Association of Christian Schools International

== Controversies ==
The association was accused of racism in 1987 because the board could have had more diverse representation.<ref name="Merritt">{{cite web |last1=Merritt |first1=Jonathan |title=Segregation Is Still Alive at These Christian School |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/segregation-is-still-alive-at-these-christian-schools |publisher=Daily Beast |access-date=August 14, 2023 |date=September 18, 2016}}</ref> The ACSI Board and leadership, as of 2025, has since been more diverse,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Board of Directors |url=https://www.acsi.org/about-acsi/board-of-directors |access-date=2025-11-03 |website=ACSI |language=en}}</ref> but right wing commentators have accused it of being [[woke]] because of its partnership with UnifiEd.<ref name=woke>{{cite web | url=https://capstonereport.com/2021/03/26/christian-school-association-goes-woke/35708/ | publisher = Capstone Report|title=Christian School Association Goes Woke? | date=March 26, 2021 | access-date=December 25, 2025}}</ref>

In 2023, ACSI obtained church status from the IRS. This allows the organization to benefit from certain tax exemptions and protections, such as not needing to file [[Form 990]], which reveals executive salaries, grants, and major expenditures, thus lowering transparency. This comes after the organization experienced a surge in income and the value of its assets.<ref>{{cite web|first=Steve|last=Rabey|title=School Group ACSI Now Has Church Status From IRS|url=https://ministrywatch.com/school-group-acsi-now-has-church-status-from-irs/|date=February 28, 2023|access-date=December 27, 2025}}</ref> This move proves to be controversial as ACSI does not provide membership for churches.

In 2025, the Pennsylvania State Board of Education unanimously rejected ACSI's application to be recognized as an official accrediting agency under the state's ''Private Academic Schools Act''.<ref>{{cite web|title=PA Board denies accreditation to ACSI|url=https://www.christianitydaily.com/news/pa-board-of-education-denies-accreditation-to-christian-schools.html|date=March 19, 2025|access-date=December 27, 2025}}</ref> ACSI argued that state approval would bolster the credibility and accountability of its work, but legislators raised concerns that the organization's policies on "biblical sexuality" were discriminatory and could harm [[LGBTQ+]] students. ACSI's counsel characterized the denial as religious discrimination, with attorney Randall Wenger stating that ACSI was denied accreditation because it focuses on religious education.<ref>{{cite web|first=Chris|last=Woodward|title=School board rejects Christian org's request | url=https://afn.net/education/2025/03/19/school-board-rejects-christian-orgs-request/|date=March 19, 2025|access-date=December 27, 2025}}</ref>