Register   Sunday, February 05, 2012
Member Benefits Member Benefits  

Member Benefits and Resources (ACSI-USA)

Last Updated Nov 18, 2011


 

Thank you for being a member of the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). It is a privilege to be able to offer your Christian school, students, and staff the many benefits that ACSI has available.

The benefits listed here help ACSI fulfill its mission to enable Christian educators and schools worldwide to effectively prepare students for life. In connection with our benefits, this website has become a resourceful tool for many teachers and administrators. This site helps ACSI achieve its vision of speaking with a viable and authoritative voice in education.

Please take advantage of as many benefits as you can use and check other areas of the ACSI website for more benefits that we will be adding throughout the year. It is good to be part of a body of Christian educators who strive to place God's kingdom first in all we do.

To achieve ACSI’s mission and vision, the following services and benefits are available to Christian schools that are ACSI members.

 

Table of Contents

EE Prgms K–12 Schls Higher Ed Benefits and Resources
 •  ACSI Website Resources
  Accreditation (EE–grade 12)
    Administrator Internship/Mentoring Program
  Board Governance Materials and Training
  Certification for Administrators/Directors/Teachers
Christian Education/Program and School Recognition
    Christian Higher Education Approval Program
  Christian School Comment (parent newsletter)
Conventions and Conferences
 •   •    Destinations (international student placement and mission trips)
   •    Distinguished Christian High School Student Program
 •      eeRadio
   •    Financial-Aid Assessment Through ISM/FAST
 •   •    Health, Life, and Retirement Insurance Programs Through ISM
     •  Higher Education Resources and Approvals
  Instructional Materials and Educator Resources
International Institute for Christian School Education (IICSE)
    Internet Safety Curriculum (approved) Through iSafe
   •   Job Posting/Recruiting Services (EduCalling)
Leadership Academy
  Legal Defense Reimbursement Program (LDRP)
 •    Legal Services (discounted)
 • Legal/Legislative Support, Updates, and Defense Fund
 •    Listserv (administrator and director networking)
 •      Members' Only Early Education Web Resources
 • Office Copier Systems/Bizhub Through Konica Minolta
    Online Education for Students Through SevenStar Academy
 •     Payment Processing Services
 •     Preschool Associate Credential (PAC)
 •  •   • Professional Consultations/In-Services/Training
 •  • Professional Educators Associations
 •  • Professional Journals and Publications
 •   Property and Casualty Insurance Through Church Mutual
 •  • School Furniture, Equipment, and Supplies Through Staples
    STAR Program
    Student Activities
    Student Assessment (TerraNova)
   • Student Tours (historic) Through American Christian Tours
 •   • Tax-Exempt Bond Financing Through ACSI Capital Corporation
 •   •   • Technology Support/Purchasing Through Paragon Micro
 •    Tuition Management Through FACTS
 •    Tuition/Salary Survey
 •   •    URBAN School Services
 •      Virtual University for Early Education
 •   •   •  Webinars/Online Professional Development Library
    Website Downloads for Program Effectiveness

 TOP

ACSI Website Resources
The ACSI website connects to a broad array of educational resources designed to equip all member schools to reach greater effectiveness in achieving their mission. Member’s only password protected site available to EE members. The content of this area includes downloadable posters, certificates and program covers, along with children’s literature lesson plans. Content is updated regularly.
www.acsi.org

Accreditation (EE–grade 12)
ACSI accreditation provides EE–12 day and boarding Christian schools with regional, national, and international benchmarks to ensure standards, performance, integrity, and quality.
More Information

Questions?

Administrator Internship
Program

This program is designed to allow teachers who desire to be administrators go through an intensive one year internship program.
More Information

Administrator Mentoring
Program
This program is designed for Christian school administrators who have less than five years of experience.
More Information

Board Governance Materials and Training
ACSI provides several training resources for Christian school boards through Purposeful Design Publications. In addition, board governance training is available through the various regional offices. Contact your local office for additional information.

Certification
This program is designed to provide professional certification to qualified Christian school educators.
More Information

Questions?

Christian Educator/School Recognition
Career Service/Achievement Award
This service honors individual educators who are nominated and who meet the criteria for recognition.
More Information

Questions?

Christian Higher Education Approval Programs
ACSI offers two programs of approval for higher education institutions—Teacher Education Department Approval Program and Graduate Approval Program
More Information

Questions?

Christian School Comment (parent newsletter)
Christian School Comment is published monthly, September through May as a communication to Christian school families. The publication explores a variety of topics related to Christian schooling. ACSI President Brian Simmons and guest authors offer practical advice and encouragement to Christian school parents and families.
More Information
Conventions and Conferences
Professional training for administrators, board members, and, preschool through grade 12 teaching staff, is available through teacher conventions, conferences, and district meetings held every year in each region.
More Information: Conventions
More Information: Conferences




                                        TOP

Destinations
This exchange program encourages cross-cultural learning among ACSI member schools and their staff, students, and communities. Opportunities include inbound long-term study for international students at select ACSI member schools in the United States, outbound short-term mission trips for U.S. and Canadian school teams, and outbound long-term study-abroad for individual American and Canadian students.
More Information

Questions?

