Did you know that private schools must be accredited to receive the Lindsey Nicole Henry (LNH) Scholarship and for their students' families to be eligible for the Parental Choice Tax Credit (PCTC)? Learn more about what accreditation means and how schools can start the process.
How do schools receive accreditation?
Private schools must apply to the agency from which they are seeking accreditation.
To participate in the PCTC, the private school must be accredited by either the OPSAC Commission, the State Board of Education, or another accrediting body.
Per state statute, to be a part of the LNH Scholarship Program, the private school must be accredited by either the State Board of Education or an accrediting body that is a member of the OPSAC Commission.
What is accreditation and what does it mean?
Accreditation ensures that the school maintains educational excellence and adheres to the regulations of the state in which it is accredited.
Each accrediting agency sets its own criteria for accreditation. Private school agencies must ensure that their requirements are comparable to the state requirements for public schools in all applicable areas. Some agencies also include specific requirements related to religious instruction and values, which are not mandated for public schools.
These standards include, but are not limited to, consideration of the school’s goals and objectives; compliance with applicable state and federal statutes; effective governance and administration; the teaching of a balanced curriculum; implementation of personnel practices that ensure the hiring of qualified and degreed instructional leaders; and standards for student achievement.
Accredited, brick-and-mortar private schools that are physically located inside the boundaries of the state of Oklahoma are eligible to participate in the LNH Scholarship program and with the PCTC.
How do I know if my child's school is accredited?
Most schools list their accreditation on their website. Parents can also look up schools that participate in the LNH Scholarship Program, participate in the PCTC, or are OPSAC member schools (the accrediting body is listed under each school's name).
Additionally, many schools participate in the Equal Opportunity Scholarship Fund, which can be found by looking up scholarship granting organizations.
It is recommended that parents spend a day at the school that they are considering before enrolling their child to ensure that it aligns with your student's needs and family values. Most schools offer shadowing days for students so that families can ensure the environment will best suit their child's needs.
Want to learn more?
Our Parent Services team is here to help parents navigate the variety of educational options and resources available in Oklahoma. These include public school choice: such as open transfer, magnet, and charter schools; private school choice, such as traditional private options and microschools; and homeschool choice, which is available in a variety of ways.
Our team also assists school leaders and those who want to start schools (of all types) by connecting them with partner organizations.
Please email us at info@okpsaedu.org to start your journey.
Who can schools contact to learn more?
The private school can contact several organizations, including Oklahoma Parents for Student Achievement (OPSA), the Council of Private Education (COPE), the OPSAC Commission, the State Board of Education, or another accrediting body. It is up to each individual school's leadership as to which agency they seek accreditation from. According to the OPSAC Commission's website, "Each agency has established its own criteria for accreditation."
What about schools that aren't yet accredited?
Microschools and other non-accredited learning environments are eligible for the $1,000 homeschool tax credit.
