I am concerned when I hear or read references to enrollment in Ignite Christian Academy as homeschooling. Certainly there is similarity between the two. Both involve a lot of academic labor during school, hours under parental supervision, and curious neighbors probably see no difference. However, the differences are important.
Ignite Christian Academy is a well-established Christian school, fully accredited by the largest, best-known organization of its kind (AdvancED, and its affiliate NCA-CASI), enrolling several thousand students each year. The main difference between ICA and other Christian schools is that ICA students do their school work at home and connect with their teachers through the Internet and telephone. The academy still assumes full responsibility for instruction and evaluation.
In contrast to ICA, homeschooling is universally understood to mean that parents are responsible for curriculum selection, daily instruction, and evaluation of learning (giving grades). This is not the same thing as an in-home education where a public or private school allows students to receive their lessons and take quizzes and tests at home under the school's direction.
Terminology is important because sometimes ICA parents unwittingly create barriers for their children by referring to their academy enrollment as "homeschooling." When public school officials hear "homeschool," they may (unfairly) automatically deny transfer privileges to which ICA students are entitled. Getting accepted into military service or some colleges or just getting a driver's license can become more difficult if the student or parent mentions homeschool. Once an official has heard that homeschooling is involved, it can be almost impossible to correct his often stereotyped perception of what homeschooling is.
So what are some better labels for Ignite Christian Academy, if you must explain what it is? "Distance education," "distance learning school," "virtual school," and "online academy" are some better possibilities. I suggest you instruct your student to tell others, "I am enrolled in Ignite Christian Academy, a fully-accredited distance learning school." As parent, be prepared to explain, "It may look at first glance like homeschooling, but …"
I hope that no one takes what I am saying to mean that we on the academy staff look down our noses at genuine homeschooling. We have nothing but respect for parents who want to be fully involved in their children's education, including teaching each lesson and grading every report and every test. Many of these parents are giving their children a superior education. Thanks to courageous homeschooling pioneers, it was easier for Ignite Christian Academy to get started as a distance learning option. To this day, Ignite Christian Academy maintains a friendly relationship with the Home School Legal Defense Association and encourages families to join HSLDA if they live in a state where officials still confuse enrollment in a distance education school with homeschooling.
However, since families who enroll students in Ignite Christian Academy are knowingly choosing the services of an accredited school, they should be careful not to overlook the benefits to their children of regional accreditation by saying they are homeschooling.
David Bauman
Principal ICA