You’ve decided to homeschool. Yay! While you were researching everything you have to do to be in compliance with the state, you may have noticed on MDE’s Home School Education website that they mention homeschool accreditation, but what is homeschool accreditation? Why would you want to be accredited, and how would it benefit your homeschool? I hope to answer some of those questions and more for you here.
- What is accreditation?
- Who can be accredited?
- What are the benefits of accreditation?
- What is the process of accreditation?
- Where do I find more information?
Accreditation equals accountability. Accreditation demonstrates that a credible educational program has been implemented by the homeschool and is monitored on a continuing basis by a team of Accreditors.
The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) recognizes only the accreditation of schools by accrediting organizations that have been directly reviewed and are currently recognized by the Minnesota Nonpublic Education Council (MNEC). MDE and the MNEC do not recognize the accreditation of curriculum programs that may be used, such as using a national online or correspondence curriculum, because the school itself is not directly reviewed by the recognized accrediting agency. Some of you may have seen curricula advertised as “accredited.” While that may be the case, using an accredited curriculum does not make the homeschool accredited in the eyes of the state, nor does having a student take online classes at a school that is accredited by a recognized agency. To receive the reduced reporting requirements from the state as an accredited homeschool, the homeschool must be accredited by a recognized agency.
Currently, Minnesota only recognizes one accrediting agency, the Home-Based Educators’ Accrediting Association (HBEAA), to accredit homeschools.
(Side note: If a student is enrolled full-time in an online school that grants diplomas and transcripts, then the student is attending an online private school, and the online school is to submit the Letter of Intent to the resident district. The parent/guardian is NOT to report to their district as a homeschool.)
HBEAA accredits individual homeschools. The home educator applying for accreditation must be the parent or legal guardian of the student(s) enrolled in their homeschool.
What are the benefits of accreditation?
While accreditation is not required to homeschool in Minnesota, if a homeschool is accredited by a state recognized agency, there will be less information for the home educator to report to their district. Homeschools accredited by a state recognized agency are exempt from the annual testing requirement as well as the instructor qualifications reporting requirements. Homeschools accredited by a recognized agency
get to decide if, when, and how they test their students, and they do not need to come to an agreement with or report the testing plan to the district. Additionally, because instructors for the student(s) provide instruction in a school that is accredited by an accrediting agency, recognized by the MNEC, the school does not need to submit the other instructors’ qualifications to the district. (Minnesota Compulsory Instruction Statute Subd.10.3 & Subd.11.d)
If a homeschool is accredited by HBEAA, the home educators don’t have to make any annual submissions to the district because HBEAA acts as an umbrella for the homeschool and handles all of the communication. Notification of the homeschool’s accreditation will be sent to the public school district that the student resides in along with a Letter of Intent and any other paperwork, including immunization records or statements of exemption and the Aids to Nonpublic Students form, should the
homeschool choose to participate in that program.
At the conclusion of each school year with HBEAA accreditation, each student will receive an official transcript, and upon graduation, each student will receive an official diploma. Transcripts are kept indefinitely, and HBEAA prepares official transcripts and sends them out when requested. Having an accredited official transcript and diploma can be advantageous for students when applying to colleges, for scholarships, and the military.
What is the process of accreditation?
The accrediting process begins with an application and fee. Once the application and registration fee are received, access to the HBEAA site is granted where a virtual orientation can be viewed.
The orientation video is available 24/7. It describes the step-by-step process of the submissions home educators will be required to make along with examples. All submissions are made on the HBEAA portal, which educators will gain access to once the orientation has been completed. Most homeschools are able to complete their submissions within 2 weeks or sooner. Home educators will have access to an accrediting team throughout the whole process, so they can ask questions as they are developing their submissions.
While there are some smaller pieces such as the homeschool’s mission statement, grading scale, and yearly calendar of the days the home educator plans on teaching, the bulk of the submissions will be an Education Plan for each student, which is where educators detail the goals, objectives, materials and evaluation plans for each course that the student will be enrolled in for the year. Educators are free to choose their curriculum and may use private tutors, co-ops, shared-time, and PSEO (Post Secondary Enrollment Option) classes for their students. While HBEAA does not offer curricula as part of accreditation, accredited schools have access to a resources list of curricula on the HBEAA site. Once the process is complete, the homeschool will receive a certificate of accreditation, and the home educator will gain a HBEAA teacher ID.
Throughout the school year, educators will report the progress of each student each quarter and have quarterly communications with their Lead Accreditor.
Where do I find more information?
Do you still have questions about accreditation and the process? Drop us a line or schedule a call! We’re happy to answer any of your questions.
Resources Referenced
School District Finder
MDE Home School Education
Minnesota Nonpublic Education Council
Home-Based Educators’ Accrediting Association (HBEAA)
Minnesota’s Department of Health
Minnesota Compulsory Instruction Statute
MDE School Finance Nonpublic
