Happy January everyone! We are now settled back on campus, enjoying getting back into the groove of school. Though when we arrived there wasn’t much snow on the ground, within a few days, we were greeted back with massive snow storms. Within a week, we had accumulated almost 3 feet of snow. The last time I remember seeing this much snow was when PA had the blizzard of 96! We now regularly hear the dynamite blasts from up in the mountains as the passes are cleared and avalanches are prevented. The roofs also have to be cleared as well as they become heavy with snow. The faithful little swagger wagon succumbed to the sub-degree weather and decided she doesn’t want to start if the temperature drops below 10 degrees, which is a fairly frequent occurrence. I really don’t blame her as I’m not a big fan of running in cold weather either!

The activities around campus have changed a bit due to the weather. Instead of playing football or Frisbee in the yard, the students now go sledding, snowboarding, or skiing. Every Friday night we head down to the rodeo arena in town where they have constructed a skating rink. Everyone grabs a broom and plays broomball (basically hockey with brooms). Since the Klase girls aren’t much good at winter sports, we attempted to take a walk on our bike trail for some exercise. Much to our chagrin, the trail is now knee deep in snow, and we only succeeded in getting side swiped by a wall of muddy, slushy snow that a passing bus threw at us. It seemed to me the bus driver enjoyed our shocked squeals just a little too much!

It has been great to be back in class again. We completed a massive church history course from Bible times through the founding of America. Later this spring we will have an American history course that will complete the timeline for us. The church history course really gave me a whole new appreciation for our spiritual heritage. The stories of the martyrs throughout the centuries were a sobering reminder of the cost that is sometimes necessary when serving Christ. This week’s course is “The Theology of God’s Will.” We have been learning many wonderful principles for God-honoring decision making. I really wish I learned all this when I was 19! What a blessing for so many of these students to be hearing this at such a pivotal point in their young lives (not that I’m counting myself old yet, but they’ll be 8 years ahead of me on this for sure!).

In the area of service, we were able to serve the local community this month by helping to host a “Right to Life” vigil in the town square on the Sanctity of Human Life Sunday (1/22/12). We made cookies, shoveled the town square, and then held a service there to raise awareness for the 1.2 million abortions that take place in the U.S. each year. It is hard to believe that our nation ranks 3rd in the world for the most abortions, following just China and Russia. It was encouraging to see so many local churches unite for this event and I was privileged to be able to participate.

It is hard to believe that by the next time I write, it will almost be time for spring break! Our time here is slipping away much too quickly, so we try to soak up as much as we possibly can each day. Hope you all have a wonderful February!

About the Author, Sarah Klase

Sarah Klase is an Advisor Assistant at Bridgeway Academy and has decided to embark on a 1-year creation studies adventure at Jackson Hole Bible College in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Sarah, 27, holds an Associate’s degree in Biblical Studies from Moody Bible Institute and fell in love with JHBC 3 years ago when she visited the campus with one of her sisters. This year Sarah and her two younger sisters decided to take a year out of their lives to experience an amazing adventure complete with cross-country driving, interesting field visits, archeological digs and more! Tune in each month as Sarah blogs about her travels, experiences and learning’s.

A History Lesson – The Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria

There are lessons to be learned through studying the past – our own history is simply one of the greatest teaching tools for success in the future. On August 23, 1542, a fleet of three ships set out from the shores of Spain and toward the banks of the Americas, carrying Christopher Columbus, a man instrumental in the discovery of our own great country.

These three ships had varying characteristics – as well as certain strengths and weaknesses. The Nina and the Pinta were both smaller, sleeker ships, called caravels. The Santa Maria was a larger, round-hulled ship, called a “nao”. All three ships were well-armed, but the Santa Maria was much heavier, and eventually ran aground and was destroyed completely on December 25, 1492. The Pinta was light and fast, but broke a rudder early on, and even became totally lost in a strong headwind (although it did end up making its way back to the Nina). The Nina held true, and eventually came to deliver Columbus back to Spain and into the history books after his ultimate successful discovery of “India”.

So what is the correlation between these three boats and the choice of a public, private, or homeschooling system? We all want our children delivered safely and successfully back to our homeland in the end. Hmmm.

