God intervenes when His children disobey. Hebrews 12 teaches that this intervention proves His love and favor. Biblical parental discipline follows the same model. By the same principle, ACA cannot remain silent when our students are disobedient. Because we love them, we will attempt to consistently, patiently, and lovingly inform students when they are not meeting our expectations.

Different degrees of punishment communicate the different levels of seriousness we assign to infractions. For example, we respond to our students’ open disrespect more severely than to their tardiness. This policy communicates that we place greater importance on respect than punctuality, although we value both.

We recognize that discipline brings discomfort. God’s Word tells us that His discipline brings the same—it is “grievous” (Hebrews 12:11). But Hebrews 12 also teaches that God’s purpose in discipline is to sanctify—to make us holy. “He [disciplines] for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness” (12:10b). In disciplining our students, we endeavor to share this motive.

But we recognize that true holiness comes from the heart. We do not merely want outward conformity; we desire “heart obedience.” For example, a student who loses his temper betrays an angry heart. A student with wicked words has a corrupt heart; “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matthew 12:34). When ACA works with an outward problem, our goal will be a change of heart.

Major infractions may be met with consequences such as work details, detentions, suspensions, or expulsions. Our disciplinary process will often include parental conferences, discipline reports, counseling, and related projects.

A detailed list of our correction system is found in our Parent-Student Handbook, which is available upon request.