Council on Educational Standards and Accountability 
The information on this page was last updated 1/22/2025. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
The Council on Educational Standards and Accountability exists to motivate, support, and hold accountable Christian schools that aspire to superlative academic standards, institutional best practices, and collaboration with like'minded schools.
Contact information
Mailing address:
1635 Old 41 Hwy NW
STE 112-310
Kennesaw, GA 30152
Website: www.cesaschools.org
Phone: (617) 309-6267
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 272792785
CEO/President: Kathryn Wiens
Chairman: Julie Ambler
Board size: 52
Founder:
Ruling year: 2012
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 06/30
Member of ECFA: No
Member of ECFA since:
Purpose
The Council on Educational Standards and Accountability insists that academic rigor and programmatic excellence in all areas are inherent to discipleship, not contradictory. As a result, CESA schools demand quality, commitment, rigor, and excellence in every facet of the school. CESA therefore works in conjunction with schools to enable growth, provide resources for improvement, and to hold accountable all schools who strive for programmatic distinction and excellence, for the glory of God.
Mission statement
To motivate, support, and hold Christian Schools accountable to superlative academic standards, best practices, and collaboration with like-minded schools.
Statement of faith
CESA affirms the Nicene Creed as its statement of faith with expectation that all member schools ascribe to its tenets.
CESA seeks to advance Christ's Kingdom through its educational outcomes.
CESA is committed to institutions whose programs reflect intentionality to program, policy, and culture that reflects Biblical ideology and Christian thought.
CESA affirms the Lordship of Christ and the authority of Scripture.
CESA is committed to ecumenical Christianity as differing perspectives and histories can enable institutional growth and improvement.
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
D
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Leadership Training
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 438 of 1134 | 9 of 24 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 480 of 1134 | 11 of 24 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 92 of 1134 | 1 of 24 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 909 of 1134 | 18 of 24 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 9% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 8% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 97% | 4% | 6% | 12% | 0% | 0% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 8% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 3% | 96% | 94% | 88% | 100% | 100% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 82% | 95% | 95% | 94% | 92% | 95% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 97% | 85% | 73% | 67% | 64% | 80% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 80% | 80% | 69% | 64% | 59% | 76% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 3% | 15% | 27% | 33% | 36% | 20% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 3% | 14% | 31% | 42% | 39% | 43% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 9% | 5% | 5% | 6% | 8% | 5% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.44 | 0.56 | 0.54 | 0.50 | 0.33 | 0.99 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.12 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.12 | 0.56 | 0.54 | 0.50 | 0.33 | 1.00 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 14.04 | 3.46 | 2.93 | 2.37 | 1.89 | 2.32 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.07 | 0.29 | 0.34 | 0.42 | 0.53 | 0.43 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 5.55 | 15.30 | 14.52 | 13.75 | 17.34 | 6.84 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 9% | 29% | 34% | 42% | 53% | 43% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 65% | 128% | 121% | 115% | 145% | 57% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Cash | $1,813,617 | $1,669,639 | $1,296,271 | $890,604 | $418,703 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $118,786 | $117,407 | $106,787 | $105,720 | $84,223 |
| Short-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $1,932,403 | $1,787,046 | $1,403,058 | $996,324 | $502,926 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $271 | $1,057 | $2,089 | $1,849 | $1,094 |
| Other long-term assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $271 | $1,057 | $2,089 | $1,849 | $1,094 |
| Total assets | $1,932,674 | $1,788,103 | $1,405,147 | $998,173 | $504,020 |
| Liabilities | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $70,324 | $98,867 | $69,360 | $23,964 | $41,670 |
| Other current liabilities | $487,915 | $510,750 | $523,774 | $503,303 | $175,559 |
| Total current liabilities | $558,239 | $609,617 | $593,134 | $527,267 | $217,229 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total liabilities | $558,239 | $609,617 | $593,134 | $527,267 | $217,229 |
| Net assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Without donor restrictions | $1,374,435 | $1,178,486 | $812,013 | $470,906 | $286,791 |
| With donor restrictions | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Net assets | $1,374,435 | $1,178,486 | $812,013 | $470,906 | $286,791 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Total contributions | $50,000 | $75,000 | $125,000 | $0 | $0 |
| Program service revenue | $1,209,254 | $1,263,366 | $922,715 | $508,631 | $623,138 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $14,657 | $873 | $104 | $57 | $167 |
| Other revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total other revenue | $1,223,911 | $1,264,239 | $922,819 | $508,688 | $623,305 |
| Total revenue | $1,273,911 | $1,339,239 | $1,047,819 | $508,688 | $623,305 |
| Expenses | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Program services | $1,020,480 | $924,253 | $666,251 | $297,668 | $475,008 |
| Management and general | $57,482 | $48,513 | $40,461 | $26,905 | $25,865 |
| Fundraising | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total expenses | $1,077,962 | $972,766 | $706,712 | $324,573 | $500,873 |
| Change in net assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $195,949 | $366,473 | $341,107 | $184,115 | $122,432 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $195,949 | $366,473 | $341,107 | $184,115 | $122,432 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Kathryn Wiens | Executive Director | $159,908 |
| Jim Marsh | Director of Reviews | $51,765 |
| Brian Bell | Director | $2,500 |
| Chris Cleveland | Director | $2,500 |
Compensation data as of: 6/30/2024
Response from ministry
No response has been provided by this ministry.
The information below was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 1/22/2025. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
In 2010, fifteen nationally and internationally exemplary Christian schools determined that institutional excellence and institutional integrity are their priorities and therefore came together with the Council on Educational Standards and Accountability leadership team to brainstorm and develop plans for an organization of Christian schools that would seek to impact education both nationally and internationally.
These fifteen schools committed time, intellectual capital, and financial capital to ensure CESA could be born, would be thoughtfully and strategically developed, and would provide resources for Christian schools to realize their potential as rigorous academic institutions committed to programmatic excellence and distinction, for the glory of God. CESA is an organization that believes deeply in and was founded upon the concept of Christian community; we believe transparency and accountability allow us to be the best schools we can be. We believe that when school leaders come into the CESA community humbly, transparently, and with the desire to improve, transformational leadership and practices will allow our schools to thrive for Christ.
Today, CESA serves Christian schools through leadership services, academic enrichment, programmatic development, professional development, and by providing fellowship and fraternity to those who serve within Christian institutions. The CESA Standards of Accountability© and the related Audit is the basis of our membership. Coming alongside schools and organizations, CESA seeks to enable Christian schools with rigorous, objective standards to guide their development, providing schools with the tools necessary to reach such standards and the networks necessary to propel Christian schools with excellence and accountability as their hallmarks. With fraternity as one of our core values, CESA connects school leaders with one another to meet their goals. The continuous input of other school leaders and accountability to the Council allows for real school improvement based upon aspirational standards.