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Christian School Enrollment

Christian School Enrollment. Allie Langhofer. Presenting Problem. Enrollment in private, Christian schools is declining across the US 350 urban Christian schools have reportedly closed since 2011-2012 ( Ritzema , 2013; U.S. Department, 2008)

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Christian School Enrollment

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  1. Christian School Enrollment Allie Langhofer

  2. Presenting Problem • Enrollment in private, Christian schools is declining across the US • 350 urban Christian schools have reportedly closed since 2011-2012 (Ritzema, 2013; U.S. Department, 2008) • American Association of Christian Schools reported a membership drop of over 34% from 2001-2014 (American Association, 2015) • There are disagreements about the reasons for this decline • People cite a variety of economic and cultural factors, among others • There has been a variety of research studies, but a comprehensive study has not been conducted and there is disagreement about what reasons are contributing to the decline • (Nichols, 2016)

  3. Biblical Perspective on Education • Education and knowledge are important to God: • Proverbs 2:6: “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” • Proverbs 9:9: “Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.” • 2 Timothy 3:16: “ All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching . . .” • Proverbs 1:7: ”The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge . . .” • Colossians 2:8: “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.” • 2 Peter 1:5: “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,”

  4. Project Significance • Fewer private Christian schools are available for students, especially in urban areas • Fewer options for those who want a faith-based educational experience and curriculum that is biblically integrated and taught with a Christian worldview in mind • By understanding the factors of the decline in Christian school enrollment, recommendations can be made on how to address the downward trend and help reverse it

  5. Project Significance • Protestant Christian school graduates’ religious beliefs impact how they interact with culture • Believe more strongly in moral standards that are absolute • More committed to serving communities and the world • Protestant Christian school graduates are the most regular in outward and inward spiritual disciplines • (Pennings et al., 2011)

  6. Financial Issues • The Great Recession accelerated private school closures (Ewert, 2013) • Many families cannot afford private school as tuition continues to rise • Private school enrollment rate or middle-income families declined substantially over the part 50 years, while enrollment rate of high-income families remained stable (Murnane & Reardon, 2018)

  7. Financial Issues • Schools may close if: • Short-term bridge financing is a necessity • Higher tuition discounts are offered than other similar schools • Debt is increasing and fund development is decreasing • (Fellers, 2013)

  8. Parental Expectations • Why parents chose private elementary schools in 2001: • 31% want a better academic program • 36% want their child to be instructed in a particular religion or value system • 8% want a smaller school • 4% want a safer environment and/or better discipline • (Short, 2001)

  9. Parental Expectations • In 2009, a study found shifts in parent priorities • Parents re-enrolled students in Christian schools on the basis of: • Satisfying relationships with others at school • Safety • Quality academics • Christian-specific reasons were not a cited as a priority • (Giglio, 2009)

  10. Parent Perceptions • Parents are well-informed and have more choices than ever • Some parents believe that in Catholic schools, religion comes before academics • View that Catholic schools lack a strong, well-rounded academic curriculum • Lacks a diverse learning environment • More research must be conducted, but these perceptions could be true of Christian schools as well • (National Catholic, 2018)

  11. Alternatives to Private School • Rise of charter schools: enrollment went from 0 in 1990 to 2.57 million in 2013-2014 (National Association, 2015) • Negative association between changes in private and charter school enrollment • Rise of homeschooling • Went from about 800,000 children being homeschooled in 1999 to about 2.04 million students in 2011 • Families often homeschool because they think it offers a better education • Online opportunities increase capacity to homeschool • (Horn & Staker, 2011) • These opportunities have led to a decrease in Christian school enrollment

  12. Cultural Shifts • About half of Millennials say they believe in God with absolute certainty • About 41% of Millennials say religion is very important in their lives • Fewer Millennials attend religious services on a weekly basis and pray every day than Baby Boomers, and the Silent and Greatest generations • (Alper, 2015) • Rise of moral relativism and postmodern thought have led to the rejection of absolute truth (Pearcey, 2005) • Fewer religious people could reduce the number of students in Christian schools

  13. Lack of Diversity • Christian schools need to provide greater racial and cultural diversification (Frey, 2015) • Create a culture of acceptance (Wepner et al., 2012) • Question of Christian schools’ effectiveness to enroll and retain students of color, which could contribute to urban school closures (Gant, 2013)

  14. Christian School Leadership • Studies in 2002 and 2006 found that school leadership was the leading factor in the closure of the Christian schools that were studied • Leadership includes • Pastors • School boards • Illegitimate leadership groups: groups of individuals who are not professionally qualify or school-authorized exert influence and control • Stakeholders pointed to character flaws and lack of personal integrity and humility • (Fitzpatrick, 2002; Nichols, 2006)

  15. Lack of Innovation • Some Christian schools have innovated • 1:1 device program (iPads) and integrating educational technology • Science partnerships with NASA and SpaceX • Robotic engineering programs • 3-D printing • Coding courses • (Nichols, 2016) • Many schools that have innovated are considered some of the best faith-based schools in the US (Ritzema, 2013) • Many schools that have refused to innovate are closed (ACSI, 2015)

  16. Potential Solutions • Improve school leadership at all levels • Change parental expectations and perceptions • Effective marketing and communication • Schools being innovative and open • (Nichols, 2016)

  17. GCU’s Success • GCU has an effective vision: • GCU “prepares learners to become global citizens, critical thinkers, effective communicators, and responsible leaders by providing an academically challenging, values-based curriculum from the context of our Christian heritage” • Encourage students to be global, morally-respectable and ethical citizens, critical thinkers, effective communicators, responsible leaders, and effective communicators • (Grand Canyon, n.d.) • No increase in tuition for the past 10 years • Investing over $1 billion in campus improvements • (Harman & Glosser, n.d.)

