Homeschooling has always been a topic of discussion for American families. Our country has a long history of keeping education local, sharing the intellectual wealth of communities with each new generation. After the rise of compulsory public education in the 1900s, localities still played a large part in determining the curriculum. State and federal governments, however, became increasingly involved in how families and localities educate children.
Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020, many Americans have tried homeschooling for the first time. These families had previously relied on public schools to provide for their children’s educational needs but determined that it was time for a change. Whether due to concerns for safety or dissatisfaction with how their local school districts responded to the virus in terms of educational quality, such families took the step to remove their children from the public schools. If you’re considering making the same move, you likely have some common questions. How do you find the right resources for your children? How can you be comfortable with such a major change in your children’s lives?
Fortunately, you’re not the first person to grapple with these questions. As with other forms of education, homeschooling possesses a system of accreditation to confirm quality and give you peace of mind knowing that your state’s Department of Education reviews the schools you’re considering.
The Key Considerations
Accreditation is not something that most homeschools would want to keep hidden. Private education at the K-12 level does not require accreditation, so schools must opt into a process that costs time and money. The fact that these schools invest that time and money means that they understand the value of such accreditation, especially when helping new families feel comfortable with the transition. Nevertheless, each state has its own set of requirements to receive this accreditation, so you’ll still want to compare schools in terms of several other qualities.
Is the School Accredited?
To avoid being taken in by unscrupulous actors, take a moment to confirm that a school is actually accredited. The quickest way to do so is to ask for its school number, used for financial aid and college application purposes. Any accredited school should be able to provide this to you easily.
Does the School Have Effective Administration?
While the education your child receives at the school is of paramount importance, the record of their attendance at the school is nearly as important. If the school neglects consistent recordkeeping, then it may be difficult to receive credit if your child transfers schools. Similarly, a lack of appropriate records may close the door on numerous performance-based scholarships at the college level and may even jeopardize your child’s acceptance into competitive and prestigious universities.
What Academic Support Does the School Provide?
Most homeschool students rely on more resources than are available by sitting in front of a computer and completing online lessons. In-person labs and activities often augment these classes and provide critical experiences that your child cannot get elsewhere. Investigate whether the school can arrange these for you, as accredited schools commonly have hands-on lab kits or agreements with facilities that can give that experience.
Additionally, many students thrive on individualized education. This kind of customization is where homeschooling can shine, but it still depends on the school investing resources into these programs. Such individualization can come in the form of extra tutoring, customized assignments, and mastery-based curriculums. It is widely accepted that students learn different subjects at different rates, so a mastery-based curriculum gives students and schools the flexibility to spend more time on specific subjects that demand more effort.
Locating Your Options
For many parents, the search begins with Google. Unfortunately, the search results, often influenced by advertising budgets, may not include the best school for your children.
Due to a significant number of online schools coming into existence over the past several years, the signal-to-noise ratio has decreased significantly, and it’s harder for parents to find excellent schools with an established history and track record of success. Fortunately, there are various online resources, such as the Accredited Schools Online guide, that offer shorthand lists of these schools. Nevertheless, not every school is listed on these lists, so you may want to consult your state’s Department of Education for a full listing of accredited schools.
Your child’s education will have a lasting impact on the rest of their life. Therefore, this is a decision that will take time and a large amount of research. Once you’ve found some accredited schools that have potential, ask the schools if they have any trial programs or recorded lessons that will let you get a sense of how each school operates. Combining official accreditation with your first-hand assessment of how a school educates its students will help you make the right decision for your child’s future.
By Christopher Gallagher
Christopher has years of teaching and tutoring experience both in formal and informal settings. He has taught at the high school level, both in-person and online, for private institutions during the height of the pandemic and provided structured tutoring lessons outside of traditional classroom settings.