AACS Today

Trump versus Higher Education: Are colleges taking the bait? President Trump is using a high-stakes "carrot or the stick" approach to force reform. The stick? Civil rights investigations and taxing massive multi-billion-dollar endowments. The carrot? The Compact for Excellence in Higher Education. Signatories receive priority research grants for adopting merit-based admissions, freezing tuition costs, and protecting Title IX women's spaces from men. Only nine major institutions were offered this deal, and none have signed on as of yet. Critics claim Trump is politicizing federal funding. Don't miss AACS Today, Episode 103! 

We analyze crucial Supreme Court challenges that could overturn restrictive state laws preventing professionally licensed counselors from offering therapeutic support that helps clients live peacefully with their biological sex. Hear the shocking reason a planned public rally related to these cases was abandoned—illustrating the dangerous threat of an "assassin’s veto" against conservative speech. Plus, we break down the high-stakes legal fight to protect women's sports by keeping them sex-specific. Protecting your family requires vigilance, and understanding these legal realities is crucial. Consider Christian education as a vital investment and defense against conflicting ideologies!

On this episode, Jamison and Matt celebrate President Trump’s effective diplomatic results in the Middle East while discussing the third Religious Liberty Commission hearing, noting a "remarkable shift" in the administration’s strong support for religious liberty, faith-based offices, and actively addressing bias against Christians. This hearing focused specifically on private and religious education, stressing the importance of learning "virtue" and "truth", while examining how non-discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation and gender identity threaten the essential autonomy of private schools. The episode also included a moving tribute to the late Charlie Kirk, recognizing his tremendous cultural influence and connection to Christian education, having been saved in a Christian school classroom.

On the 100th episode of AACS Today, Jamison and Matt discuss what the government shutdown means for AACS schools as well as for education in general.

On September 8, the Religious Liberty Commission held their second meeting, which was hosted at the Museum of the Bible. Our very own Jamison Coppola and Olivia Summers were in attendance. On this episode, Jamison and Olivia share what the meeting was all about and what's next for the Religious Liberty Commission.

Jamison and Matt reflect on the assassination of Charlie Kirk and what comes next. They also look back on the National Legislative Conference, and the good things that took place during the conference.

Diane Bales, who was named as a Herzog Teacher of the Year for 2025, joins Jamison and Matt to share how she brings her first grade classroom to life, and how she asks her students to do hard things. Diane also explains how her love for Christian education was formed at a young age as she watched her parents face truancy claims because they decided to send their children to a Christian school. Don't miss this interview with Diane!

Join Jamison and Matt as they provide a high-level view of the federal school choice program, which is contained inside the recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill (OB3).  Will the program be available in your state? How much is available through the program? How has AACS been involved in the process? Be sure to listen to find out!

Sara Bookout, Director of the Hope Allen Center for Exceptional Children in Hickory, NC, joined Jamison on the podcast to explain how Christian schools can serve families who have students with special needs with both excellence and accessibility. As Sara explained, if we attach the name of Christ to something (as we have done with our Christian schools), it ought be excellent, and since Christ died for all, the education we offer ought to be accessible for as many students as possible. Be sure to listen to catch Sara's passion for serving families who have students with special needs!

Jamison and Matt interview Hudson and Hayden about their experience serving as AACS interns in the Washington office during this past summer. Be sure to catch how they grew, and what they hope to take away from their eight-week experience. They were a blessing to our team, and we're grateful for their work in the D.C. office!