a 501(c)(3)nonprofit organization governed by a 36-member Executive Board elected by member schools.
Lawsuit
In spring 2006 the Association of Christian Schools International sued the University of CaliforniaUniversity of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
system alleging that the rejection of several Christian science courses was "viewpoint discrimination" which violated the constitution
United States Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States.The first three...
al rights of applicants from Christian schools whose high school coursework is deemed inadequate preparation for college. The lawsuit was brought by the parents of six children who had not been rejected from the university. In August 2006, the case Association of Christian Schools International v. Roman Stearns was allowed to proceed against the university while lawsuit
Lawsuit
A lawsuit or "suit in law" is a civil action brought in a court of law in which a plaintiff, a party who claims to have incurred loss as a result of a defendant's actions, demands a legal or equitable remedy. The defendant is required to respond to the plaintiff's complaint...
s against individual school officials were thrown out.
The National Center for Science Education
National Center for Science Education
The National Center for Science Education is a non-profit organization based in Oakland, California affiliated with the American Association for the Advancement of Science. It is the United States' leading anti-creationist organization, and defends the teaching of evolutionary biology and opposes...
noted, "One of the lawyers representing the plaintiffs is Wendell Bird
Wendell Bird
Wendell Bird is an attorney practicing in Atlanta, Georgia who concentrates primarily in litigation and in tax laws affecting exempt organizations. He is a senior partner at an Atlanta law firm....
, a former staff attorney for the Institute for Creation Research
Institute for Creation Research
The Institute for Creation Research is a Christian institution in Dallas, Texas that specializes in education, research, and media promotion of Creation Science and Biblical creationism. The ICR adopts the Bible as an inerrant and literal documentary of scientific and historical fact as well as...
. As a special assistant attorney general for Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, he defended the state's "equal time" law, which was ruled to be unconstitutional in Edwards v. Aguillard
Edwards v. Aguillard
Edwards v. Aguillard, was a legal case about the teaching of creationism that was heard by the Supreme Court of the United States in 1987. The Court ruled that a Louisiana law requiring that creation science be taught in public schools, along with evolution, was unconstitutional because the law...
. The National Center for Science Education works in collaboration with National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
, the National Association of Biology Teachers
National Association of Biology Teachers
The National Association of Biology Teachers is an American-based scholarly society that "empowers educators to provide the best possible biology and life science education for all students."...
and the National Science Teachers Association
National Science Teachers Association
The National Science Teachers Association , founded in 1944 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, is an association of science teachers in the United States and is the largest organization of science teachers worldwide...
, which consider creationism
Creationism
Creationism is the religious beliefthat humanity, life, the Earth, and the universe are the creation of a supernatural being, most often referring to the Abrahamic god. As science developed from the 18th century onwards, various views developed which aimed to reconcile science with the Genesis...
and intelligent design
Intelligent design
Intelligent design is the proposition that "certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent cause, not an undirected process such as natural selection." It is a form of creationism and a contemporary adaptation of the traditional teleological argument for...
to be pseudoscience
Pseudoscience
Pseudoscience is a claim, belief, or practice which is presented as scientific, but which does not adhere to a valid scientific method, lacks supporting evidence or plausibility, cannot be reliably tested, or otherwise lacks scientific status...
.
The Association retained leading intelligent design
Intelligent design
Intelligent design is the proposition that "certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent cause, not an undirected process such as natural selection." It is a form of creationism and a contemporary adaptation of the traditional teleological argument for...
proponent Michael Behe
Michael Behe
Michael J. Behe is an American biochemist, author, and intelligent design advocate. He currently serves as professor of biochemistry at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania and as a senior fellow of the Discovery Institute's Center for Science and Culture...
to testify in the case as an expert witness. Behe's expert witness report claimed that the Christian textbooks were excellent works for high school students and he defended that view in a deposition.
On March 28, 2008 the defendants won a legal victory when their motion for partial summary judgment was granted, and the plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment was denied. On August 8, 2008, Judge Otero entered summary judgment against plaintiff ACSI.