The Problem

Despite years of targeted education reform and billions of dollars spent, poor and minority children remain the most undereducated and educationally vulnerable in society. The needs of students who are academically disenfranchised, culturally diverse, and economically disadvantaged (ACE) are not being addressed effectively.

Just look at the facts…

  • A third to half of Black and Latino pupils entering kindergarten test in the bottom quarter of students in reading, math, and general knowledge.
  • Three-fourths of ACE children assessed in fourth and eighth grade read below the proficiency level and nearly half read below the basic level.
  • Approximately half of Black and Latino children drop out of high school before graduation. 
Many ACE children start school and matriculate through school with a critical relationship deficiency due to inadequate and inappropriate nurturing, lacking the relational support and parental engagement essential for academic success.

As a result…

there are more than 20 million students in America today with almost no hope of achieving even a basic education.

Historically,

faith-based schools targeting and serving ACE children have outperformed national averages in achievement as well as high school completion rates. However, increasingly these students have little to no ability to attend a private, Christian school largely because they are not financially able to do so or are not academically eligible for admission. And even if they were, there are even less Christian schools in existence today than there were 20 years ago.

Previously, pulling children out of public schools and placing them in private, faith-based institutions was thought to be the most effective solution (extraction model)—but it’s actually the problem. Now we realize that although ACE children may have limited access to faith-based schools, the people of faith have unlimited access to ACE children.

“Now we realize that although ACE children may have limited access to faith-based schools,
the people of faith have unlimited access to ACE children.