Distinguished Christian High School Student Program (DCHSS)
This program identifies and honors outstanding juniors and seniors of member high schools worldwide. The DCHSS Program also provides these select students with potential communication from ACSI member colleges and universities in North America that use this important vehicle to recruit Christian high school students for their degree programs.
More Information
eeRadio
EE members receive broadcasts through e-mailed Web links twice each month of the academic year (17 broadcasts per year). The ACSI website includes an EE members-only section that contains archived broadcasts.
More Information
Financial-Aid Assessment Through ISM/FAST
Financial aid administrators at ACSI schools will have an easier time than ever making precise and appropriate aid awards in the coming years, thanks to FAST® v3—powered by ISM.
More Information
Health, Life, and Retirement Insurance Programs Independent School Management (ISM) provides risk-management solutions and financial aid services for member schools. ISM has served hundreds of ACSI schools nationwide via professional development workshops, consulting services, and insurance coverage plans.
More Information

Higher Education Resources and Approvals
ACSI offers two programs of approval for higher education institutions—Teacher Education Department Approval Program and Graduate Approval Program
More Information

Questions?

Instructional Materials and Educator Resources
Textbooks from Purposeful Design Publications are available for review at no cost and are yours to keep. Member schools receive 25–50% off the price of Purposeful Design products. Member schools also receive free Purposeful Design teacher editions with each purchased classroom set of at least 10 student editions.
Instructional Support
Purposeful Design Publications
Customer Service 800.367.0798
International Institute for Christian School Education (IICSE)
IICSE, a 40+ year Christian school tradition, takes place on the Columbian International University campus. The schedule allows delegates to choose from 20 CEU tracks including Bible, three to five graduate courses, and numerous elective sessions. Teachers and administrators can earn up to three graduate credits or up to five CEU’s in Bible and professional studies.
More Information
Internet Safety Curriculum (approved) Through iSafe
ACSI member schools will now be able to access this comprehensive and age appropriate Internet safety curriculum for a 15% discount. i-SAFE meets federal requirements for e-Rate funding for technology and in most cases, enables schools to fund their subscriptions through the use of state "Title" programs.
More Information




                                        TOP
Job Posting/Recruiting Services (EduCalling)
EduCalling is ACSI's premier U.S. job placement service. Schools may post their vacant staff positions, and individuals may post their availability for employment.
More Information
Leadership Academy
ACSI’s forward-looking, issue-confronting Academy for leaders offers an outstanding keynote speaker and several point-counterpoint presentations and panel discussions. It also provides great networking among key leaders, including ACSI board members and major school leaders from around the world.
More Information
Legal Defense Reimbursement Program (LDRP)
Through the Legal Defense Reimbursement Program (LDRP), member schools can pay a small annual fee to be reimbursed up to $30,000 a year for legal fees related to employee or student lawsuits.
More Information
Legal Services
ACSI identifies and analyzes a broad array of national, legal, and legislative issues through its Washington, D.C. office. Reference articles dealing with Board Governance, Employment issues, Financial and IRS issues, Government Programs and Funding, Parent Issues, Student Discipline, Crisis Issues, and Health Issues are available online, accessed with a school username and password.
More Information
Legal/Legislative Support, Updates, and Defense Fund
Member schools receive current information and practical help dealing with national and state legal issues, including an up-to-date listing of state bills affecting Christian schools.
The ACSI Legal Defense Fund provides legal fees for selected cases and actions affecting ACSI member schools. Many member schools provide donations to this fund.
More Information
Listserv (administrator and director networking)
The listserv has been established to provide you with a valuable communications tool for sharing ideas and questions, growing professionally, and learning from others who face similar circumstances day by day.
More Information 
Members' Only Early Education Web Resources
ACSI assists early education programs serving children from birth to pre-kindergarten five-year-olds through regional and national services. Your team at ACSI is committed to providing high quality member benefits developed specifically for Christian early educators.
More Information
Office Copier Systems/Bizhub Through Konica Minolta
Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta) is ACSI's chosen Affinity Partner to provide bizhub® MFPs (MFP—print, copy, fax and scan all in one system) and solutions to meet the needs of ACSI's schools. Not only will Konica Minolta provide top-notch pricing and products to ACSI schools, they will provide the necessary support and training.
More Information
Online Education for Students Through SevenStar Academy
Sevenstar Academy partners with over 250 Christian schools around the world to offer online Christian courses. An online option will help schools with challenges in various areas including curriculum, recruiting, scheduling (for both students and teachers), finances (new sources of revenue), and school growth. Sevenstar is a low–cost option (and, possibly, an additional income source) to meet these needs.
More Information

                                        TOP
Payment Processing Services
Increase your cash flow and improve collection with the ACSI Merchant Program by providing payment options for families. This program ensures the best rates for credit card processing with no application, annual, or cancellation fees to ACSI members.
www.affiniscape.com/acsi
866.376.0950
Preschool Associate Credential (PAC)
The PAC is a competency credential that is equivalent to the nationally recognized CDA and to several state competency credentials. ACSI’s Virtual University contains all the training to complete the requirements for the Preschool Associate Credential.
More Information
Professional Consultations, Development/In-Services, Trainings
Our belief is that professional development is not an event; it is a process. This is accomplished through: Nexus, Enablers, Webinars, Mentoring, Internships, and other incredible resources.
More Information

Professional Educators Associations
Individuals can join these associations to experience personal and professional
growth.

