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Accreditation – Having Transferable Credits
Homeschool families are experiencing a growing concern about accreditation. They want to make sure their student’s credits are able to transfer to other schools, colleges or universities. Every school has the administrative right to accept or reject credits from other schools (national or international).
The National Independent Accreditation Council (NISAC) accredits SCS. NISAC credits can be accepted by any regionally accredited public school (WASC, etc.).
Preschool – 8th grade: Students, preschool through eight grade, usually have nothing to be concerned about when entering into any public or private school in the United States.
High School: Homeschool students entering into a public high school during their high school years (Ex. A 9th grader entering into a public school for their 10th grade year. However, an 8th grader entering into a public 9th grade, does not fall into this category), could find their homeschool credits refused if not accredited. There are steps to take to resolve this if it is a problem. First, challenge the acceptance of credits by a process involving the public school district reviewing the curriculum content used. A homeschool administrator versed in this process could be an asset. If the courses are accepted, usually grades still will not be applied to the public school transcript. SCS is accredited by NISAC and has been successful in addressing these issues.
College or university: Students entering into colleges or universities usually do not have a concern either. Some universities will not accept credits if they discover the course content was religious in nature. High school students can avoid this by taking college courses during their high school year, primarily the courses which are crucial for transferring into a given university. The courses, if college level (English 101, etc.), will double as both college credits and high school credits. In many cases, one semester of a college level course is equal to one year of high school credit. Students need to have been preparing to enter the university since their tenth grade year. All students need to know the leap from high school to university is not an easy one for any student. Those with high SAT scores, or who have prepared years in advance with community college classes during their high school years, make the transition more easily.
Accreditation seems to be a growing concern for many home school groups. While public high schools throughout California are beginning to require accreditation in order to accept incoming credits, the absence of accreditation will not hinder any home schoolers from attending community college or university. The most prominent accreditation service in Southern California is WASC (the Western Association of Schools and Colleges). It is a regional part of a nationally recognized accreditation system. Accreditation is a type of stamp of approval for a school, but it cannot guarantee the educational outcome of it's students.
The National Independent Study Accreditation Council was created by private home school administrators with assistance from personnel in the California public school system. NISAC exists to provide an accreditation process and a self-governing standard for schools offering independent study and/or home education.
Independent study and home education are alternative approaches to education which are increasing in popularity. State departments of education hold various policies concerning the degree to which these approaches are tolerated or the manner in which they can be accomplished. NISAC's purpose is to help provide a self-governing standard which supports the laws of each state and follows professional standards for educational programs. Schools which successfully complete the NISAC candidacy/accreditation process can provide the local public with an assurance of the quality of accountability and supervision of the students enrolled in their school.
While candidacy/accreditation associations cannot guarantee the actual education of any individual student, the submission of a school to a professional accreditation process usually indicates the serious interest on the part of the organization for self-evaluation and a third-party audit for quality control.
For more information, you can contact NISAC for a brochure, or call 818-912-9747.
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