Comments on: The difference between ACCREDITED and OFFICIAL transcripts http://www.thehomescholar.com/blog/the-difference-between-accredited-and-offical-transcripts/645/ Helping Parents Homeschool High School Sun, 14 Mar 2010 04:05:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Lee http://www.thehomescholar.com/blog/the-difference-between-accredited-and-offical-transcripts/645/comment-page-1/#comment-2635 Lee Sat, 13 Feb 2010 18:33:38 +0000 http://www.thehomescholar.com/blog/?p=645#comment-2635 Hi MP, Public high school policies vary, so I don't think having one person's experience with grades will help you or not. Again, while colleges are pretty accepting, public HIGH SCHOOLS generally are not. For more information, see the information that public high schools in Missouri say about their public high school that is NOT accredited: What Happens When a School District Becomes Unaccredited? http://dese.mo.gov/divimprove/sia/msip/unaccredited.html Blessings, Lee Hi MP,
Public high school policies vary, so I don’t think having one person’s experience with grades will help you or not. Again, while colleges are pretty accepting, public HIGH SCHOOLS generally are not. For more information, see the information that public high schools in Missouri say about their public high school that is NOT accredited:

What Happens When a School District Becomes Unaccredited?
http://dese.mo.gov/divimprove/sia/msip/unaccredited.html

Blessings,
Lee

]]> By: M.P http://www.thehomescholar.com/blog/the-difference-between-accredited-and-offical-transcripts/645/comment-page-1/#comment-2633 M.P Sat, 13 Feb 2010 17:02:56 +0000 http://www.thehomescholar.com/blog/?p=645#comment-2633 I want an accredited transcripts because we are military, and the schools policies change between states. We don't know what the future holds for us, or what the public schools will/will not offer or accept. I want the safety net of accredited transcripts. I have a question for those who transfer into public school. If you used an accredited transcript, did the public school also accept the grades, or just the credit hours? I have friends whose children's class rank is affected because, while credit hours were honored, grades received were not (they had official, not accredited transcripts). In some states, class rank can make the difference in whether you are accepted to a state school automatically, or not. I want an accredited transcripts because we are military, and the schools policies change between states. We don’t know what the future holds for us, or what the public schools will/will not offer or accept. I want the safety net of accredited transcripts.

I have a question for those who transfer into public school. If you used an accredited transcript, did the public school also accept the grades, or just the credit hours?

I have friends whose children’s class rank is affected because, while credit hours were honored, grades received were not (they had official, not accredited transcripts). In some states, class rank can make the difference in whether you are accepted to a state school automatically, or not.

]]> By: Lee http://www.thehomescholar.com/blog/the-difference-between-accredited-and-offical-transcripts/645/comment-page-1/#comment-2323 Lee Wed, 02 Dec 2009 21:37:24 +0000 http://www.thehomescholar.com/blog/?p=645#comment-2323 Hi Julie, recently the military academies have been much more homeschool friendly. Since things change, always make sure to check! Blessings, Lee Hi Julie,
recently the military academies have been much more homeschool friendly. Since things change, always make sure to check!
Blessings,
Lee

]]> By: Julie http://www.thehomescholar.com/blog/the-difference-between-accredited-and-offical-transcripts/645/comment-page-1/#comment-2322 Julie Wed, 02 Dec 2009 21:31:51 +0000 http://www.thehomescholar.com/blog/?p=645#comment-2322 Both of my kids took advantage of music programs through the public schools - after all, my taxes pay for them too and band is a lot more fun with a group than playing alone! They were even able to take more music classes than the regularly enrolled students as they didn't have the same time conflicts. My daughter also participated in sports - softball and track - at the public school - junior and senior high - and they were happy to have her on the team. The school was one in the district we lived in and would have attended if not for choosing to homeschool instead. Sometimes the school secretaries were unhelpful but there has always been a staff member who would help with the sign-up process. As for the official vs accredited, most colleges will accept official if there is a clear transcript and the SAT or ACT test scores back up the grades. A transcript is also needed for scholarship applications. Sometimes military organizations or schools are sticklers though and want accredited high school transcripts - won't even accept GED. These have been my experiences at least. Be polite but be bold and ask! Both of my kids took advantage of music programs through the public schools – after all, my taxes pay for them too and band is a lot more fun with a group than playing alone! They were even able to take more music classes than the regularly enrolled students as they didn’t have the same time conflicts.
My daughter also participated in sports – softball and track – at the public school – junior and senior high – and they were happy to have her on the team. The school was one in the district we lived in and would have attended if not for choosing to homeschool instead. Sometimes the school secretaries were unhelpful but there has always been a staff member who would help with the sign-up process.

As for the official vs accredited, most colleges will accept official if there is a clear transcript and the SAT or ACT test scores back up the grades. A transcript is also needed for scholarship applications. Sometimes military organizations or schools are sticklers though and want accredited high school transcripts – won’t even accept GED.

These have been my experiences at least. Be polite but be bold and ask!

