Many parents who choose to educate their children at home often rely on the services of online or virtual schools. This form of distance learning is used by parents seeking to supplement their own homeschool curriculum or by parents seeking a more “official” standards-based education for their children by education professionals.
However, not all distance learning schools are created equal, and any parent wishing to use their services should consider a few things before making the decision to use a specific online program as part of a homeschool curriculum. . Things parents should consider in connection with an online or distance learning program include factors such as the ease of use of the program and website, the content of the program, and the topics it covers, whether the school in line offer or not. after-hours help or assistance, the qualifications of the group or individual responsible for developing the program and delivering the education, whether or not the school provides a standards-based curriculum, and most importantly, whether the school in line has been accredited or not by the corresponding authorities.
As with any niche or market that experiences high demand, there is always the possibility of fraud. People who recognize the current popularity of homeschooling and online distance learning can often craft a curriculum designed less to educate and more to disappoint. Parents should be very careful in determining who developed the website and who provides the instruction. Is the program being taught by accredited individuals with advanced academic degrees? There are some schools that fill their faculty with low-qualified individuals who know nothing about the process of developing or delivering a curriculum.
While the other factors discussed are important considerations for parents to make when choosing an online school, it is extremely important for parents to determine if the online school has been accredited by the proper authorities. Given that the school exists in a virtual world, it is not out of the question for a less than legitimate online school to falsify its accreditation or receive accreditation from a source that is not officially recognized by state or federal agencies. Information about an accrediting agency’s credentials is readily available online through the US Department of Education website. By far the most recognized and accepted accrediting agency is the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, or WASC, which provides accreditation for everything from online schools to top universities and institutions of higher learning.
With so many people looking to use online distance learning as a supplement to or alternative to traditional homeschooling, it’s always good for parents to determine the validity of the online class or course they want to use. By finding out if a school’s credentials are valid and if its faculty is qualified, parents can make a better decision about whether or not to choose to go to a particular school or program. In the end, accreditation plays a bigger role in homeschooling than simply providing parents with peace of mind. By selecting an accredited online distance learning program, parents can be sure that their child will not only receive a proper education, but when the time comes for their child to apply for admission to a college or university, their classes and Courses will be considered on an equal footing with classes or courses taught in traditional public and private schools.