The number one question we’re asked is, are you accredited? First, what makes you think being accredited makes us better? Being accredited is excellent for schools with a physical building where students come to learn, and administrators and teachers have appropriate degrees and training. Those teachers would be you, the parent! But we’d then need a building for you to bring your students to teach them. We’d have to report all missed days and late arrivals. It would require you and your students to be at the school 180 days of the year. You’d have to use a curriculum we choose and work at the same pace as a public or private school.
But that is NOT what we’re doing here. We’re a home-based cover school that offers cover for YOU, the parent, to be the PRINCIPAL TEACHER to HOMESCHOOL YOUR children using the curriculum of your choice. We do not want to control parents and tell them what to do. It is about you and your family learning together what works and doesn’t work for you.
We have no desire to become accredited. We do, however, want to empower parents and help them along their family’s homeschooling journey. We want to help make that happen!
What we are doing is becoming a non-profit so we can help our enrolled families if they need it from donations or grants received.
So, I will explain a little more about what’s required if you become accredited and how it would change things for our cover school.
What’s involved in becoming accredited?
BASIC ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Before being considered for the accreditation program, a school must meet basic eligibility requirements:
• The school must be clearly Christian in philosophy and practice.
• The school must demonstrate that administrators and teachers have appropriate degrees and training.
• The school must have an organized and effective curriculum.
• The school must be a member in good standing of the American Association of Christian Schools.
• The school must have been in operation as a school for at least two full school years.
• The administrator must have been at the school at least one full school year.
• The school must have a good testimony with other Christian schools, the community, and the businesses that
deal with the school.
• The school must demonstrate fiscal responsibility and stability.
• The school must adhere to local, state, and federal health, safety, sanitation, length-of-school-day, and length of-school-year laws.
• The school must provide the required school profile and documentation that supports the basic eligibility
requirements.
Now, take a gander at that. We’re not trying to be a public or private school; we’re simply a cover school.
Where did I find this information, and am I sure it’s accurate? Yes, it’s correct, and I found the info listed above here: https://www.aacs.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/2020-Accd-Manual-3.-Path-and-Procedures.pdf
You can find more information about becoming accredited here: https://www2.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/accreditation_pg5.html#NationallyRecognized
I hope this helps you understand why we do not want to be accredited now. You can still do transcripts, and a diploma it’s no different. The diploma and transcripts are professional and the equivalence of a public school. The only difference is YOU; the PARENT is RESPONSIBLE for the COST of the TRANSCRIPTS and DIPLOMA!
Some more of the of law and the link:
This is part of the Alabama Law! It’s too long to list everything but you can find it using this link! (https://www2.ed.gov/admins/comm/choice/regprivschl/regprivschl.pdf) Notice: everything says “EXCEPT A CHURCH SCHOOL”.
Accreditation/Registration/Licensing/Approval
No requirements for Accreditation.
Registration is mandatory.
All private schools, except church schools, must register annually on or before October 10 with the Alabama Department of Education and report on the number of students and instructors, enrollment, attendance, course of study, length of term, cost of tuition, funds, value of property, and the general condition of the school. Code of Alabama 1975 §16-1-11.The state superintendent of education furnishes the necessary forms for reporting. Code of Alabama 1975 §16-4-16.
No requirements for Licensing.
No requirements for Approval.
By definition, a private school, but not a church school, holds a certificate issued by the state superintendent of education showing that the school conforms to the
following requirements: (1) instruction is given by persons holding certificates issued by the state superintendent of education; (2) instruction is given in the several branches of study required to be taught in the public schools; (3) the English language is used in giving instruction; (4) a register of attendance is kept indicating every absence of each child from school for a half day or more. Code of Alabama 1975 §16-
28-1(1).Teacher Certification
Teachers instructing in private schools, but not church schools, must hold certificates issued by the state superintendent of education. Code of Alabama 1975 §16-28-1(1)a, (2)