FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Association Files Brief on Behalf of Private Schools
Colorado Springs, Colo.—April 13, 2012—The Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) will submit an amicus brief on behalf of private schools in Douglas County, Colo., Monday. The brief is in response to a Denver judge’s ruling last August that the Douglas County School District’s School Choice Program was unconstitutional.
“ACSI supported the Douglas County school board in their bold move for school choice for parents,” said Thomas J. Cathey, ACSI’s director for legal legislative issues. “It was a sad day to see the judge rule against the program. ACSI believes that parents should have the right to choose the education for their children.”
The brief, sponsored by ACSI with a grant from the Alliance Defense Fund, is signed by the Catholic Diocese of Colorado Springs, three Douglas County Christian schools and the Alliance Defense Fund. It states that the district court’s interpretation of the Colorado Constitution is a violation of the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment and must be overturned.
After the program was approved last summer, national groups and a few Douglas County residents came together to file a lawsuit against it. When the judge issued a permanent injunction of the program, more than 300 students had already enrolled in private schools.
ACSI, headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo., is comprised of nearly 24,000 member Christian schools in 100 nations worldwide. ACSI is recognized in the missions community as the leader in equipping Christian schools and educators worldwide, providing services through a network of 28 regional offices. The organization is a leader in accrediting Protestant pre-K–12 schools worldwide.
Christian Schools Damaged in Philippines
Colorado Springs, Colo.—February 6, 2012—Three Christian schools in the Philippines were significantly damaged during Typhoon Sendong last month. Flash flooding in the southern Philippines caused more than 1,200 casualties; over 1,000 people are still missing.
Dr. Tabitha T. Bullecer, country director for the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) in the Philippines, recently visited ACSI member schools in the affected area.
“In Cagayan de Oro, Pilgrim Christian College—located in the lower level of a building—was under 10 feet of water during the flood,” she said. “The flood damaged their fence and instructional equipment.”
Bullecer reported that computers, books, and furniture at another member school, Oro Christian Grace, were damaged. A third school, Calvary Chapel Bible College in Dumaguete City, sustained more than $30,000 USD in damage. Water and mud destroyed perimeter walls, dislodged water supply tanks and damaged appliances and other school equipment.
Multiple teachers and staff at all three schools lost homes and/or belongings.
“I prayed with them, listened to them and gave them some aid—most of which was contributed from ACSI member schools in Luzon and Cebu,” Bullecer said.
ACSI is collecting disaster relief funds to help affected schools.
“Schools seeing great progress in equipping their students and blessing their communities sometimes experience real suffering,” said Dr. David Wilcox, ACSI assistant vice president for Asia. “Such is the case with several Christian schools on the island of Mindanao and on the islands of the Visayas, Philippines. ACSI member Christian schools are already responding, and we invite others to join in this response through the ACSI Disaster Relief Fund.”
ACSI, headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo., is comprised of well over 23,000 member Christian schools in 100 nations worldwide. ACSI is recognized in the missions community as the leader in equipping Christian schools and educators worldwide, providing services through a network of 29 regional offices. The organization is a leader in accrediting Protestant pre-K–12 schools worldwide. Learn more.
ACSI Welcomes American Hostage Home
Colorado Springs, Colo.—January 30, 2012—The Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) extends a warm welcome home to Jessica Buchanan, rescued in Somalia January 25. Buchanan graduated from an ACSI member high school in Ohio and later served as a missionary at Rosslyn Academy, a member school in Nairobi, Kenya.
Buchanan and her colleague, who work for the Danish Refugee Council, had been held hostage since October 2011.
ACSI President Brian Simmons said Buchanan exemplifies the most significant finding from a recent nationwide survey of Christian schools. “The Cardus Education Survey showed that Christian school graduates are generous, outwardly focused individuals who stabilize their communities by their uncommon commitment to their families, their churches and larger society,” Simmons said. “We are grateful for Jessica’s willingness to serve in this way—but most of all, that she is now safe.”
The Cardus Education Survey, completed late last year, sought to determine a benchmark indicator for the long-term spiritual outcomes of Christian school graduates.
ACSI, headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo., is comprised of well over 23,000 member Christian schools in 100 nations worldwide. ACSI is recognized in the missions community as the leader in equipping Christian schools and educators worldwide, providing services through a network of 29 regional offices. The organization is a leader in accrediting Protestant pre-K–12 schools worldwide. Learn more about the Cardus Education Survey.