Did you know there are accredited homeschool programs?
Actually, there are a lot of complete homeschool programs and curriculums available online — from Kindergarten to Grade 12.
These accredited programs can help you build your coursework, from lesson plans to assessments. They can also help you augment an already busy and thriving home school plan.
So, what is an accredited homeschool program?
An accredited homeschool program is a program that has been evaluated and approved by an educational or accrediting organization.
If that sounds vague, it sort of is. Because standards for educational programs vary depending on the state, an “accredited” program may not necessarily apply to your state. You still need to follow your own state’s guidelines.
Frequently, you need to follow the coursework and assessments that are specifically accredited within your state — and if you don’t, then your child won’t be considered to be successfully homeschooled. And it could be different if your child needs special education or an individualized education plan.
Accredited homeschool programs usually provide custom curriculums that you can tailor to your child. A lot of them are self-paced, while others aren’t. Some provide online, remote learning with teachers — like a private school or public school that works remotely — while others just provide you with materials. Nationally-recognized programs will follow the accreditation you need for your state, while others may need some tweaking.
And some are completely free, while others are quite expensive.
Top accredited homeschool programs in 2023
A lot of homeschool parents may find themselves using multiple resources. These aren’t intended to be an exhaustive list of everything you need, but they are some of the best options for homeschool programs as of 2023.
ABCMouse.com
A cheap (under $20/month) learning path for children from ages 2 to 8. ABCMouse is a great place for parents just starting their child on a homeschool path, but it isn’t intended as a complete replacement for learning. It’s mostly tablet-run, though it can also be used on a computer or a smartphone. Use this in addition to a broader curriculum, to fill gaps, build confidence, and generate interest.
Bridgeway
Bridgeway provides grade-learning kits at under $1,000 a year and online courses ranging from $500 to $700. While it’s a bit expensive, it helps create custom curriculums for unique family situations or special needs — Christian homeschool programs, military homeschool programs, missionary school programs, international student programs, and programs for those with learning disabilities.
Calvert Homeschool
Calvert Homeschool provides objective-based learning from Kindergarten to high school, both online and offline. It has some fairly rigid planning, as it’s been in the business of homeschooling for over a century. Choose Calvert Homeschool if you want a complete curriculum prepared for you at an annual fee of a few hundred dollars.
Connections Academy
This online public school is available for students in over 30 states. Connections Academy is a free and accredited elementary, middle, and high school. Students can access a complete core curriculum, one-on-one counseling, and clubs. However, it’s not fully flexible or self-paced because students usually have to attend online classes. So, it’s more like remote learning than true homeschooling.
CK-12 Foundation
Math and science-focused curriculum designed to help students struggling with STEM. Not every parent can reliably teach STEM, and not every parent should have to. Homeschooling parents can use CK-12 lessons, quizzes, and assessments to ensure that their child is getting the right education for them — especially if their child seems to have an advanced aptitude or needs to branch out into AP coursework.
K12.com
K12 is a free online school curriculum that lets you customize everything to your child’s needs. It’s a pretty comprehensive resource, including everything from gamified learning to online tutoring sessions. K12 is ideal for those who are just beginning their path toward homeschooling. Everything included within a public school curriculum is provided, there are teachers and tutors available, and the curriculum runs from kindergarten to Grade 12.
Keystone School
Keystone is a national high school that provides remote learning options for those who want to learn independently but still want to acquire a high school diploma. Yearly tuition can be as much as a few thousand dollars, but students gain access to homeschool materials and online, teacher-led courses.
Khan Academy
One of the most popular options for those who want to improve their homeschool curriculum, Khan Academy provides completely free resources to students from kindergarten to finishing high school. It also includes SAT prep materials. Khan Academy has a huge variety of courses, including advanced classes in things like personal finance — perfect for preparing your children for college.
Time4Learning.com
Everything you need to homeschool your child within a single platform. Time4Learning.com is a fairly structured approach, but it can still be customized and self-paced. You can do online and offline activities and build a complete curriculum, including quizzes, worksheets, and more. It’s essentially a remote learning experience for kids that ranges from $20 from Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 8 and $30 for high school students monthly.
What makes good accredited homeschool programs?
That’s a lot of programs. What should you look for as a parent?
- Personalization. A good accredited homeschool program should offer a personalized approach for each student — one that’s tailored to their individual learning style and academic goals.
- Flexibility. It should provide flexibility in curriculum design but also have standards of quality and assessment. Self-paced is great. Otherwise, you might as well be going to a traditional school.
- Breadth. Ideally, it should include courses from the sciences, mathematics, history, language arts, and more. Often, we look for a curriculum to fill areas in which we have gaps. And students will need this type of broad knowledge to succeed.
- Finally, it should be affordable and provide the necessary resources to help students succeed without additional payments.
Luckily, a lot of these programs are free or cheap, so you can try them out until you determine the best one for your child.
Conclusion: Do you need an accredited homeschool program?
Accredited homeschool programs are an excellent option for either building your homeschool curriculum or adding to it. If nothing else, taking a look at some of these free accredited homeschool programs can help you build your knowledge and confidence.
You don’t have to use an accredited program if you don’t want to. Truthfully, accreditation is a little tricky — the standards and requirements vary by state. So, “accreditation” can mean a lot of things, especially when it comes to online coursework.
Accredited programs can span from public school remote learning to an inventory of exercises and quizzes. And depending on the type of homeschooling you’re doing, you could need either or both.
But always keep in mind that these programs do exist — and that they can make your life a lot easier.
FAQs
Does accreditation matter in homeschool?
Accreditation does matter for homeschooling in many states. Some states require that homeschool curriculums be approved by a panel of experts or follow certain standards and guidelines. Accreditation can also help if your child wants to take AP courses or pursue college scholarships and grants. You should check with your state’s requirements for further clarification.
Which homeschool program is the best?
There is no single best homeschool program. It depends on your child’s age, level of learning, and individual needs. You should research different programs to find one that fits your family best. Or you may not end up using a program at all. But a homeschool program can be useful because it does provide a complete curriculum for you.
What does accredited mean for homeschool?
Accreditation for homeschooling typically means that a program meets the standards of quality and assessment set by an accrediting body. But as mentioned, this can vary depending on where your student is. So, you don’t necessarily want your student to be going to a school accredited in another jurisdiction unless you know what the differences are.