Public System

Pros:

• Convenience. Generally close to home, bus picks up and drops off on a set schedule.
• No additional cost. Although you pay school taxes, there is no extra fee for public school.
• Integration with peers. Kids are exposed to all different personality types – as in real life – and must learn to integrate with others and problem solve. Jungle survival.
• Exposure to sports/activities. A wide variety of extra-curricular activities and sports opportunities abound, although competition can be tough.

Cons:

• Class size. Large class size usually means that the brighter kids lose out, and those with learning issues can be lost in the mix.
• Rigid instruction. Public school teachers don’t have the resources or ability to customize a lesson plan based on a student’s learning style. It’s learn or lose – and many kids end up losing.
• Peer pressure. If it’s a negative behavior, your kids are sure to be exposed to it in some manner in public school. Bullying is also an issue for many.

Private System

Pros:

• Higher quality education. Private school classes are generally geared towards college-bound students.
• Future opportunity. Graduation from a private school looks good on resumes and on college admission applications .
• Birds of a Feather. Private school communities generally stick together, and even look out for one another. Although some may perceive it as snobbery, being part of a close-knit group can certainly have its advantages.

Cons:

• Expense. Private schools cost A LOT, this we know. And it’s on top of school taxes.
• Limited diversity. The types and backgrounds of the people your children will have class with may be much more limited than public school, making the adjustment to the business world a bit more difficult.
• Time-intensive. Parents of private school students are typically expected to be involved in quite a few volunteer efforts with the school which can take time.

Home Schooling

Pros:

• Custom education. Your child’s curriculum is made-to-order, taking into consideration their learning style and varying educational needs.
• Flexibility. You have an appointment? No problem. Your child is sick? No worries. Test scheduling? It’s easy to maneuver. Very, very nice.
• Close-knit families. Lack of quality family time is one of the biggest downfalls of today’s society – and homeschooling keeps families together and bonded in a way that rivals anything else.
• Faith aspect. You are free as a parent to keep faith strong and alive during the school day – this is becoming impossible in a traditional school setting.

Cons:

• Can be very time-intensive. With some homeschool programs, you’ll need to be your child’s full-time teacher in addition to being a parent – and that’s a scary prospect for most.
• Social isolation. Some say it’s just plain hard for kids to interact with others their age in the same way that traditional school kids do, no matter how you look at it (although there is some evidence to support the opposite) . Public school kids tend to label each other.
• College admission difficulties. Although homeschoolers are being taken very seriously by most colleges of today, there can still be issues with diplomas and the transfer of credits. It’s not as easy as having standard transcripts. That’s why it is critical to ensure that your student graduates with an accredited high school diploma.
• Wearing two hats is difficult. Being both a parent and a teacher– on and off, over and over – is truly hard to do. Lines can become blurred.

So now that you’ve taken a step back to rationally review the facts in a logical fashion – take the next step. Close your eyes and go with your gut feeling.

Which school system is right for your family and right for your child? I’ll bet you have an answer right there in your heart.

The scary fact is that a lot of teens move on to rack up debt that they can’t pay – early on in life. Starting out on your own in financial trouble is not a smart way to play the game. Here is the simple truth:

Very shortly you are going to be the sole person responsible for your own finances and planning for the future is YOUR solo gig.

The not-so-scary fact is that by taking a solid step forward and thinking about what’s best for you long-term (much like you did when you and your family chose to homeschool ), your future can look pretty bright. The great news is that many options available to you are now in digital or mobile format – and that you can easily relate to!

Here are some simple (but technologically up-to-date!) strategies to put in place right now:

1. Open a checking account. It’s easy, it’s free, and there are real-world penalties involved if you mess up (overdraft fees, etc.). Ask about the pros and cons of debit cards and how they work. Set up online access and be sure to utilize your bank’s online tools for managing a checking account including online banking, mobile banking, account alerts, bill pay, and transaction records. Using mobile banking will allow you to check account balances, pay bills, transfer money, view transactions, and receive mobile alerts on your phone when their balance falls below a set minimum, helping to avoid fees.

