AACS Today

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...

In this episode, Matt and Jamison discuss the significant next steps announced by Secretary Linda McMahon in the effort to close the Department of Education. Since permanent closure requires Congress, the department is moving programs through inter-agency agreements with several programs transferring to other agencies including the State Department and Department of Labor. The hosts focus on the c...

In this episode, Matt and Jamison welcome Texas State Senator Phil King—a respected Christian political leader representing constituents in Senate District 10—to discuss the major legislative battles shaping the state and the nation. Senator King provides deep insight into the Ten Commandments bill , which mandates the posting of the commandments in Texas public schools, and the ongoing legal chal...

This episode of AACS Today dissects a public "dust up brewing" among conservative friends, viewed as a critical fight for the "soul of conservatism." The hosts analyze the debate over the quote "No enemies to my right" amidst current political realignments, discussing controversies involving key figures like Matt Walsh, Tucker Carlson, and the Heritage Foundation. Gai...

Trump versus Higher Education: Are colleges taking the bait? President Trump is using a high-stakes "carrot or the stick" approach to force reform. The stick? Civil rights investigations and taxing massive multi-billion-dollar endowments. The carrot? The Compact for Excellence in Higher Education . Signatories receive priority research grants for adopting merit-based admissions, freezing...

We analyze crucial Supreme Court challenges that could overturn restrictive state laws preventing professionally licensed counselors from offering therapeutic support that helps clients live peacefully with their biological sex. Hear the shocking reason a planned public rally related to these cases was abandoned—illustrating the dangerous threat of an "assassin’s veto" against conservati...

On this episode, Jamison and Matt celebrate President Trump’s effective diplomatic results in the Middle East while discussing the third Religious Liberty Commission hearing, noting a "remarkable shift" in the administration’s strong support for religious liberty, faith-based offices, and actively addressing bias against Christians. This hearing focused specifically on private and religi...

On the 100th episode of AACS Today , Jamison and Matt discuss what the government shutdown means for AACS schools as well as for education in general.

On September 8, the Religious Liberty Commission held their second meeting, which was hosted at the Museum of the Bible. Our very own Jamison Coppola and Olivia Summers were in attendance. On this episode, Jamison and Olivia share what the meeting was all about and what's next for the Religious Liberty Commission.

Jamison and Matt reflect on the assassination of Charlie Kirk and what comes next. They also look back on the National Legislative Conference, and the good things that took place during the conference.

Diane Bales , who was named as a Herzog Teacher of the Year for 2025 , joins Jamison and Matt to share how she brings her first grade classroom to life, and how she asks her students to do hard things. Diane also explains how her love for Christian education was formed at a young age as she watched her parents face truancy claims because they decided to send their children to a Christian school. D...

Join Jamison and Matt as they provide a high-level view of the federal school choice program, which is contained inside the recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill (OB3).  Will the program be available in your state? How much is available through the program? How has AACS been involved in the process? Be sure to listen to find out!

Sara Bookout , Director of the Hope Allen Center for Exceptional Children in Hickory, NC, joined Jamison on the podcast to explain how Christian schools can serve families who have students with special needs with both excellence and accessibility. As Sara explained, if we attach the name of Christ to something (as we have done with our Christian schools), it ought be excellent, and since Christ d...

Jamison and Matt interview Hudson and Hayden about their experience serving as AACS interns in the Washington office during this past summer. Be sure to catch how they grew, and what they hope to take away from their eight-week experience. They were a blessing to our team, and we're grateful for their work in the D.C. office!

In this episode, Jamison is joined by Paul Smith, the founder and executive director of Citizen Impact, a ministry that bridges the gap between churches and public policy. Jamison and Paul discuss Peach State politics and how citizens can influence their government. You can check out more of Paul's work at Citizen Impact.