Most people have a hazy idea that accreditation exists for schools, and it can seem like a daunting box to check if you're trying to establish one. It's important to know, however, that while accreditation is a great thing to have, it isn't necessary to run a microschool.
Accreditation's primary purpose is to facilitate the transfer of credits from one school to another, primarily in the public system. This obviously comes in handy with college applications, particularly when obtaining college credit for classes taken in high school. While many private schools are accredited, it's not required. In the event that a child transfers from a non-accredited school to a public school, they'll be tested and assigned to the appropriate grade level. It should be noted that homeschooled students experience higher-than-average college acceptance rates, even though their parents are almost certainly not accredited.
Some people are surprised to learn that anyone can open their doors and operate as a private school. Aside from basic business filings, there are no credentials or certifications required, no bureaucratic hoops you need to jump through, to begin impacting kids' lives in a very real way. Vetting schools is what parents are for.