2. Subscribe to RSS news feeds involving the financial world. You can custom pick the feeds that interest you most, or have the most relevance to your fields of study – Google Reader is an excellent place to start . The feeds will automatically get you the news and information you need, without you having to go out looking on the web. Subscribing to email newsletters by some of your trusted institutions and accounting agencies will help to build your knowledge base as well – scan the topics and pick the articles that have relevant information.

3. Utilize online video resources and webinars. Look for information in the media format you can relate most to – in many cases there are video options that won’t bore the pants off you! There are many reputable sites that are targeting teens – they know you are going to be a large part of their future – so take advantage of their interest in you, right now.

4. Keep an ear to the ground for local seminars. A lot of colleges have not-for-credit evening or weekend short-courses available – and so what if you are only a teen, it’s a great way to prepare for college! Mom or Dad may even want to attend with you. University extension agencies are also great sources of free information for young people. Remember that any financial knowledge that you compile now can only help you in the future.

The fact that you are still just a teen affords you the opportunity to get in the “driver’s seat” (even if you are not 16 – woot!) financially speaking. A little bit of knowledge, some steady practice with the newest financial tools available to you, and you will have yourself a big leg up over other teens your age.

And – IMHO – the driver’s seat is exactly where you want to be! CU L8R!

We’ve come up with a list of questions you might have regarding a mentoring program – and the answers you need to make an informed decision on whether it’s the right move to make for YOUR household.

What is a homeschool mentor – exactly?

It’s a good basic question, as the term “mentoring” covers quite a broad area. Mentoring can include anything from calling another parent in your homeschooling network who has been through it all and getting some sage personal advice. Or it can involve enrollment in a program that can provide you with weekly or even daily assistance with your teaching methods researching, coping skills, or even spiritual guidance and prayer. A good mentor (sometimes called a homeschool coach) should be able to assist you with these things:

• Help you connect to other homeschoolers, either locally or through online communities
• Give you great ideas for activities or educational field trip ideas in your area
• Help with lesson plans, researching tips, and gathering resources for teaching
• Allowing you to observe a functioning homeschool program if you are just starting out
• Help you problem-solve with any issues that arise
• Give you advice on how to deal with local school officials if necessary

In a nutshell, mentoring can cover such a wide range of resources or input to your current homeschool program that it is hard to provide any one definition of the term. It can be what you need it to be – you just need to make an informed decision on how much help you really need.

How do I decide if I need a homeschool mentor – really?

Of course everyone could use an experienced coach in their back pocket through the course of any given week. If you are a parent, then you’ve asked yourself many times – oh my gosh, how do I know what’s the best course of action here? Often times, your best hunch ends up being the right answer. Sometimes, it’s not – but then you learn and move on. If you are not sure if you “really” need a mentor, ask yourself the following:

• Do you feel uncertain in your ability as a teacher?
• Do you feel exasperated or frustrated at the end of the day?
• Do you wish you had someone to bounce your ideas off of or give you motivation?
• Are you struggling with decisions related to the public school system and want to know the best way to handle them?
• Do you want to network with other homeschooling parents and teachers?
• Is it taking you way too long to plan your lessons and research materials?

If you’ve answered ‘yes’ to one or more of these questions, it’s likely a good time to look into mentoring!

What does mentoring cost – straight up?

It is possible to find a free mentor, especially if you have many personal connections in your own homeschool community. You may be able to find another parent who has been through the experience, and is willing to provide you with some guidance, tips, and be available when problems arise. With the age of the internet and its bounty of resources available at your fingertips, you can easily join an online forum or community where you can post your questions and receive answers from others like you. However, if you are looking for someone to reach out to on a consistent basis – and who has proven experience behind them with positive strategies for all of your roadblocks or issues, you should look into a paid mentor. Mentors are usually paid:

• By the hour for phone consultation (somewhere in the neighborhood of $25/hr)
• Monthly fees with access to website materials/program (we found $30 – $50/ month is reasonable)

So to sum it up – mentoring is affordable – even free if you’re resourceful enough – and it may just give you that extra boost you need.

How do I find a reputable mentor – and avoid charlatans?