International Association of Christian School Administrators and Board Members (IACSA&B)

International Association of Christian Early Educators (IACEE)

Professional Journals and Publications
ACSI provides professional resources which are readily available to you through monthly and quarterly publications that encompass a variety of critical issues:
Christian Early Education
Christian School Comment
Christian School Education
Legal Legislative Update
Math By Design
National Notes
Prayer Guide
Regional News
The Meantime
World Report
Property and Casualty Insurance Through Church Mutual
Church Mutual has more than 700 Association of Christian Schools International customers across the United States. Through this partnership, ACSI members can become eligible for potential cost savings and dividend distribution (if allowed in your state).
More Information






                                        TOP
School Furniture, Equipment, and Supplies Through Staples
The STAPLES Advantage team understands the time and financial challenges of every part of our ACSI family. STAPLES Advantage carries all the school supplies, furniture, art supplies, and janitorial products for the classroom and office. With Staples Advantage, its easy!
More Information
STAR Program
Designed to assist non-accredited ACSI member schools with a formal process of school improvement that will lead schools toward recognition and possibly toward accreditation with ACSI. 
More Information
Student Activities
Our mission statement for student activities clearly states the purpose behind all the work involved in the organization of each event: to develop and sponsor activities and events that enhance God-given abilities, gifts, and talents in the lives of our students.
More Information
Student Assessment (TerraNova)
ACSI is pleased to announce our selection of CTB/McGraw-Hill as our standardized test vendor beginning with the spring of 2012 testing season.
More Information
Student Tours (historic) Through American Christian Tours
American Christian Tours (ACTS) offers you, as educators and administrators, the chance to ignite a fire within your students that will help turn them into world changers. By experiencing a face to face encounter with America’s Christian history, your students will gain not only a deeper understanding of our nation’s heritage, but a sense of their role in our nation’s future.
More Information
Tax-Exempt Bond Financing Through ACSI Capital Corporation
The ACSI Capital Corporation is a Colorado non-profit corporation that provides ACSI member schools and colleges (including early education programs) in the United States with substantially reduced interest and issuance costs for long-term debt.
More Information
Technology Support/Purchasing Through Paragon Micro
Paragon Micro is focused on a complete range of solutions that help education customers K–12 and higher education reach their goals—technology, services, perspectives, resources and information that address all the needs of professors, researchers, students and administrators alike.
More Information
Tuition Management Through FACTS
FACTS Management Service has served ACSI schools for years—assisting them by handling the entire tuition collection and management process and providing unmatched personal service. Hundreds of ACSI schools have found that FACTS offers “a better way” to handle their cash management process.
More Information
Tuition/Salary Survey
Accumulates and compares data in various areas including personnel issues, budget percentages, enrollment numbers such as student-teacher ratio and student retention, tuition increases, and many other helpful statistics. 
More Information




                                        TOP

URBAN School Services
This department provides products and services to Christian educators and schools, enabling them to effectively educate urban, socioeconomically disadvantaged, and minority students.
More Information

Questions?

Virtual University for Early Education
Early educators can access affordable online training through the ACSI website. They can take advantage of more than 120 hours of entry-level content. Christian early educators will appreciate the Christian perspective used to address an entire catalog of topics.
More Information
Webinars/Online Professional Development Library
Our belief is that professional development is not an event; it is a process. This is accomplished through: Nexuslive Webinars, and prerecorded Webinars available to you at your convenience.
More Information
Website Downloads for Program Effectiveness
Explore the online resources through the ACSI website. Examples include Child Development, Developing Early Education Curriculum, 
Facilities/Environment,
Home/Community Relations,
Instruction/Curriculum, 
Library/Media, Personnel,  
Prof/Personal Development,  
Program Management,  
Safety/Health/Nutrition, and much more!
More Information
                                         TOP

Making dreams come true requires expert tools.

ACSI's National Corporate Partners provide you with the tools you need to empower your students to reach their dreams. The products and services these partners offer will enable you to focus on what matters most: your students!

Fill your toolbox with ACSI-exclusive benefits!

Find out how these partner's products and services can benefit your school—contact ACSI's corporate partner manager at 719.867.0208 or visit our National Corporate Partners Web page.
 

 


Contact your Regional Office for more details 
                              on all the benefits ACSI has to offer!
                                  

 TOP

Member Benefit Links  

Share/Save/Bookmark