]]> By: Beth http://www.thehomescholar.com/blog/the-difference-between-accredited-and-offical-transcripts/645/comment-page-1/#comment-1719 Beth Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:48:47 +0000 http://www.thehomescholar.com/blog/?p=645#comment-1719 In WA, you have ever bit of access to sports programs, as well as any other program in every school, as a homeschool student. You do not need to be any-time enrolled. This is known as anscillary services. You just go to your school, and there is a process for out-of-district access although it may be closed if enrollment is high, and tell them what sport or what class you would like to enroll your student in. There is no record keeping or anything. You just go to the class. I believe there will be a transcript for your student, but ask to be sure how they are keeping record of your child. Of course, the sport activity, there would be no transcript. Most schools are pretty agreeable and we are finding the stigma amongst students about being a homeschool student is fading away and usually is not a problem. In WA, you have ever bit of access to sports programs, as well as any other program in every school, as a homeschool student. You do not need to be any-time enrolled. This is known as anscillary services. You just go to your school, and there is a process for out-of-district access although it may be closed if enrollment is high, and tell them what sport or what class you would like to enroll your student in. There is no record keeping or anything. You just go to the class. I believe there will be a transcript for your student, but ask to be sure how they are keeping record of your child. Of course, the sport activity, there would be no transcript. Most schools are pretty agreeable and we are finding the stigma amongst students about being a homeschool student is fading away and usually is not a problem.

]]> By: Laura George http://www.thehomescholar.com/blog/the-difference-between-accredited-and-offical-transcripts/645/comment-page-1/#comment-1619 Laura George Sun, 13 Sep 2009 23:41:28 +0000 http://www.thehomescholar.com/blog/?p=645#comment-1619 Dear Lee, This is my first visit to your site and I was impressed by your article on "official" and "accredited" transcripts. Interestingly, my organization, Compass Prep, was just "awarded" the status of being "FULLY ACCREDITED" by the Georgia Accrediting Commission, an independent accrediting agency that's been around for over 100 years and accredits public, private and now, non-traditional programs. My husband and I have personally home educated our own eleven children for 25 years. We have graduated 7 children so far, none with accredited diplomas, yet all who desired to go on to college were readily accepted into the collegs they chose. So why would I pursue accreditation for my non-profit educational program? Because it is simply a key on our keychain to open cerain locks that we might otherwise have to "pick". I have students in our program straight from public school who want to join the military. The particular recruitment office we are working with does not understand home education AT ALL and being able to say that we are "accredited" speaks a language that I would have had to use sign language, flash cards and playdoh to explain what we do and how we do it. Much more labor intensive than it needs to be for the parents or organization supporting the student. For anyone who wants to know, accreditation means absolutely NOTHING as far as the quality of a program is concerned. And I'm the first to tell inquirers that fact. Part of the reason I chose to add that key to our keychain was that I didn't have to change one tiny part of our very unique, Biblical worldview-focused program in order to receive the GAC seal of approval. So, let the buyer beware, and not be fooled. No one really NEEDS accreditation to get into college. But it can sure grease some rusty wheels and translate a homeschooler's work into something intelligible for those who choose to believe that somehow their work isn't good enough. We, as veteran home educators know better, but for those in the uneducated mainstream, that little gold seal goes a long way. Dear Lee,
This is my first visit to your site and I was impressed by your article on “official” and “accredited” transcripts. Interestingly, my organization, Compass Prep, was just “awarded” the status of being “FULLY ACCREDITED” by the Georgia Accrediting Commission, an independent accrediting agency that’s been around for over 100 years and accredits public, private and now, non-traditional programs.

My husband and I have personally home educated our own eleven children for 25 years. We have graduated 7 children so far, none with accredited diplomas, yet all who desired to go on to college were readily accepted into the collegs they chose.

So why would I pursue accreditation for my non-profit educational program? Because it is simply a key on our keychain to open cerain locks that we might otherwise have to “pick”.

I have students in our program straight from public school who want to join the military. The particular recruitment office we are working with does not understand home education AT ALL and being able to say that we are “accredited” speaks a language that I would have had to use sign language, flash cards and playdoh to explain what we do and how we do it. Much more labor intensive than it needs to be for the parents or organization supporting the student. For anyone who wants to know, accreditation means absolutely NOTHING as far as the quality of a program is concerned. And I’m the first to tell inquirers that fact. Part of the reason I chose to add that key to our keychain was that I didn’t have to change one tiny part of our very unique, Biblical worldview-focused program in order to receive the GAC seal of approval. So, let the buyer beware, and not be fooled. No one really NEEDS accreditation to get into college. But it can sure grease some rusty wheels and translate a homeschooler’s work into something intelligible for those who choose to believe that somehow their work isn’t good enough. We, as veteran home educators know better, but for those in the uneducated mainstream, that little gold seal goes a long way.

