Are you considering enrolling your child in an online school? As a parent, you have every right to be concerned about the quality of the educational experience your child will receive. To help make this decision easier, here are four essential questions parents need to ask before choosing an online school.
Is the School Accredited?
It’s important to verify the school’s accreditation status. Ensuring that the online school you choose is accredited by regional or national accrediting agencies means that your child can graduate with a diploma that will be acknowledged by colleges and universities. Knowing the school’s accreditation status will give you peace of mind that your child is receiving a quality education.
Who will be Teaching Your Children?
Next, parents should find out more about the teachers who will be instructing their children. In general, teachers impact students not just academically but in the development of their mindset. As a parent, one of your primary concerns should be about who is teaching and influencing your student. Every teacher should be certified in their field, have experience teaching in an online environment, and understand how to create engaging learning experiences for students. Check with the school to see what qualifications their teachers must meet before they are hired.
How are Students Evaluated?
It’s also important to examine how student performance is evaluated. How does the school measure success? Are there grades or proficiency tests? It is equally important to know how the information is delivered and what tools are used to evaluate students' progress. Look at the curriculum and assess whether it meets your expectations for a quality educational experience and whether it aligns with state standards.
What Tech Support is Available?
Finally, ask about technology support services available for students enrolled in the online program. Can they get help with troubleshooting technical issues or guidance on using new software programs and applications? Does the school use software designed to enhance learning opportunities? Make sure your child has access to all of the resources necessary for success in their studies.
It’s important for parents to ask questions before enrolling their students in a school in order to ensure their children receive a quality education. As noted above, it is important that the school is an accredited institution with qualified teachers who measure student progress accurately and offer ample tech support services when needed. Doing this research ahead of time can help ensure that you make the best decision for your family when choosing an online school program for your children.
Choose Enlightium Academy!
Enlightium Academy is a leading private Christian school that is ready to serve your homeschool student with an award-winning curriculum, affordable tuition, and highly-reviewed experience. The curriculum is Christian, flexible, customizable, rigorous, and engaging.
Our teacher-led accredited private school performs all the activities that each of the 50 states requires, such as assigning classes, grading, providing feedback, teaching, and providing student accountability. We would love to prepare your student for academic and spiritual success with you. We accept new students throughout the school year, so you can get started today.
Accreditation Matters
When looking for a partner in high-quality education for your child, accreditation matters. When a school holds accreditation status, it means an outside agency has thoroughly vetted its academic programs for rigorousness, quality, and adherence to educational standards. Additionally, accreditation ensures that a school is stable, both fiscally and structurally.
Accreditation provides confirmation that the promises the school makes about the delivery system, courses, teachers, student support, and tuition and fees are fair and trustworthy. To maintain the accreditation status an on-site audit is conducted by the accrediting body every five years to ensure that high standards remain and ongoing development is in place.
In addition to providing credits that can easily transfer between schools, another benefit of accreditation is that it puts a stamp of approval on graduates. Graduating from an accredited school indicates that graduates are ready to study at a college level. This is important to colleges and universities when reviewing a new student's acceptance.
Meet Enlightium’s Teachers
As a part of Enlightium Academy’s dual accreditation, Enlightium teachers are state and/or ACSI-certified. A number of our faculty members have Master's and Doctorate degrees in their fields. The teacher-led support packages are available for students in grades 3-12. Learn more at our Teachers page.
Enlightium Academy also offers book-based parent-led options for students in grades PreK-8 and an online parent-led option for students in grades 3-10. Under the parent-led option, parents act as teachers while Enlightium Academy provides grading and guidance support.
Enlightium Academy additionally offers Enrichment Centers in multiple locations where students can participate in in-person learning. Enrichment Centers are a hybrid model where students complete the majority of their schoolwork at home. Students meet once a week with Enlightium teachers and other Enlightium students for additional support, instruction, and social interaction.
Testing and Evaluations
The evaluations and testing process allows Enlightium’s counselors to place students in the right courses. Based on records from the previous school, entrance assessment results, and additional supporting documentation, your student may be placed in the foundational, standard, or Honors courses. Your student may also be recommended to participate in courses or programs such as:
- The English Language Learner (ELL) Program
- Advanced Placement (AP) courses
- Concurrent Credit (CC) course
- Dual Enrollment (DE) courses
- The Mission Program
- Intervention and/or 504 Program
Availability for foundational, standard, and Honors courses, as well as various programs and courses, vary by grade level.
Each course offers an assessment of the material to allow students to master it before moving on with the course. Additionally, Enlightium offers Spring assessments to students in grades pre-kindergarten through 8th grade during the fourth quarter of each school year, as well as guidance for taking college-preparatory assessments such as the ACT and SAT for students in high school.
Enlightium Academy is a private Christian online school that serves homeschooling families by offering a Bible-based, flexible, accredited, teacher-supported, and affordable education from the comfort of your home. For any other questions about Enlightium, please call (509) 319-2288, or visit EnlightiumAcademy.com.