Accreditation Is it Necessary for College?

Transcription

1 Accreditation Is it Necessary for College? Use the coupon code ebook at for $5 off any product! GEORGIA HOME SCHOOL LAW 1. Home schools are legal educational entities in Georgia. Georgia Code Annotated Educational entities; requirements for private schools and home study programs (a) This subpart recognizes the existence of public schools, private schools, and home study programs as educational entities. 2. Home schools must meet the following requirements: a. File the Intent to Utilize a Home Study Program with the DOE annually. b. Provide basic academic instruction in reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science. c. Provide instruction for 180 school days; 4 1/2 hours each day per school year. d. Test their children every three years beginning in 3 rd grade using a nationally standardized testing program. e. Write an annual progress assessment for the student and keep it on file for three years. Source: GA Code Annotated (c)(1-5) GEORGIA HOPE REQUIREMENTS 1993 HOPE legislation makes accreditation an issue: A HOPE-eligible high school or HOPE-eligible home study program must be accredited by one or more of the accrediting agencies listed below. If the high school or home study program is located in the state of Georgia: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Georgia Accrediting Commission Georgia Association of Christian Schools Association of Christian Schools International Georgia Private School Accreditation Council Southern Association of Independent Schools If the high school or home study program is located outside the state of Georgia it must be accredited by one of the following: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools New England Association of Schools and Colleges Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools North Central Association of Colleges and Schools Northwest Accreditation Commission Western Association of Schools and Colleges Alabama Independent School Association Southern Association of Independent Schools

2 GEORGIA HOPE REQUIREMENTS HOPE eligibility for ineligible schools and home study programs: Students graduating from an ineligible home study program, an ineligible high school or with a GED can qualify for hope by either: 1. Scoring in the 85 th percentile on either the SAT or ACT. This score currently is 1850 or Legislation has passed that lowers this requirement to the 80 th percentile or approximately 1780 SAT or Qualifying retroactively for the freshman year of college, after earning a 3.00 cumulative GPA upon completion of 30 semester or 45 quarter hours of college degree-level credit. ACCREDITATION DEFINED Educational accreditation is a type of quality assurance process under which services and operations of educational institutions or programs are evaluated by an external body to determine if applicable standards are met. If standards are met, accredited status is granted by the agency. In most countries in the world, accreditation is conducted by a government organization, such as a ministry of education. In the United States accreditation is performed by private non-profit organizations. ACCREDITATION TYPES Regional Accreditation Southern Association of Colleges & Schools (SACS) Southern Association of Colleges and Schools New England Association of Schools and Colleges Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools North Central Association of Colleges and Schools Northwest Accreditation Commission Western Association of Schools and Colleges State Recognized Agencies Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Georgia Accrediting Commission Georgia Association of Christian Schools Association of Christian Schools International Georgia Private School Accreditation Council Southern Association of Independent Schools Religions Accreditation Association of Christian Schools Intl (ACSI) Christian Schools International (CSI) American Association of Christian Schools (AACS) Independent Accreditation National Independent Study Accreditation Council National Home School Accreditation of America

3 ACCREDITATION IN GEORGIA Primary agencies accrediting GA home schools Southern Assn. of Colleges and Schools (SACS) Accrediting schools and colleges since 1895 History of SACS Georgia Accrediting Commission GAC is most common home school accreditation History of GAC began non-traditional school accreditation NON-TRADITIONAL EDUCATIONAL CENTERS Non-Traditional Educational Centers are defined as those centers serving groups of students engaged in independent study and are members of a center for non-traditional learning. Non-Traditional Educational Centers serve home-schooled students a maximum of 60% of the time at the center. The remaining 40% of the time must be spent studying at home or at a place designated by the parents. GAC ACCREDITATION PROCESS Non Traditional Education Centers Must: Pay the $50 application fee Pay the $50 annual referral fee Pay the $250 hourly consultant fee Develop a written operational plan Develop educational goals Receive Annual Visits The Written Operational Plan Must: 1. Encourage parents to submit attendance to DOE 2. Maintain attendance records/transcripts for all students 3. Administer a standardized test every three years 4. Follow GA home school law 5. Follow GA graduation law 6. One staff person possess a bachelor s degree 7. Records are adequately stored 8. Facilities meet Fire Marshall requirements 9. Can accredit past coursework 10. Administer, score & record end of course content test 11. Provide group enrichment and social activities ACCREDITATION COSTS $25 application fee $100 registration fee $300 accreditation for senior year $400 accreditation fee for junior year $400 accreditation fee for sophomore year $400 accreditation fee for freshman year $25 per transcript printed ACCREDITATION PATHS 1. Online Schools Georgia Cyber Academy, Georgia Virtual Academy Abeka Academy, Lighthouse Christian Academy James Madison High School 2. Hybrid Schools Veritas, Fideles, Artios, Masters Academy 3. Non Traditional Education Centers Scholar s Guild Westridge Academy

4 ACCREDITATION MYTHS 1. Accreditation is necessary to play D1 sports 2. Accreditation is necessary for college admission 3. Accreditation is necessary for the HOPE scholarship 4. A home school transcript is not official 5. A home school diploma is not legitimate 6. Accreditation indicates future success in college 7. Accreditation supersedes poor test scores 8. A portfolio will be required in lieu of accreditation 9. Transferring into public school is easier with accreditation 10. Curriculum is accredited 11. The home school is accredited QUESTIONS What role does accreditation plan in admission? Which accreditation do colleges recognize? Do accredited students perform better than unaccredited students? How do you identify an accredited transcript? Does accreditation really matter? Out of state accreditation Independent accreditation Accreditation for HOPE purposes HOPE PAYOUT Scenario I Immediate Payout $3,800 Average HOPE Payout 2013 $1,800 Accreditation fees (low end) $2,000 Value of HOPE upfront Scenario II Retroactive Payout $3,800 Average HOPE payout Accreditation fees $3,800 Value of HOPE Retroactively COLLEGE ADMISSION Factors of Considerable Importance to Admissions Counselors: GPA in College Prep Classes Difficult Courses Overall GPA Standardized Test Scores Admission Scholarships Validate high school transcript STANDARDIZED TESTS o ACT - Tests reading comprehension, physics, trigonometry, and critical thinking but is a more content-based examination than the SAT/PSAT. o SAT - A critical thinking and logic test that tests up to Algebra II, reading, vocabulary and writing. No science is included. o PSAT - Test used to determine National Merit Scholars, almost identical to the SAT in format and content. Reading writing and math up to Algebra I only

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