  18. GCU’s Success • Canyon Christian Schools Consortium: offers parents a return on their investment for sending their children to a Christian high school • GCU students receive money if they attended a Christian school that partners with GCU • Reduces the cost of private Christian education • Increases enrollment for faith-based high schools • Offers incentives to encourage high school students to enroll in GCU • (Harman & Glosser, 2018)

  19. References • Alper, B. A. (2015). Millennials are less religious than older Americans, but just as spiritual. Retrieved from https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/11/23/millennials-are-less-religious-than-older-americans-but-just-as-spiritual/ • American Association of Christian Schools. (2015). AACS membership records, 1992-2014. Associational data and information. East Ridge, TN: American Association of Christian Schools. • Ewert. (2013). The decline in private school enrollment. SEHSD Working Paper, Number FY12-117. US Census Bureau: Social, Economic, and Housing Statistics Division. Retrieved from http://www.census.gov/hhes/school/files/ewert_private_school_enrollment.pdf • Fellers, R. M. (2013). Recognizing warning signs of K-12 Christian school distress that lead to school closure. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. (UMI No. 3572828) • Fitzpatrick, J. B. (2002). Why Christian schools close: a model. Dissertation Abstracts International, 63(08), 2826. (UMI No. 3062346) • Frey, W. H. (2015). Diversity explosion: How new racial demographics are remaking America. Washington, D.C.: The Brookings Institution. • Gant, V. T. (2013). Urban school services: Assimilating urban students. Christian School Education, 17(1), 19. • Giglio, M. P. (2009). Leadership attributes in minority urban Christian schools having high reenrollment rates. (Order No. 3374326, Columbia International University). ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, 116. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/ 305064307?accountid=14749. (305064307).

  20. References • Grand Canyon University. (n.d.). Canyon Christian Schools Consortium. Retrieved from https://docplayer.net/15649668-Ccsc-canyon-christian-schools-consortium.html • Harman, G. & Glosser, J. (n.d.). Canyon Christian Schools Consortium. Retrieved from https://www.maranathachristianschools.org/GCU_CCSC_Scholarship__1_.pdf • Murnane, R. J. & Reardon, S. F. (2018). Long-term trends in private school enrollments by family income. AERA Open, 4(1). doi: 10.1177/2332858417751355 • National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. (2015). The national public charter schools dashboard: Total number of public charter schools 1999-2014. National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. Retrieved from http://dashboard.publiccharters.org/dashboard/ schools/page/overview/year/2011 • National Center for Educational Statistics. 1978–2011. NAEP Data Explorer, http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/naepdata. • National Catholic Education Association. (2018). The Catholic school choice: Understanding the perspectives of parents and opportunities for more engagement. Retrieved from https://www.ncea.org/NCEA/Learn/Resource/Academic_Excellence/Academic_Content_Area/The_Catholic_School_Choice__Understanding_the_Perspectives_of_Parents.aspx?WebsiteKey=60819b28-9432-4c46-a76a-a2e20ac11cfd

  21. References • Nichols, V. E. (2016). Schools at risk: An analysis of factors endangering the evangelical Christian school movement in America. University of Southern California. • Pearcey, N. R. (2005). Total truth: Liberating Christianity from its cultural captivity (study guide edition). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books. • Pennings, R., Seel, J., Van Pelt, D. A. N., Sikkink, D., & Wiens, K. L.  (2011). Cardus education survey: Do the motivations for private religious Catholic and Protestant schooling in North America align with graduate outcomes? Retrieved from https://cche.ca/cardus-education-survey-do-the-motivations-for-private-religious-catholic-and-protestant-schooling-in-north-america-align-with-graduate-outcomes/ • Ritzema, R. (2013). Regional director’s report. Presentation [including status update of ACSI-member schools in California and the United States] delivered at a Southern California district meeting of the California and Hawaii Region of the Association of Christian Schools International, Temecula, CA. • Short, C. R. (2001). The stated goals and purposes of Christian schools and the reasons parents give for choosing them. Dissertation Abstracts International, 62(02), 418. (UMI No. 3003496) • U.S. Department of Education. (2008). Preserving a critical national asset: America’s disadvantaged students and the crisis in faith-based urban schools. Washington, D.C. • Wepner, S. B., Ferrara, J., Rainville, K. N., Gómez, D. W., Lang, D. E., & Bigaouette, L. (2012). Changing suburbs, changing students: Helping school leaders face the challenges. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

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