If you perform a Google search on the term “homeschooling mentors,” you will be amazed at the number of sites that pop up. Some are other homeschooling parents who want to share their story, some are online programs, and some are people trying to sell their books and other things. Here are some things to scout for:

• Look for someone who has homeschooled their own children successfully – you want someone who has been down in the trenches and emerged successfully!
• Check credentials. A mentor should have substantially more experience than you do.
• If it’s an informal arrangement – perhaps another mom you admire in your homeschool community – make sure you formally ‘ask’ for mentoring help, and be very aware of how valuable that person’s time is!
• Look around on Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, or on other online forums – there is tons of free info out there and many ways to connect with potential mentors through social media.

Remember that the best way to know for sure that you are getting a good mentor is through the reference of other parents like you. Ask around! A good homeschool mentor can provide specific advice, resources, and the encouragement you need for your own success. So go for it!

Well friends, the last month has flown by! We have been home on break since Thanksgiving and are enjoying catching up with friends and family. Leah and Rachel jumped right back in to their housecleaning business and bake sale, but I had a chance to relax a bit before things got busy for me. For the last two weeks I have been helping a caterer with a few events and then spending the remainder of my time helping out at my brother Steve’s house. His home is currently under construction and my presence has been essential in performing menial tasks and low skill level jobs! It has been fun to spend time with him and get high on paint and stain fumes at the same time! I think my fingernails are permanently stained an attractive muddy brown as well.

Seriously though, it has been wonderful to be able to be home on break and set aside the books for a time. I heard that soon after we left Jackson Hole, the temperature there dropped significantly and was around -15! Needless to say I think we have some cold weather to look forward to when we get back in January! We are told that the town has turned the Rodeo arena into an ice skating rink. When we get back we’ll be able to play intense games of “broom ball” on the ice! (Broom ball is like hockey without the skates and a broom is the substitute for sticks.) When I say “we”, I really mean everyone but me. I will most likely cheer from the bleachers!

Since arriving home, life hasn’t just been work, work, work. We have been able to take a few day trips to see sights in PA that we’ve never seen before. One such trip was to Lancaster, PA. Shockingly, we had never before been to visit Amish country. We had a great time shopping in the Kitchen Kettle Village and keeping an eye out for buggies. One great find there was a pottery shop that sold beautiful handmade pottery.

Another day trip well spent was at Peddlers Village in Bucks County. It is beautiful this time of year – decorated for Christmas with greens and lights. We browsed the shops and sampled their hot chocolate and cider. The highlight was the gingerbread house display they have set up right now. Participants from all over have submitted entries in the annual gingerbread contest and they are on display until January 7th. There are different categories such as “classic design”, “best imitation of a famous building”, and “kids only”. The creativity these food artists have is just unbelievable. We were told we were lucky to not wait in line as there is often a long wait to view the 30+ entries.

All too soon it will be time to board the plane and return to Wyoming. Though we will be saying good-bye to friends and family again, we are looking forward to our second semester at JHBC. I’m sure we have lots to learn and will continue to be stretched through this learning experience.

I pray this New Year will bring you opportunities to learn and grow as well. As we celebrate the birth of the savior of the world, may we also strive to glorify the Lord by imitating Christ’s servanthood and love. Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

About the Author, Sarah Klase

Sarah Klase is an Advisor Assistant at Bridgeway Academy and has decided to embark on a 1-year creation studies adventure at Jackson Hole Bible College in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Sarah, 27, holds an Associate’s degree in Biblical Studies from Moody Bible Institute and fell in love with JHBC 3 years ago when she visited the campus with one of her sisters. This year Sarah and her two younger sisters decided to take a year out of their lives to experience an amazing adventure complete with cross-country driving, interesting field visits, archeological digs and more! Tune in each month as Sarah blogs about her travels, experiences and learning’s.

It’s probable that parents lose a bit of cognitive function while working in the trenches of early childhood, battling those dirty diapers, dealing with sporadic tantrums, and managing the mountains of housework families leave in their wake. But I can assure you – we have gained quite a bit in common sense, problem solving ability, and how to think fast in a pinch. Believe me—you’re ready!

Tip: Don’t underestimate your credentials as both a parent and teacher

It will certainly help to educate yourself on each subject to some degree BEFORE delving into a curriculum with your child. Remember that you don’t need ALL of the answers… just a solid head start and the resources to uncover an answer when the eventual questions arise. Let us help you get a leg up with these great resources!

