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On February 27, the Alumni Awards Foundation hosted it’s third Renaissance Adventist Education think tank in Orlando, Fla. This education forum is currently touring the country and convenes the voice of church laity and leaders concerned about the future of Adventist K-12 schools. This podcast looks at some of to the challenges and solutions identified. You can download the full summit report below. Also, check our our facebook page–become a fan and browse the event photos.
GET THE DISCUSSION NOTES HERE.
1. Riverside Summit Discussion Notes, Sept. 19, 2009
2. Chattanooga Summit Discussion Notes, November 14, 2009
3. Orlando Summit Notes, February 27, 2010
It was a privilege to attend and even facilitate one of the breakout groups in Orlando. At least the Alumni Awards Foundation is acknowledging there is a problem. Since our meeting I have come to the conclusion that our current model is not sustainable. Churches are simply acting as resource generation centers to fund the private education of children. At our local church school the real costs to educate one child last year was $9300+ while constituent students were charged only $3800 and non-consitituents $6000+. The model is not sustainable unless we move to cost based education. Great schools in our area, some overtly Christian some not, by comparison charge $7000+ (that school about went bankrupt last year) up to nearly $12,000 and those tuition rates are all quoted for first graders. We must charge what it costs and then recognize not all can attend. 50% of our children at our church are enrolled in public school and so our system isn’t working to provide the Christian influence intended right now and it is slowly or not so slowly headed for bankruptcy.