What does it mean to be Accredited?

When choosing an online school or homeschool program, accreditation is an attribute of online learning that is important to understand. Accreditation is the recognition that a school is meeting and maintaining a level of instruction quality regulated by an accreditation agency.¹An accreditation agency monitors the school on a regular basis and ensures that it is meeting the needs of students and is providing a specified standard of education.²Accreditation agencies are either government supported or are privately supported by another agency that is officially allowed to grant accreditation to education establishments or institutions.

Standards for online schools vary depending on which agency is granting accreditation, but accreditation agencies commonly monitor the academic training of instructors as well as their methods for teaching.³ These aspects of an educational institution are considered across most online schools and accredited homeschool programs:

The institutions purpose or direction
The leadership and governance of the institution
Teaching and assessment for learning
Resources and support systems for students
Using results for continuous improvement⁴

Parents should consider the level of academic quality an online school or homeschool program has. Knowing how accreditation influences homeschool programs is crucial when selecting the right school for your student. There are hundreds of credible accreditation agencies but it is important to know that some may have lower standards that make the value of their accreditation questionable.

Accreditation, Online Schools, and Free Accredited Homeschool Programs

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