What if every family who wanted their child to experience a Christian education could? Or, perhaps more pointedly, what if every family in your community who wanted the Christ-centered education you offer was given access? Does this opportunity happen already?
We, as Christian educators, may say that any student is welcome, but if we are honest with ourselves, there are many roadblocks preventing “any” student from belonging in our schools. Money, race, politics, gender, physical or mental impairment, transportation—the list goes on. All are real issues, but we would argue that these are merely excuses claimed by the student’s family or by the school. What is possible?
Envisioning the future
What do the next ten years look like for Christian schools in the realm of deep belonging? We pray that all Christian schools courageously and innovatively identify and develop student-centered solutions to the accessibility challenges unique to their context. By doing so, we hope that our schools will create Gospel-centered communities where every family—across economic, racial, cultural, physical, and neurological differences—does not just gain admission but sees that they have an irreplaceable seat at the table.
Note these key phrases and current realities:
- Courage and innovation. “Familiar” is safe, comfortable. But if we are serious about our mission as a Christian school movement, is “familiar” best practice? Developing and implementing solutions calls for action pushing past fear and creativity overcoming challenges.
- Recognition and accessibility challenges. Think bigger than ADA compliance. What about those students we declined with special needs or 504 plans? What about the annual 6%+ tuition increases? Are we on track to out-price ourselves? What about those minority students who never apply? Is it acceptable for our demographics to be different from the local community we serve?
- Prioritization of student needs. Solutions apart from what is best for kids are not solutions in the end.
- Gospel-centered communities. The good news that we can live in relationship with Christ should be what drives every interaction, every moment of every day.
- Value acknowledgement. Is each student known and loved by us just as they are by their Creator?
Dreaming together
The question before us is not whether this work of inclusion is necessary. The question is whether we are willing to lead with courage, creativity, and conviction, trusting that when we make room at the table, Christ is already there.
While no school has perfected the creation of a culture of deep belonging, many are leading in different aspects of this work, offering valuable insights and practices from which we all can learn.
With respect to diverse learner needs, Zeeland Christian Schools is deeply committed to ensuring that all of God’s children, regardless of ability, have a seat at the table. Their deep commitment to inclusion is made visible in many ways. From accessible print and online materials to their student support services staffing model to their learning options (Spanish and Mandarin immersion, nature-based education), it’s clear that deep time and intention are regularly committed to creating opportunities for all of their students and families to live into their school’s tagline of “burn bright.”
Grace Community School is creating pathways for deep belonging and accessibility. Grace defines diversity across race, socioeconomic status, learning and physical abilities; they seek to reflect the Imago Dei in community. Grounded in its mission, Grace provides support for learners with different academic needs and is intentional about working towards financial accessibility in an effort to broaden access to Christian education. Committed to supporting learners with diverse academic needs, Grace also ensures that approximately 35-45% of their student enrollment receives financial assistance and a minimum of 20-30% of the student population is students of color. Expanding access, Grace supports families who might not otherwise access a Christian education.
St. Augustine Preparatory demonstrates intentional belonging through economic access, diverse student representation, and whole-child support. Over 95% of students receive funding through the Milwaukee or Wisconsin Choice Program, removing tuition barriers for families with limited income. Serving students from more than 48 zip codes, Aug Prep is expanding to Milwaukee’s North Side, leveraging its mission-driven model to bring the truth and light of the Gospel to a city in need. The school remains committed to ensuring that every student is loved, valued, and seen.
We are encouraged by the number of Christian schools making strides to improve a culture of belonging. Our aspiration is that all Christian schools build a solid framework for radical accessibility and deep belonging.
Pathway forward
As Christian schools seek to build deep cultures of belonging in their schools, we suggest key steps and processes to propel the work forward in deep and meaningful ways.
- Conduct an audit: First, we recommend that a school does a self or external audit to identify accessibility challenges. This audit should involve reviewing historical and current data, pulling focus groups of all stakeholders. Before any tangible next steps are taken, the leadership team, in conjunction with primary staff members, should set a vision for an inclusive, Gospel-centered community. This vision should be communicated to all stakeholders and folded into all processes of the school from admissions/marketing to teacher professional development.
- Create a plan: After the vision is set and communicated, school leaders should create plans around how the vision is going to come to life across the school community. Stakeholders should be supported and held accountable for bringing the vision to life in their instructional and classroom culture practices.
- Extend the vision: With time, steps can and should continue to be taken to pursue courageous and innovative practices that will keep the vision alive. Schools of belonging should consider how they can sustain high accessibility in their budgeting and hiring practice, how they inspire donors, etc.
Metrics of success
Understanding how well the vision is being implemented requires examining different components of our schools’ operations:
- Admissions and hiring: Are we attracting and retaining families and teachers committed to the vision? Are we clearly articulating how we are able to meet the needs of our students and families in our promotional materials? What students did we lose and why?
- Financial aid budgets: Does our operating budget continue to prioritize financial accessibility for all?
- Racial diversity of staff and students: How does our school compare to local area demographics?
- Engagement of the parent community: Is the parent community promoting the vision of belonging? What are we doing about the parents not sold on the vision?
What now?
Christian schools committed to deep belonging understand that accessibility is not an add-on; it is central to the Gospel. When Christ remains at the center, schools become places where students are not only educated, but truly seen, supported, and sent.
The question before us is not whether this work of inclusion is necessary. The question is whether we are willing to lead with courage, creativity, and conviction, trusting that when we make room at the table, Christ is already there.
