It’s important to understand what ‘accreditation’ is otherwise, it is just another term that can confuse parents who are searching for the right homeschooling program to enroll their children. The accreditation process was developed to help establish a baseline of standards that align with the national standards and expectations. There are a variety of agencies that fall within this category so schools can earn multiple accreditations depending on their location, religious affiliation, specialized learning and other features. Schools without an accreditation may offer a great curriculum and list of courses but students will still face challenges as outlined below.
In the United States today, there are over 100,000 traditional schools in existence and this does not include the number of homeschooling programs or families enrolled in this approach. These schools are spread across 50+ states with different regulations, standards and processes that must also align to some degree with the federal education requirements. There is a lot of room for variations and differences and this is just in traditional schools, so what happens when families start homeschooling and have their own way of doing things. The accreditation process provides options so schools can be examined and certified as meeting basic standards in education that are understood and relied upon by all schools at every level. This means that if a student is transferring from one school to the next and both are accredited then the school is likely to accept their transcript of courses.
As a homeschool student, this is especially important which is why the best online Christian high school takes the time to work through the process with not just one but several accrediting agencies. Some may be within the state, regional, national or religious-based depending on what their curriculum teaches and the foundational guideline of the school. Homeschoolers who later decide to transfer into the traditional school system need to know that their credits will be accepted so they don’t have to redo classes which is a waste of time and money, as well as discouraging for the student. For parents, they can have assurance that the school is being held accountable to recognized standards, so they don’t have to be concerned about their child receiving a poor-quality education that will have them behind the curve compared to the competition. In fact, the classes may rank above what the school has to offer and help promote them to a higher level.
Another benefit of enrolling in the best accredited online Christian high school is the transcript acceptance by colleges all over the United States. Colleges do not have the luxury of examining each school they receive transcripts from and determining whether the institution is reliable and provides curriculum that meets standards. Instead, all they need to do is determine if the school is accredited by a qualifying agency and that immediately lets them know the level and how they accept classes. It is important to keep in mind that this does not guarantee the college or university will accept all classes in the case of a dual enrollment program so this needs to be worked through the homeschool platform to ensure a smooth transition and full acceptance.
Accreditation does not just focus on the curriculum but also the teachers, how they instruct students and the administration. It is a comprehensive review that seeks to ensure that students receive the best education possible whether it is via textbook, an online portal or online math tutor. Homeschool programs are considered private and so are outside some of the state’s restrictions and guidelines but it is necessary to guarantee they are providing students with the attention and level of instruction they need to pass the state tests and move to the next phase of their education if college is what they want. The accreditation process must be renewed every so often so schools cannot just earn it once and then let the standards slip but must keep them up in order to retain their certification while they are in business.
Parents should be able to find out if the best online Christian high school is accredited by looking at their website but if it isn’t listed then the next step is to speak with an Admissions specialist to find out the answer. Accreditation doesn’t guarantee the highest form of homeschooling but it does reduce the risk of low-quality curriculum and instruction and helps prepare the student for the future so they can pursue the goals they want. Take time to carefully review the sites, read through the brief introductions about the different accrediting agencies and make sure the platform you choose has this feature for all grades. Homeschooling is a great opportunity and the perfect solution for families who want an alternative but it’s important to ensure that outside forces also see the value and agree with the level of work your student has accomplished.
