Enlightium Academy is an approved private Christian school that is accredited by Cognia and the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). Enlightium has served homeschool, online, and co-op school students in K-12 since 2003. As K-12 education policies are different in each state, it is a parental responsibility to check on their state’s homeschool requirements and fulfill them as applicable. To assist parents with this process, Enlightium provides basic information about each state’s requirements. Parents are also encouraged to review their state’s requirements at hslda.org/legal and/or the New Mexico Department of Education, as educational policies are subject to change over time.

Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states and Washington D.C.; however, with freedom to educational opportunities comes a responsibility to understand and fulfill legal requirements. This can be worrisome, yet you’re not alone in this endeavor. Enlightium Academy is here to help! 

Please, note that the resources below serve as a starting point for your family; it is important that you research New Mexico homeschool requirements.

Several states have K–12 private school education tax benefits, deductions, or refund programs. Please keep the following in mind:

1. Legally, Enlightium Academy is considered a private school, not a homeschool.
2. Enlightium Academy is accredited, an important distinction for several states in filing for tax benefits. Enlightium Academy is accredited by Cognia and the Association of Christian Schools International. More information can be found here.
3. This article is intended to inform you on the first steps that need to be taken to prepare for filing; speak with a tax professional and/or conduct further research before filing.
4. Laws are subject to change. 

Li’l Billy opens a Bible quiz. It’s his first attempt and he feels good about it. Suddenly, from the living room, “Moooom!”

The assignment shows that he has already accessed it, even though this is his first time.

A standardized assessment provides the student, the family, the school or homeschool program, and the state insight as to how a student is doing in their academics compared to other students around the United States who took the same assessment. 

Whether you are a high schooler with senioritis or a parent trying to help your child finish his/her degree, chances are that you’ve wondered how important it is to earn a high school diploma. Perhaps you’ve thought to yourself, “If I don’t care about college, why do I need to get an accredited high school diploma?”

In order for your student to use Ignitia, our online curriculum platform, you will need to have a computer with current software installed. The good news is that this is relatively simple, even for those who are not technically savvy. The great news is that our team has listed the requirements below to make this an easy process.

Louisiana’s individual tax reduction program is one of the best in the country. Parents can claim tax deductions for private school expenses up to $5,000 per student each year.

Indiana’s individual tax reduction program allows parents to claim tax deductions for private school expenses up to $1,000 per student each year.

Illinois is one of the few states in the U.S. with a tax credit program. For being enrolled in a private school, families in Illinois can receive up to a $250 credit per dependent each school year. Parents can receive a credit of 25% of their expenses after the first $250; the maximum credit a family can receive is $750.

South Carolina offers a unique tax option: a refundable tax credit available to parents/guardians of students with special needs. South Carolina matches the federal definition of special needs as a “child with a disability”; more can be found at 34 CFR 300.8. The parents/guardians must also believe that the public school district that the student would be attending, if not enrolled in a private school, would not meet the student’s needs.

Minnesota’s K–12 Education Credit program is a refundable tax credit for education expenses outside of tuition. For families enrolled in Enlightium Academy, this can include school supplies, books, and more. This tax credit lowers your family’s total tax liability.

Several states have K–12 private school education tax benefits, deductions, or refund programs. Please keep the following in mind:

1. Enlightium Academy is legally a private school, not a homeschool.
2. Enlightium Academy is accredited, an important distinction for several states in filing for tax benefits. Enlightium Academy is accredited by AdvancEd and the Association of Christian Schools International. More information can be found here.
3. This article is intended to act as the first steps in preparing for filing; speak with a tax professional and/or conduct further research before filing.
4. Laws are subject to change. Please note this article’s publication date.

There are a number of reasons why you may not be receiving some or all emails from Enlightium Academy even after enrolling. The following are the most common:

For an online private school student, temporarily losing access to the Internet is comparable to an astronaut locking his keys in the shuttle while going for a space walk. Simply put, it is not an ideal situation.

When you decide to enroll your student in an alternative to public school, whether it is enrolling him/her in an online private school such as Enlightium Academy or taking on all responsibilities yourself in homeschooling, you are cutting yourself off from the educational standard and therefore have additional steps to fulfill. It’s a tradeoff - you have more of a say in what and how your student is learning, and in return you are accountable to the state to ensure that your student is learning the basics.

Often students enroll at an online school because they want to minimize the amount of interaction between themselves and their teachers. If that is the case, the student will most likely not respond to a teacher’s efforts to forge a relationship.

Some students find interacting with adults face-to-face intimidating, so the idea of interacting with their teachers digitally makes communication with adults more bearable. These students are more likely to respond positively to a teacher’s efforts to forge a relationship.

We live in a day and time when much of our lives are dependent on the Internet. People trade, communicate, work, and entertain themselves through an online medium. Students are able to forge a relationship with a teacher online, especially when the teachers make initial contact.

How Will Online Teachers Forge Relationships With Their Students?

It all starts with a good introduction.

Teachers at Enlightium Academy always send a greeting letter when a student joins their class. Teachers introduce themselves in a colorful way, where they talk about their interests and families and show themselves as fun, interesting people who will help their students through the coursework. 

For some students, this introduction is enough to break the ice; they will respond with an introduction of their own, and the teacher will remember this conversation.

For other students, an introduction is not enough, and teachers know this. So they keep reaching out to students in different ways. Most of their interactions are through chat on Ignitia, although some students have access to teachers through phone tutorials, screen sharing and face-to-face video chat. 

Be it face-to-face or just written communication, the chance to work one-on-one with the student is what gives teachers the opportunity to truly forge a relationship with them. It is during these interactions that teachers can continue to learn about the person behind the screen name. It isn’t uncommon for teachers to know the names of the student’s pets or to be in prayer with the student and his or her parents.  

When you are the parent of an online private school student, you might find yourself in a role that you never imagined: Information Technician. You are now in charge of ensuring that your student has all of the correct technology he or she needs to complete the schoolwork.

Buying a computer is like buying a car. Your selection is dependent upon your intended use. A family of six living in Alaska might choose an SUV, while a retired couple in Florida may purchase a convertible. Your computer purchase should complement your lifestyle.