AACS Today

Jamison welcomes Dr. Matthew Mehan back to the podcast to discusses his landmark work, The American Book of Fables , an illustrated heirloom collection released to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary ,. Dr. Mehan explores his mission to " restore the American imagination " by restocking the cultural pantry with moral images that foster virtue and wisdom in a free people. Organized in...

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...

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 d...

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 emph...

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 mechan...

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 Fo...

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 pro...

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 address...

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 excelle...

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 teach...

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 coun...

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, a...

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,&q...

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...

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 re...

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 co...

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 &q...

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.  Discussio...

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...

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...

Olivia joins Matt and Jamison for some breaking news: the Youth Legislative Training Conference is officially now the Youth Legislative Development Conference (YLDC) . Inspired by a conversation with a member of Congress regarding the dignity of human reason, the new name better reflects the program's focus on intellectual and character growth. Based in Washington, D.C., the YLDC equips high...

In this episode, Matt and Jamison delve into recent Supreme Court arguments regarding laws in Idaho and West Virginia . These cases center on whether states can require student athletes to compete according to their biological sex rather than gender identity. The discussion examines the legal nuances of Title IX and the 14th Amendment , highlighting the critical need for a clear legal definition o...

This episode explores the shifting dynamics of the 119th Congress , focusing on what we can expect as we enter 2026. Jamison and Matt discuss the ongoing effort to wind down the Department of Education and the legislative push for "Reconciliation 2.0" to enhance school choice through the federal tax credit scholarship program. The conversation further addresses cultural concerns, includi...

On this episode, Matt and Jamison discuss the emerging federal school choice program, which is structured as a tax bill under the Treasury Department—not the Department of Education—and is projected to be a $25 billion annual initiative funded by private donations to Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs). The discussion centers on the crucial regulatory phase, where the Treasury Department is...

On this episode, Jamison and Matt welcome Chloe Cole, an articulate 21-year-old woman passionately advocating against the practice of transitioning minors. Chloe shares her powerful, true story of undergoing medical gender transition between the ages of 12 and 16, which included puberty-suppressing drugs, high-dose testosterone, and a double mastectomy at age 15. She speaks with firsthand authorit...