Homeschool Worksheets.

Worksheets are an excellent resource to help with identifying where your child might be weak – and where you are weak as well. They can help you to organize lessons, brush up on forgotten material/terminology, and they are cheap or free online!

• Math.com
• EdHelper
• Highland Heritage Forms

Study Guides and Strategies.

A website deserving of its own category! If you can think of it, there’s a whole guide to it found here. A wealth of valuable information in one location – use as a jumping off place for all your searches.

• StudyGS.net

Science/Outdoor Resources.

The natural world can sometimes feel more complex and unnerving than quantum physics! If science was not exactly your forte, and the thought of insects, fungal growth, scat, and poison ivy rash leaves you shaking in your never-before-worn hiking boots, fear not! With these resources, it might just be fun.

• BBC Blue Planet

The Power of Google.

If you have a question you don’t know how to find the answer to, just type it into a Google search, word for word. You might be amazed at what pops up.

Local Support Groups.

If all else fails, reach out and ask others in a similar situation. Networking with local homeschooling families is always a great idea!

• Jon’s Homeschool Resources

As your child gets older, keeping a firm grasp on the subject matter WILL undoubtedly become more difficult. With your older homeschooler (just for fun and to see how it works), you may want to role swap. Have them research their designated topic areas – then teach you the basics of the subject matter. As questions arise, you can tackle them together, essentially by functioning more as “classmates” than as a traditional “teacher” and “student”.

In summary, the pure beauty of homeschooling is that there is no “right” or “absolute” solution to any given situation. You can make homeschooling fit your lifestyle, your capabilities, AND your child’s individual learning needs. Your synergy together will always be a wonderful work in progress!

Our Winner is Anthony Willis – a 3rd Grader from Texas!

Congratulations Anthony!

Step 1. Consider Your Available Time

Realistically, please! Remember that you will still need to accomplish the items every ordinary parent handles in the course of a day, such as laundry, cooking, cleaning, health issues, appointments, and the general drama and conflict that erupts on a daily basis when children and teens are concerned. You need to budget a slot of time for these items, even if your laundry pile is manageable, as issues will surely creep upon you without fail.

If the realization that children enrolled in the public system spend nearly 8 hours of each day engaging in the “school process” gives you cold sweats, fear not. Some estimates conclude – if you subtract the time involved in bus rides, recesses, lunches, walking in hallways and visiting lockers, electives like gym and art, study halls, roll calls, and the general passing out of papers – a child schooled in a public system may only receive about one hour of valuable learning time (where information is actually absorbed) a day. That’s a number you can trounce in a heartbeat!

Tip: Check around online to find out how much time other successful homeschool families are budgeting time – but remember that each child is different!

Step 2. Consider Your Approach

Your approach is going to be affected by the number of children in your family, their ages, and their learning speeds and abilities. There is just no set formula to figuring out exactly how needs will be met before you get totally immersed in homeschooling. But the beauty of homeschooling is – it’s flexible!

Younger children learning to read and write are going to require a more intensive approach with the need for larger time increments with more built-in breaks. Older children will require a greater number of outside resources and direction, but should be able to self-direct to a significant degree. Children with disabilities or special learning needs require a different approach, and you may need some outside help too.

To get a realistic grip on what the best approach for your family will be, you must fully understand how much time it will take you to complete a number of tasks. Many parents fall into the daily trap of underestimating this figure. Even if you are only cutting yourself short on a task by ten minutes, if you complete 15 tasks a day – you are going to come up 2.5 hours short!

Tip: Take a full week to note – and write down – how long your child needs to complete specific assignments, such as spelling lists or math tables. Average the figures, then be sure to tack on a few extra minutes for good measure!

Step 3. Consider Your Priorities

Get out that curriculum well in advance, and take the time to really pull it apart – ALL of it. Start with you biggest goals, and then work backwards. Beginning with the year in general, list all subjects, coursework, service activities, and projects necessary to complete the year. For each course, develop a list of monthly goals (ie. amount of tests, reading, worksheet pages, hours of service, etc).

Continue onward, breaking each month down into weeks, before finally arriving at your daily schedule.

