This is something that I find myself discussing with new homeschoolers often. The topic of Accreditation. I speak on this topic as a homeschooling parent in TN. So this may not hold the same accuracy for all states and areas.
New homeschoolers come into this world with lots of options. That can be the best thing for their student it is often overwhelming for the parents. Then once you start researching your options you start seeing the words “accreditation” over and over. What does it mean? Is it better? Do you need it? So let’s dive in and talk about what it really is.
What is Accreditation?
In Tennessee, you have 3 options to register your student legally for homeschooling or school at home. Option 3 is “An accredited online school is a Category III non-public school that is accredited by a Tennessee State Board of Education (SBE) approved regional accrediting agency.” In this option you are considered a “homeschooler:” under homeschooling law but it is a little different. The student is registered with an online school. The parent is not the teacher in this option. They are the facilitator of the program. They responsible for making sure the student is logged in at certain times if needed or is completing assignments during certain time periods. This is how attendance is counted. The school provides the curriculum and instruction just like any other public or private school. That is the key to accreditation.
When a school decides to become an accredited option they choose or develop a curriculum. Then they submit to one of the accreditation options approved by the state. That option looks at the curriculum, pacing of the material, and methods of instruction. Then it decides if it meets the standards of the accrediting association. For this reason,the curriculum itself can not be accredited. Curriculum can be reviewed by an association and given a stamp of approval that it meets certain standards. IT will need to be implemented the way it is laid out in the scope and sequence to follow that. If a parent veers from that then it now doesn’t have the same fidelity and doesn’t meet the same standards. This is also the reason an umbrella school that allows parents to choose their curriculum and record their attendance can not be accredited.
Is it better or just another buzz word?
Now that we know what accreditation is let’s talk about if it is better or not. There are hundreds of options out there where the companies do not choose to have their product reviewed by external association. However, most have aligned their programs with a set of standards that are common for that subject and grade level. Every curriculum will have a scope and sequence. In every state, you can find the state standards for your subject and grade and compare those to the curriculum you are considering.
There are so many curricula that are recommended as the best ones out there. Yet, they hold no association’s stamp of approval. So if you want a true homeschooling experience where you can guide your student with all of those sweet life-learning lessons and spontaneous field trips; then an accredited option can be a real henderence to that experience. Many families with students who have special needs or interests also can find this a hurdle as well. If the prescribed curriculum is not working for one or more subjects you are then stuck making it work, just like you would in a public school. Families can mix and match to a child’s strengths and weaknesses if they are using one of the other options that label the parent as the teacher. You can add in interest-based options as well and even create your own.
Homeschooling should be about individualizing the education to the child’s needs and considering their wants as well. If you choose a boxed option of schooling then you could lose that advantage of having your child’s education be able to be guided and molded by you. However, if your only goal is to remove the child from the school building and want to maintain the other aspects of education they receive in public or private school, then an online school could be a good fit. It is also a loophole for parents who do not have a High school diploma or GED. In TN you are not allowed to formally homeschool your children without this.
What can we conclude?
Overall “Accreditation” is a big word that has been thrown around a lot in the last few years. As homeschooling has exploded in the US. It has been used as a weapon against parents who want to take full control of their child’s education. It’s been used in a way that has made many feel like if they don’t have that stamp of approval from some arbitrary association then they are providing their child with less. This is not the case.
Ivy League colleges have accepted hundreds of homeschooled students . Their parents have just carefully chosen curricula that have fit their needs and interests. Thousands of others have gone on to state schools and community colleges. While countless others have gone into trade schools with parent made transcripts and diplomas. Entrepreneurial endeavors, apprenticeships, or the workforce are widely explored topics in homeschooling families also. So don’t let that word strike fear or concern in your plans. However, understand what it is and how it could be beneficial or harmful to your homeschooling journey.
TN State Standards
