Christian Philosophy of Education Requirement
One core value of ACSI is to have teachers who are equipped to integrate Scripture, model Christlike values, and be
prepared to answer students’ questions from a solid foundation of scriptural principles. Teachers bring the truth of
Gods Word into the study of all subject areas and help students nd their way in a world that seems confusing or even
conicting at times. Some teachers have the added responsibility of helping to shape curriculum, guide students with
loving discipline, and lead them to a saving knowledge of Jesus.
For all these reasons, teachers need to understand students and the place of faith in Christian education as well as how to
integrate biblical truth into the overall curriculum planning and daily instruction. One way to accomplish that is to read,
study, and develop a Christian Philosophy of Education (CPoE).
The new checklist for CPoE has met several goals:
Biblical integration has been added.
Fewer books are required.
There is more use of video.
Reading selections on biblical integration are more practical.
The book list has been updated; some have a 2016 publication date.
The task has been divided so that it is very easy to see a way to complete half in each of two years.
The entire requirement is now due at the end of the third year of teaching.
Demonstration of learning is now done through a paper and actual lessons taught.
Guidelines for the paper are provided—for the writer and the reviewer.
Teachers new to their schools are not expected to obtain an ACSI certicate the rst year. This entire requirement can be completed
by the end of the third year of their employment at a school (renewal of certicate). We suggest completing it in years two and three.
FI
RST HALFChristian Philosophy*
VIEW
ο Philosophy of Christian Education series by Dr. Derek Keenan.
Available on ConNEXUS Premium or through Purposeful
Design at www.acsi.org. (3 hours)
READ one of the following:
ο By Design: Developing a Philosophy of Education Informed by a
Christian Worldview. Dr. Martha E. MacCullough, 2013
ο Philosophy & Education: An Introduction in Christian Perspective.
George R. Knight, 2006 (4th ed.)
ο Teaching Redemptively. Donovan Graham, 2009 (2nd ed.)
WRITE an electronic paper, four to six pages in length, of your
personal philosophy of education as informed by a biblical
worldview. The paper should address at least six educational
philosophy components and how they are manifested in a
classroom setting—DO NOT SEND PAPER TO ACSI.
COMPONENTS OF A CHRISTIAN
PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION
Based on the video and readings you have completed, write a
CPoE paper, four to six pages in length, addressing the following
six components:
ο Christian Core Beliefs and the Purpose of Education (It should
include a discussion of what we know about God and what we
believe is true, real, and of value; the themes of creation, the
Fall, redemption, and the Christians role in restoration should
be included.)
ο Nature of the learner
ο Nature and role of the teacher
ο Nature of the learning process
ο A Christians view of subject matter and curriculum
ο Conclusion that includes the writer’s view of the goal of
Christian education and resulting educational practice.
Administrator, please sign verifying that the applicant has
successfully completed the above requirement. Administrators who
complete the philosophy requirement should have this form signed
by the school board chairman or the pastor of their church or school.
SECO
ND HALFBiblical Integration*
VIEW one of the following:
ο Making the Connections: How to Put Biblical Worldview
Integration into Practice (Sessions 1-9) by Don Johnson and
Dr. Christian Overman. Available on ConNEXUS Premium
www.acsi.org. (3.5 hours)
ο Your Christian School: A Culture of Grace? by Paul David Tripp
(4 hours)
ο Kingdom Education for the 21st Century: Sessions 1-13
by Dr. Glen Schultz. Available on ConNEXUS Premium
www.acsi.org. (6 hours)
READ one of the following books:
ο The Whole Truth: Classroom Strategies for Biblical Integration.
Mark Eckel, 2003
ο Virtuous Minds. Philip Dow, 2013
ο Truth Weaving: Biblical Integration for God’s Glory and Their
Abundant Living. D.P. Johnson, 2015
ο Undivided: Developing a Worldview Approach to Biblical
Integration. Martha E. MacCullough, 2016
WRITE two biblically integrated lesson plans (in the discipline
of your choice) and have an administrator observe you
teaching them.
Administrators may choose one of the following options:
Administrator, please sign verifying that the applicant has
successfully completed the above requirements. Administrators
who complete the biblical integration requirement should have
this form signed by the school board chairman or the pastor of
their church or school.
FIRST HALF SECOND HALF
Completed by
Completed on
Veried by (print name)
Position
Signature
Completed by
Completed on
Veried by (print name)
Position
Signature
Se
nd this completed form with your application, fee, and other renewal requirements.
Do not send separately. This checklist is not required for your initial ACSI certificate.
Questions? Contact: certification@acsi.org
*Please note: Both halves of this checklist are required in order to fulfill the Christian
Philosophy of Education requirement for ACSI certification.
ο Prepare and conduct an in-service training on biblical
integration for faculty. This in-service should last for
a minimum of approximately 1.5 hours.
ο Train new teachers in the concept
of biblical integration
and model a biblically integrated lesson for a new
teacher within their classroom.
ο Write two biblically integrat
ed lesson plans (in the
di
scipline of your choice) and borrow a teacher's
classroom
in which to teach them in order to
demonstrate biblical integration to a teacher or group
of teachers.
ALTERNATIVE MODELA More Flexible Option
A more exible approach for the Christian Philosophy of Education (CPoE) requirement for a school is to design a CPoE
checklist that is unique to that school. This model has a one-time fee associated with it for the approval process. The
school checklist will be led with the ACSI Certication Department. This may be especially appropriate for online schools,
international schools, and schools that may want to use a sta member or guest lecturer to present material in lieu of the
video presentations.
Step 1: Design a plan that provides a similar amount of material and covers both the Christian Philosophy and Biblical
Integration components. The school may choose from the books listed on the current checklist or may include
other books or articles to help accomplish the objectives. The school may choose to include video(s) or live
presentations. The plan needs to detail the way in which teacher will respond to each component.
Step 2: Create a checklist with all components.
Step 3: Submit the plan, checklist, and $150.
For payment by check, mail to: ACSI Academic Services
731 Chapel Hills Drive
Colorado Springs, CO 80920
For payment by credit card, visit:
https://www.acsi.org/christian_philosophy_of_education_alternative_model_application
Step 4: Academic Services will review the checklist and, if necessary, work with the school to nalize it. The nal approved
checklist will be registered in the ACSI Certication database.
Schools pay a fee of $150 for the application, approval, and registration of the checklist.
£ Check attached
Name of school:
School contact for CPoE:
Email address:
731 Chapel Hills Drive
Colorado Springs, CO 80920
719.528.6906 • acsi.org