I have had very positive experiences with ACSI`s Legal Defense Reimbursement Program. We had a disturbing experience a few years ago and were able to get a referral from ACSI Legal to a lawyer who could advise us. ACSI`s Legal Defense Reimbursement Program paid for legal advice. I enjoyed both the transfer and the refund. The costs are therefore minimal for the benefit. We will always be members. ACSI identifies, analyzes and works on a wide range of legal, regulatory and legislative issues. The team is led by Fr. George Tryfiates, Vice President of Public Policy and Legal Affairs, who works in Washington, D.C., on a variety of legislative and policy issues with a focus on federal issues.

Philip Scott, vice president of legal affairs, also in the Washington, DC office, handles a wide range of legal and legislative matters. The team is also supported by Dr. Tom Cathey, Chief of Staff, and Elizabeth Clayton, Public Policy and Communications Assistant. Each year, the team produces the Legal Legislative Update, a publication that is sent to member schools three times a year. ACSI partners with Darkness to Light to offer Stewards of Children, a training program to prevent child sexual abuse in schools. LLU is a journal dedicated to the legal and legislative issues of non-profit religious education and related sub-topics, with a focus on K-12 education. ACSI is active in the legislative process by signing coalition letters, communicating with elected officials and the media, sending legal warnings explaining issues to stakeholders, and voter emails that make it easy for voters to communicate their views to legislators and why. ACSI has always looked for ways to support member schools with convenient and affordable services. Due to the fact that member schools have faced various legal actions involving employees or students, ACSI has developed the Legal Defense Reimbursement Program.

Claims not covered by the Program include those relating to a physical injury to an employee or student, a claim or proceeding by employees, or a sexual act against a student or employee. A school must follow the procedures outlined in the indemnification agreement to be eligible for a refund. While the program is not an insurance policy and does not provide accident payments for a lawsuit, the $325 annual fee for this service is worth the value and safety it can bring! Philip Scott has been with ACSI since 2011 and currently serves as Vice President of Legal Affairs in the Washington, DC office. While holding several positions at ACSI, he currently focuses on advocacy and state support in organizing the voices of the state`s Christian schools. Philip`s experience is a mixture of education, religion and law. Philip is the Editor-in-Chief of the Legal Legislative Update and advises schools on legal, legislative and HR matters. He also oversees and manages the LDRP program. He has taught U.S. government and civics to middle and high school students in Christian schools. Most recently, he has been a lecturer in bachelor`s and master`s programs that taught ethics, nonprofit law, and educational law.

He is a two-time graduate of Liberty University with a Bachelor of Education and a Juris Doctor from Liberty University School of Law. He studied theology and law at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and is admitted to the Colorado Bar. Philip and his wife Heather are outnumbered as they have three children, a dog and a cat. Heather and Philip met in fifth grade at the Christian school they attended. For more than 15 years, ACSI has been helping schools prevent potential lawsuits through the Legal Defense Reimbursement Program (LDRP). Through this hands-on program, ACSI provides participating schools with pre-discharge and pre-admission legal advice (up to $750) before making a decision that could expose a school to legal risk. The annual service also provides reimbursement of attorneys` fees and litigation fees that the school must pay due to certain types of legal claims or lawsuits brought by employees or students. The Ministry of Public Policy and Legal Affairs has collected nearly 400 articles, checklists and templates for use by member schools. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” ACSI does a number of other things to promote Christian education through the media, press conferences and other means. This year`s Public Policy and Advocacy Summit (formerly known as the National Legislative Conference), hosted by CASI`s Public Policy and Legal Affairs team, is a special professional development opportunity that engages each participant with important policy updates on federal legislation from Senators and Special Guest Representatives. It will also include workshops on the following topics: ACSI urges Christian schools to be proactive in protecting a space for Christian education and promoting their goals both nationally and internationally.