Working backwards puts the emphasis on the big goals, and not the individual time increments, which can help to prevent over-scheduling and the needless spinning of your wheels.

Remember that meals, breaks, outdoor activities, special interests, and social groups are a significant part of the homeschool process as well. They should be officially entered into your daily schedule as items of importance. You can shuffle the when, where, and how, but don’t leave them out (or underestimate their allotment by ten minutes!)

Tip: Treat yourself to an over-sized activities planner BEFORE you begin your budgeting/planning process. It will become your best friend and personal assistant! Free printable versions online.

Step 4. Consider When To Relax

With time being the unrelenting task-master that it always is, a good bit of stress from the homeschooling commitment is inevitable. We often begin to doubt our capabilities, our patience, and our organization. Failure to meet goals, no matter how small, will wear you down over time. At some point (much as with parenting), homeschooling will become about “when to just let it roll off your shoulders.”

You may also feel guilt about your child not being involved enough with district sports teams and activities. But the truth is, many public school children are suffering due to the fact that parents become obsessed with the success of their child in school sports to the extent that grades falter, self-esteem is damaged (or over-inflated), and a child is taught the wrong kind of sportsmanship altogether.

Tip: Remember that a solid moral background and the academic self- confidence to succeed in college and the job market is going to outplay Little Johnny’s star pitching in the long haul – hands down.

Homeschooling is ultimately about embracing values, creativity, and the LOVE of learning – and not about watching the clock tick away to feel like you’ve accomplished a task. To be sure you don’t fall into the age-old parent trap of faulty time management, don’t doubt yourself. You CAN do this!

It is inevitable that each of us is touched by one or more of these very negative aspects during our teen years. After all, studies show that over half of teens will be victims of cyber bullying alone! Despite declines in rates of teen pregnancy in the United States, about 820,000 teens become pregnant each year. That means that 34 percent of teenagers have at least one pregnancy before they turn 20.

So how do teens in this day and age arm themselves against the frightening statistics and the realization that they will likely be touched in some manner by the darker side of high school society?

*Knowledge and rational decision making is the answer – many teens are electing to gain their education at home in a safe and positive environment.

The Stats On Bullying

• 80 % of teens use a cell phone regularly, making it the most common medium for cyber bullying
• About half of young people have experienced some form of cyber bullying, and 10 to 20 percent experience it regularly
• Mean comments and the spreading of hurtful rumors are the most common type of cyber bullying
• 1 in 10 adolescents or teens have had embarrassing or damaging pictures taken of themselves without their permission, most often through cell phone cameras
• Fewer than 1 in 5 cyber bullying incidents are reported to law enforcement

Many bullies may not realize the ramifications of their actions – but in fact, cyber bullies and their parents may face legal charges for bullying. And if the cyber bullying were sexual in nature, the results can include being registered as a sex offender.

The Stats on Teen Pregnancy

• Only one-third of teenage mothers complete high school and receive their diplomas
• 80 percent of unmarried teen mothers end up on welfare
• The main rise in the teen pregnancy rate is among girls younger than 15
• United States has the highest teen pregnancy rate of the Western industrialized world

So do you think teen pregnancy would very negatively impact your opportunity for a good education and career? The odds are a resounding YES.

Is Homeschooling Right For You?

Many teens today are coming to the realization that traditional schooling may not provide the protection and the answers they are looking for. According to The National Center for Education Statistics, the number of homeschooled students increased by a relative percentage of 74 % over a period of 8 years.

In 2007, the most common reason parents gave for moving their children to a homeschooled environment was a desire to provide religious or moral instruction (36 % of students). This reason was followed by a concern about the school environment – such as safety, drugs, or negative peer pressure – (21 %), dissatisfaction with academic instruction (17 %), and “other reasons” including family time, finances, travel, and distance (14 %).

Some teens are asking to be homeschooled – proactively reaching the decision NOT to expose themselves to the dark side of the high school environment in the first place. Homeschooling is rapidly becoming a force to be reckoned with – without the stigma of the early years. Homeschooled teens are engaging in sports, making friends, attending proms and functions, and generally forming their own social niche.

*So think about it – homeschooling has the potential to positively change your life – on your terms. Are you ready?