]]> By: Lee http://www.thehomescholar.com/blog/the-difference-between-accredited-and-offical-transcripts/645/comment-page-1/#comment-1540 Lee Fri, 14 Aug 2009 18:55:38 +0000 http://www.thehomescholar.com/blog/?p=645#comment-1540 Hi Karen, Every family has a unique situation, and only a parent will know the best decision. However, in my experience, I have noticed that it is the high schools that care about accreditation - not the colleges. Here is a blog post I wrote explaining the difference in viewpoint: http://www.thehomescholar.com/blog/do-you-really-need-an-accreditation-counselor/785/ If you plan to blend back in to a public school, then accreditation may help. If you plan to homeschool through high school and go into college, then accreditation probably won't make any difference (unless you have a very persnickety college, which is very rare.) I hope that helps with the decision making! Blessings, Lee Hi Karen,
Every family has a unique situation, and only a parent will know the best decision. However, in my experience, I have noticed that it is the high schools that care about accreditation – not the colleges. Here is a blog post I wrote explaining the difference in viewpoint:
http://www.thehomescholar.com/blog/do-you-really-need-an-accreditation-counselor/785/

If you plan to blend back in to a public school, then accreditation may help. If you plan to homeschool through high school and go into college, then accreditation probably won’t make any difference (unless you have a very persnickety college, which is very rare.)

I hope that helps with the decision making!

Blessings,
Lee

]]> By: Karen Kangas http://www.thehomescholar.com/blog/the-difference-between-accredited-and-offical-transcripts/645/comment-page-1/#comment-1536 Karen Kangas Tue, 11 Aug 2009 20:53:35 +0000 http://www.thehomescholar.com/blog/?p=645#comment-1536 We chose an accredited school to keep track of the credits that my high school children completed at home. At the time that our oldest started high school, we weren't sure which college or university he planned to attend. I did not want him to work hard and then have doors shut for him because his credits were not accredited. He chose to go to the public school in 10th grade. The public school easily accepted the credits from the school we had chosen (one on your list). If we hadn't had that it would have been a lot of work to get them to agree with us. So for us it was really worth it. I've had 4 children graduate from my home school and have not regretted paying for the accreditation service. My oldest graduated from the public school. I have a cousin who made his own high school transcripts for his children and was continually going to the community college to explain how the child got the credit and what was covered. A lot of hassle. We chose an accredited school to keep track of the credits that my high school children completed at home. At the time that our oldest started high school, we weren’t sure which college or university he planned to attend. I did not want him to work hard and then have doors shut for him because his credits were not accredited. He chose to go to the public school in 10th grade. The public school easily accepted the credits from the school we had chosen (one on your list). If we hadn’t had that it would have been a lot of work to get them to agree with us. So for us it was really worth it. I’ve had 4 children graduate from my home school and have not regretted paying for the accreditation service. My oldest graduated from the public school. I have a cousin who made his own high school transcripts for his children and was continually going to the community college to explain how the child got the credit and what was covered. A lot of hassle.

]]> By: Holly Craw http://www.thehomescholar.com/blog/the-difference-between-accredited-and-offical-transcripts/645/comment-page-1/#comment-1427 Holly Craw Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:54:20 +0000 http://www.thehomescholar.com/blog/?p=645#comment-1427 Thanks, Lee for another insightful post. I looked into accreditation a few years ago just to see what all the ruckus was about. I was pleased to see that my instincts were correct--colleges for the most part are looking at the unique person who is applying, and whether he or she had the qualities the school was seeking. Many of the comments from admissions officers that I read even indicated they didn't really care about the accreditation that public or private school students had. It is very liberating to know that the most important parts of a college admission are the things that our kids generally show just in the fact of being homeschooled--leadership ability, thinking outside the box, social skills with all kinds of people, as well as unique talents and experiences that have been nurtured within the freedom we have to not follow a standard curriculum. Thanks, Lee for another insightful post.

I looked into accreditation a few years ago just to see what all the ruckus was about. I was pleased to see that my instincts were correct–colleges for the most part are looking at the unique person who is applying, and whether he or she had the qualities the school was seeking. Many of the comments from admissions officers that I read even indicated they didn’t really care about the accreditation that public or private school students had.

It is very liberating to know that the most important parts of a college admission are the things that our kids generally show just in the fact of being homeschooled–leadership ability, thinking outside the box, social skills with all kinds of people, as well as unique talents and experiences that have been nurtured within the freedom we have to not follow a standard curriculum.

]]> By: Lee http://www.thehomescholar.com/blog/the-difference-between-accredited-and-offical-transcripts/645/comment-page-1/#comment-1358 Lee Fri, 05 Jun 2009 23:46:14 +0000 http://www.thehomescholar.com/blog/?p=645#comment-1358 Hi Rebecca, I think that people pay when they feel insecure. I know I looked into accreditation when I felt insecure. I'm sure it makes sense for some people... can't think of why, but there are a lot of different kinds of families after all. But for us, looking at all the research I did, it didn't make sense to me at all. Why don't you look at the colleges you "might" have your child apply to? By doing your own research on college admission, you can really be certain! It's a very liberating feeling! Blessings, Lee Hi Rebecca,
I think that people pay when they feel insecure. I know I looked into accreditation when I felt insecure. I’m sure it makes sense for some people… can’t think of why, but there are a lot of different kinds of families after all. But for us, looking at all the research I did, it didn’t make sense to me at all. Why don’t you look at the colleges you “might” have your child apply to? By doing your own research on college admission, you can really be certain! It’s a very liberating feeling!
Blessings,
Lee

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