Journal of K–12 Christian Education · Volume 1, Spring 2027

By submitting a manuscript to the Journal of K–12 Christian Education (JKCE), the corresponding author certifies, on behalf of all named authors, agreement with the following terms.

1. Originality and prior publication

The manuscript is the authors' own original work. It has not been previously published in substantially the same form, is not currently under review at another journal or publication, and will not be submitted elsewhere while under review at JKCE. Authors must disclose any prior publication of related or overlapping work at the time of submission.

2. Authorship

All listed authors have made a substantive intellectual contribution to the work. Authorship credit requires genuine participation in at least two of the following: conception or design of the study; collection, analysis, or interpretation of data or sources; drafting or critically revising the manuscript. Individuals who assisted with the work but do not meet these criteria are acknowledged rather than listed as authors.

3. Copyright and licensing

Authors retain copyright in their work. Upon acceptance, authors grant JKCE a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to publish, reproduce, and distribute the final version of the article under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license. This license permits others to share and adapt the work for any purpose, provided appropriate credit is given to the authors.

4. Accuracy and integrity

The manuscript accurately represents the authors' research, argument, and sources. Data, quotations, and citations are accurate and verifiable. No fabrication, falsification, or selective omission of results has occurred. Any errors discovered after submission will be disclosed promptly to the editor.

5. Conflicts of interest

Authors must disclose any financial, institutional, or personal relationships that could reasonably appear to influence the research or its interpretation. If no conflict exists, authors should state this in the submission disclosures field. Undisclosed conflicts identified after publication may result in a correction or retraction.

6. Use of artificial intelligence

Authors who used AI writing tools in the preparation of the manuscript must disclose this in the submission form. AI tools may not be listed as authors. The intellectual contribution, argument, and scholarly responsibility remain with the human authors.

7. Human subjects and ethical approval

Research involving human participants must have been conducted in accordance with applicable ethical standards, including institutional review board (IRB) or equivalent approval where required. Authors must confirm in the submission that such approval was obtained or explain why it was not required.

8. Correction and retraction

Authors are obligated to notify the editor promptly if they discover a significant error in a published article. JKCE reserves the right to issue corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions in accordance with the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

9. Theological alignment

Authors certify that the submitted work reflects genuine engagement with the theological commitments of the journal, as described in the journal's scope statement, and does not contradict the authority and sufficiency of Scripture as the final rule for faith and practice.

Questions about this agreement should be directed to the Editor-in-Chief prior to submission.

Journal of K–12 Christian Education · Double-Blind Peer Review

The quality and integrity of JKCE depend on the work of peer reviewers. These guidelines describe the review process, what reviewers are asked to evaluate, and the standards of conduct expected of all reviewers.

The review process

JKCE uses double-blind peer review. Reviewers do not know the identity of authors, and authors do not know the identity of reviewers. Manuscripts are assigned by the Editor-in-Chief to two reviewers with relevant expertise. Reviewers are asked to return evaluations within eight weeks of accepting an assignment. Reviewer identities are kept confidential.

Accepting or declining an invitation

Reviewers should accept an assignment only if they have genuine expertise in the manuscript's subject matter and can return a complete evaluation within the requested timeframe. If a conflict of interest exists (prior collaboration with an author, institutional rivalry, personal relationship, or financial interest in the outcome), the reviewer must decline and notify the editor. Reviewers who cannot complete a review after accepting should notify the editor as early as possible.

What to evaluate

• Scholarly contribution. Does the manuscript make a genuine contribution to the field of K–12 Christian education? Does it engage meaningfully with existing scholarship?
• Argument and method. Is the central argument clear and well-supported? Is the methodology (where applicable) appropriate and adequately described? Are sources used accurately and fairly?
• Theological integrity. Does the manuscript reflect engagement with the theological commitments of the journal? Reviewers need not share the author's confessional position but should evaluate whether the work engages these commitments honestly.
• Writing and presentation. Is the manuscript clearly written and well-organized? Does it meet the journal's formatting requirements? Is the abstract an accurate summary of the manuscript?

Recommendations

• Accept as submitted. The manuscript is ready for publication with no substantive changes required.
• Accept with minor revisions. The manuscript is suitable for publication pending small corrections that do not require re-review.
• Revise and resubmit. The manuscript has merit but requires substantive revision before a final decision can be made. A revised submission will be reviewed again.
• Decline. The manuscript is not suitable for publication in JKCE in its current form. Reviewers should provide reasons that are constructive and specific.

Tone and constructiveness

Reviewer comments are shared with authors verbatim. Feedback should be honest, specific, and constructive. Reviewers should identify weaknesses clearly and suggest concrete improvements where possible. Personal criticism, dismissive language, and comments unrelated to the manuscript's scholarly merit are not appropriate. The goal is to help authors improve their work and to serve the broader field.

Confidentiality

Manuscripts under review are confidential. Reviewers may not share, cite, discuss, or use the content of a manuscript under review without the explicit permission of the editor. This obligation continues after the review is complete.

Timeliness

Reviewers are asked to return evaluations within eight weeks of accepting an assignment. Reviewers who anticipate a delay should notify the editor promptly. Authors have been told to expect a decision within ten weeks of submission.

Ethical standards

JKCE follows the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Reviewers who suspect plagiarism, data fabrication, undisclosed conflicts of interest, or other ethical concerns should notify the editor rather than addressing these concerns in reviewer comments to the author.

Questions about a specific assignment or these guidelines should be directed to the Editor-in-Chief.