But with new growth comes an inevitable intrusion of opportunists and wannabes eager to ride a fresh wave to financial success. If you are not careful, some courses taken through less credible schools may not be considered valid in the public school system. So how do you know for sure that a homeschool will meet your child’s educational goals AND will be recognized by higher learning institutions across the country and around the world?

*Accreditation is certainly the answer – so what is it about accreditation that you really need to know?

The Meaning of Accreditation

Accreditation is a process by which private educational institutions are evaluated against established standards to ensure a high level of educational quality. It is typically accomplished through a peer-review process in which faculty from accredited institutions help to conduct evaluations of either new non-accredited institutions or accredited institutions seeking renewal.

It is important to understand that the term “accredited” can be thrown about a little carelessly by certain institutions – so you really need to know what to look for when beginning your inquiries. All institutions of higher education, whether online or physical, should openly provide information on their accreditation to prospective students. Be cautious of any language that gives the appearance of accreditation when in fact none exists – phrases such as “licensed”, “registered,” “authorized,” or “approved” may sneakily imply an unearned distinction.

Reaching the highest standards possible and a long-term commitment to improvement are what we want to see from our homeschool institutions, and accreditation is a formal method of proof. It forces schools to assess enrollment methods, staff qualifications, materials, resource allocation, program effectiveness and much more. So does it really matter? The answer is yes!

*In essence, accreditation is a method of differentiating schools that uphold consistent academic standards from those who do not.

Recognized Accreditation Organizations

It is also quite prudent to review the qualifications of the accrediting agency which has evaluated and approved the institution in question. Charlatan accrediting agencies abound in the cyber-world so buyer beware! Wikipedia produces a list of unverified accrediting agencies – many of which are fraudulent in nature, having absolutely no academic or legal value.

There are six regional accreditation organizations in the U.S. that have historically accredited most elementary schools, junior high schools, middle schools, high schools and nearly all public and private institutions of higher education that are academic in nature. The U.S. Department of Education State Regulations of Private Schools provides a listing of stringent requirements by state .

It is also common for national and regional associations of independent or religious schools to provide accreditation for their members. Some regional accreditation agencies include AdvancED and the National Association of Private Schools.

*There are many accrediting agencies of ill-repute. Be sure to research all you encounter carefully.

How Does Accreditation Benefit You?

The process of becoming an accredited institution  is a long and arduous one for a non-traditional school. It is also an ongoing process – after the initial accreditation status is granted, periodic evaluations continue for renewal purposes. The benefits to you are many: accreditation demonstrates a history of trustworthiness, consistent quality in programming, and ensures that institutions uphold the highest academic standards possible. Accreditation may also allow students to take advantage of NCAA funding and other scholarships reserved for students attending an accredited school.

Accreditation is typically accomplished through a peer-review process in which faculty from accrediting agencies conduct on-premise evaluations of new non-accredited institutions or accredited institutions seeking renewal. Schools must:

• Demonstrate how educational standards are met
• Demonstrate how success is determined
• Demonstrate how programs are customized to meet children’s needs
• Demonstrate how measurements are taken to ensure that students consistently gain ground in academic learning and growth

*Full accreditation proves that ALL programs within a homeschool institution are of high academic standard and will count toward your diploma –that’s the bottom line of your expectations!

Do Your Homework

As laws vary state-by-state, it is best to educate yourself carefully when selecting the best homeschooling institution for your family. First, check with the homeschool academy’s admissions office for details of their accreditation. Many reputable schools may be accredited by more than one institution, as there are state, regional, and national accrediting organizations. Note how long a school has been accredited, and if there have been any complaints about its academic programs to any of the listed accrediting institutions.

It is important to note that academic credits from some nationally accredited schools are not universally transferrable to regionally accredited ones. If transfer of credit is one of your goals, be sure to check with the school you plan to transfer to be sure they accept the credits from the nationally accredited school.

*Verifying a school’s accreditation will ensure that you can transfer into other schools at an equivalent grade level, transition easily into colleges and universities, or enter the workforce with a recognized high school diploma.

So are you ready to make your child’s education count? Do a little digging and make sure the hard work and effort you’ve placed in their education will be rewarded!