AACS Today

In this episode, AACS Government Relations Director Jamison Coppola is joined by Randy Melchert, Executive Director of Accord Kids, to discuss the historic Education Freedom Tax Credit. Passed as part of the Working Families Tax Cut Act, this provision allows taxpayers to redirect $1,700 of their tax liability toward student scholarships, a program estimated to qualify 85–90% of all children in the United States.

The conversat...

In this episode of AACS Today, Matt introduces the association's newest summer interns, Seth Walker and Johnathan Dys. Selected through a highly competitive process, these students from California Baptist University and Hillsdale College join the Washington office to gain firsthand experience at the intersection of faith and public policy.

The discussion highlights the interns' first days on the ground, which included attending meet...

In this episode, Matt  and Jamison explore the concept of "active waiting" as it relates to both the spiritual life and the current legislative landscape. The primary focus of the discussion is the Education Freedom Tax Credit (EFTC), as the association continues to await critical draft regulations from the Treasury Department. With the program set to take effect in 2027, the hosts emphasize the necessity for regulatory clarit...

In this episode of AACS Today, Matt and Jamison explore the shifting landscape of religious liberty and the emergence of a "new day" in Washington, D.C. The discussion focuses on the recent work of the Religious Liberty Commission and the Department of Justice's Anti-Christian Bias Task Force, which were established to investigate the "weaponization" of government mechanisms against Christian institutions.

Through a detailed look at...

In this episode, Matt Jamison explore the vital role of Scripture memory through the competitive sport of Bible quizzing. The conversation begins by revisiting the historical "Old Deluder Satan Act" of 1647, which established public education for the purpose of teaching children to read the Bible and guard against spiritual ignorance. Joining the program to share his passion is Micah Folkers, founder of the Cameroon Quizzing Associ...

In this episode of AACS Today, Matt and Dr. Coppola sit down with Sara Bookout, Director of the Hope Allen Center for Exceptional Children, to discuss the critical role of special education within the Christian school and church. As many ministries seek to improve their support for students with disabilities, this conversation highlights the Special Education Summit as a premier resource for professional development and spiritual e...

In this episode of AACS Today, Jamison is joined by Pastor Chase Davis to discuss his book, Offensive Christianity: Restoring the Strength of Men in a Feminized Age. The conversation explores the reality that God-designed masculine traits—such as ambition, assertiveness, and physical energy—are increasingly viewed as "offensive" in modern culture and educational settings.

Davis addresses the unintended suppression of mal...

In this episode, Matt and Jamison provide an inspiring recap of the recent AACS National Fine Arts Competition held at Bob Jones University. The discussion highlights some of the the updates of the event—dubbed "Nationals 2.0"—which introduced exciting new categories like classical guitar and animation videography to reflect student interests. The hosts celebrate the remarkable excellence of nearly 2,000 students compet...

This episode of AACS Today features Billy Hutchinson, Director of Colson Educators at the Colson Center. Hutchinson addresses the vital distinction between simply teaching Bible stories and cultivating a comprehensive biblical worldview that informs every aspect of a student's life. He argues that while many schools operate with a biblical framework, a true biblical worldview requires teachers to act as “worldview communicato...

Join Matt and Jamison as they welcome back Tim Goeglein, Vice President for External Relations at Focus on the Family, for an insightful discussion on his forthcoming book, What Really Matters: Restoring a Legacy of Faith, Freedom, and Family. In this episode, Goeglein explores the urgent need to "restate the obvious" by returning to first principles—faith, family, and marriage—to counter aggressive secularism.

A signifi...

In this episode, Jamison interviews Dr. Matthew Mehan, Associate Dean at Hillsdale College, and together, they explore the modern identity crisis facing young men. The discussion delves into the rise of the "manosphere"—a digital ecology of influencers who, while filling a cultural vacuum, often promote a "toxified" version of masculinity characterized by misogyny, vanity, and a lack of self-restraint.

Countering these trends,...

Join Jamison as he welcomes Luke Ball, an alumnus of the AACS Youth Legislative Development Conference (YLDC) and a prominent political communications strategist. Luke shares his journey from a student exploring worldviews to a professional navigating the fast-paced world of Capitol Hill and high-level presidential communications. The conversation dives deep into the "ministry of politics," emphasizing the biblical foundation of go...

In this episode of, Jamison is joined by Dr. Matthew Spalding, a distinguished constitutional scholar and Dean of the Van Andel Graduate School of Government at Hillsdale College. They discuss Dr. Spalding’s award-winning book, The Making of the American Mind, which provides a clause-by-clause commentary on the Declaration of Independence. Spalding argues that while many Americans "venerate" the Declaration, few truly underst...

In this episode of AACS Today, Jamison is joined by Dan Zacharias, Executive Director of the Old Dominion Association of Church Schools (ODACS), to discuss the landscape of Christian education in Virginia. As ODACS celebrates its 50th anniversary, the conversation highlights the association's unique role in supporting member schools across the state of Virginia.

A primary focus is the recent legislative battle over House Bill 359, a...

In this episode of AACS Today, Matt and Jamison welcome Hannah DeBruler back to the podcast. Hannah serves as the Higher Ed Policy Analyst for AACS, and she brings her expertise to unpack the implications of the "Do No Harm" test—a key accountability measure within the Working Families Tax Cut legislation.

The episode provides an in-depth analysis of how this federal mandate requires college programs to prove their graduates o...

This episode offers an exclusive, first-hand account of the fifth Religious Liberty Commission hearing held at the Museum of the Bible. Matt and Jamison dive into critical issues discussed, including the rise of anti-semitism on college campuses, the concerning trend of "debanking" faith-based organizations, and the protection of First Amendment rights. 

The discussion centers on the "excitement" sparked by Commissioner Carrie ...

Jamison and Matt recap the annual LEAD conference, a cornerstone event where state leaders gather to coordinate a unified agenda for the conservative Christian school movement.

The episode provides deep dives into LEAD’s collaborative format, which pairs formal teaching sessions with hours of peer-to-peer discussion regarding state-level trends, accreditation, and legislative advocacy. 

Discussion at LEAD centered on launc...

Join Matt and Jamison for an in-depth look at the Education Freedom Tax Credit (EFTC), a historic federal tax provision set to launch on January 1, 2027. After over a decade of advocacy, this landmark initiative offers a dollar-for-dollar tax credit of up to $1,700 per taxpayer for donations made to non-profit Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs).

In this episode, Jamison provides insights from recent White House meetings, deta...

In this episode of AACS Today, Matt and Jamison sit down with Austin Erickson, Senior Strategic Manager at Turning Point USA. The discussion centers on the legacy of the late Charlie Kirk and the remarkable growth of Club America, TPUSA’s high school initiative.

Erickson shares how the organization has seen incredible growth following Kirk’s assassination, with chapters increasing from 1,200 to 3,000 as students respond ...