Challenges Christian School Boards Will Face In The Next 5 Years

By Ruston Pierce
Fundraising & Capitol Campaign Manager | Fortify Foundation

If a person had said to your school board, “We are going to spend a year in our homes and all of your students are going to do virtual school”, your board would have probably considered having that person committed. However, we all did it, and no one saw it coming. Very few had a strategy to deal with it, and the role of the board in strategy became very visible and needed. 

School boards play a crucial role in the strategic operations of Christan education. However, the next five years are expected to bring a new set of challenges as educational landscapes continue to evolve. From adapting to career needs to managing political pressure, to adapting to possible changes in school choice, school boards will need to navigate complex issues to ensure students receive the best education possible. 

Teacher Shortages and Retention

The education sector is currently grappling with significant teacher shortages, a problem expected to persist in the coming years. Factors like a new generation of entrepreneurs who want to work less, low pay, burnout, and difficult working conditions have led many teachers to leave the profession. Identifying ways to grow teachers’ compensation, benefits, and professional development opportunities will be critical to recruiting and retaining the teachers we need in our schools. School boards will also need to explore alternatives like virtual teaching or partnerships with universities to help fill staffing gaps. Creative staffing requires very proactive planning as teacher licensure could negatively impactaccreditation. School boards must work closely with administration to plan effectively for future staffing needs.

Budget Constraints

School funding is a perennial challenge for every school, and this issue is unlikely to go away in the next five years unless you win the lottery. Many schools face budget constraints due to low tuition levels, rising operational costs, and the increasing demand for educational resources, such as exceptional education. School boards will have to make tough decisions about how to allocate limited resources while still providing high-quality education and identifying ways to raise their income.

A typical school traditionally has two revenue streams, tuition and fundraising. Does the board spend an equal amount of time creating strategy for each? They are equally important, and deserve the same amount of time in strategy, planning, and evaluation. What are your school’s five-year fundraising goals? Does your school have projected tuition vs. costs for the next three years? Beyond that, how do they plan to offset future increases or create other guaranteed revenue streams through creating plans around endowment? These are important questions for the school board to work collaboratively with the school administration to answer.

Political Pressure and School Choice Policy 

The political landscape has become increasingly polarized in recent years, and education has become a hot topic in local, state, and national elections. School boards will face increasing pressure from political groups, parents, and activists regarding issues like curriculum content, and religious liberty. Christian schools will not be immune from any of these issues. Families who are not missionally aligned will become a greater point of concern for schools who will deal with issues that come with open enrollment. The instinct by families to sue the school is growing across the country, and schools must make sure their policies and manuals are in alignment, staff have been appropriately trained in risk management, and the school is adequately insured to combat a legal attack.

The line between Christian education protections and government oversight will continue to become gray as school choice grows across the country. As schools we should not be afraid to participate in these programs because they can provide much-needed funding and enrollment in areas of need within our schools. However, we must plan well for an uncertain future. School boards should be very involved in the decision-making process regarding how schools will access school choice funds. Schools should also consider how they will replace this funding if it were to ever go away. Should your school build an endowment to prepare for a time when school choice may be rescinded? What other factors in your state should your board consider as they make these very important decisions?

Preparing Students for the Future Workforce

Christian schools must change in how they educate students. For years, Christian schools have prepared students for “our reality instead of their future’. The nature of work is changing rapidly, and school boards will need to ensure that students are being prepared for jobs that may not even exist yet. Our country also has a shortage of people signing up for the military, which can be a fantastic option for many of our students to not only serve their country but get their higher education paid for at a later time that better suits them. With the rise of industries who are growing technology, artificial intelligence, and agricultural needs, education systems must be aligned with the needs of the workforce in their communities.

School boards should work closely with local businesses, industries, and universities to design curriculum and programs that equip students with the skills necessary for future careers. This may include a focus on STEM education, agriculture, vocational training, and ROTC. Survey your constituents and allow them to help you develop a list of what the ten most needed jobs will be in your community for the next ten years. Can your curriculum be adapted to meet that need?

Moving Forward

In the next five years, the Christian school will face a rapidly changing educational landscape that requires them to adapt and innovate to meet the needs of students and communities. The challenges ahead are significant, but they also representopportunities for incredible Kingdom impact.

School boards will need to be agile, responsive, and committed to the mission of their school to grow the future of Christian education. By working collaboratively with teachers, parents, students, and administrators, school boards can ensure that every child has access to an education that prepares them for a successful future, and our schools can continue to grow and thrive for God’s glory.