How to Become an Accredited Private Home School
Many homeschooling families choose to educate their children without accreditation, using their own curriculum, and with no testing or oversight. Some homeschooling families prefer to be an accredited home school. Reasons for accreditation might include an implied higher quality of education, or a more competitive college applicant. There are some fraudulent websites claiming to provide "home school accreditation;" however, legitimate accreditation agencies do not accredit individual homeschooling families. Instead, if you want to become an accredited home school, you must make use of an accredited course of study through a charter school, umbrella school, or distance learning program. You can then supplement the course of study with your own materials in order to have an accredited, independent, private home school. Note that not all umbrella, charter, and distance learning schools will meet your state's requirements for home education, so be sure to research your state's laws before choosing a program.
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Instructions
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Accrediting your home school
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Research your local and national charter school, umbrella school, and distance study options. Legitimate accrediting agencies do not accredit individual homeschooling families. However, many local public charter schools have home study options, and there are also a variety of umbrella schools and distance study programs available. Make a list of the charter school and distance study options which appeal to you, and which have curricula in line with your educational philosophies.
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Research the accrediting agency of each of the schools on your short list. Not all accrediting agencies are comparable, and some are fraudulent. Reputable accrediting agencies include the six regional agencies recognized by the Department of Education.
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Enroll your child in a legitimately accredited charter school, umbrella school, or distance learning program. You can then supplement the accredited curriculum with your own curriculum and activities based on your educational philosophy or religious values.
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Tips & Warnings
A charter school is a school which receives public funding. Charter schools generally do not charge tuition for enrollment.
An umbrella school is a private program which oversees homeschooling families and helps them fulfill the legal record-keeping requirements for their state. An umbrella school may or may not provide a full curriculum and testing for students.
A distance learning program is a private program which usually provides a full curriculum and testing for students.
Not all distance learning or umbrella schools will satisfy the legal requirements for homeschooling in your state. The Home School Legal Defense Agency provides an overview of homeschooling laws for each state.
References
- Photo Credit school image by horacio villamonte from Fotolia.com
