How Colorado Families Can Enroll at Enlightium Academy

Enlightium Academy is a 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. In general, state institutions recognize Enlightium Academy as an out-of-state private school that allows students to transfer in or transfer out to public and private schools. Enlightium Academy provides our families with standard information about their state’s requirements, and parents are encouraged to review their state’s requirements at hslda.org/legal and/or the Colorado Department of Education, as educational policies are subject to change over time.

Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. With this freedom comes a responsibility to understand and fulfill legal requirements. This can be worrisome, but 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 Colorado’s requirements.

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Homeschooling Options

There are three options in Colorado. Families with students enrolled at Enlightium Academy can choose Option 1: Homeschooling under Colorado’s homeschool statute. Therefore, the rest of this blog provides guidance based on Option 1, which will apply to most Colorado families enrolled at Enlightium Academy*.

As you review your state’s homeschooling requirements, please keep in mind that Enlightium Academy holds dual accreditation from Cognia and ACSI. This enables us to serve students in all 50 states, providing an accredited education that leads to a high school diploma recognized nationwide. 

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Colorado’s Requirements at a Glance

Homeschooling Options = Option 1: Homeschooling under Colorado’s homeschool statute

State Educational Funds = No

Parent Notifies State = Yes

Academic Calendar Requirement = Yes

Age Requirement = 6-17

Instructor Qualifications = Yes

Required Subjects = No

Standardized Assessment = Not Required by the State

Immunization Requirement = Yes, with exemptions

Keep a Portfolio = Yes

Enlightium Parents App with Group for Colorado Families = Yes

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Notifying the State

The homeschool statute requires families homeschooling under Option 1 to submit a written notice of intent to any Colorado school district of the family's choosing. The family does not submit the letter of intent to the Colorado Department of Education. 

For the first year of homeschooling, the parent or guardian must submit the notice within 14 days of beginning the homeschool program. For each subsequent year of homeschooling, the parent must submit the same notice. No timeframe appears to be required, so submitting it around the first day of school is recommended.

The notice must include the following:

• Student’s name
• Student’s age
• Place of residence
• Number of attendance hours

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State Educational Funds

No state educational funds are available for Enlightium families at this time.

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Age Requirement

Ages five or younger:

Students are not required to attend school but can enroll in primary school at Enlightium Academy to have a head start and be ready for Kindergarten.

Aged six on or before August 1:

They must attend school during that academic year; this includes enrolling at Enlightium Academy. Students must continue their education at a school of their parents’ choice until they turn 17 years old or graduate.

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Instructor Qualifications

Under option 1, the Colorado Department of Education does not require teachers to have specific credentials or qualifications. 

As a part of Enlightium Academy’s dual accreditation, Enlightium teachers are state and/or ACSI-certified. A number of our faculty members have Master's and Doctorate degrees in their fields. 

Students in the Book-Based Program use textbook Christian curricula from AOP or BJU Press, while students in the Online Program use the Ignitia digital Christian curriculum or Enlightium’s custom online curriculum (available to select grade levels). Students in the Sapphire Live program use a collection of the best-vetted curriculum options by our curriculum department. Each curriculum includes Bible, English, math, science, social studies, and elective courses. Click here to learn about the curriculum used at Enlightium Academy and to find the curriculum option that works best for your family.

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Required Subjects

Under option 1, the Colorado Department of Education requires the following subjects:

• Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Literature
• Math
• History, Civics, and the United States Constitution
• Science

The above subjects are core courses at Enlightium Academy and should be assigned by your student’s counselor.

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Academic Calendar

Under option 1, the Colorado Department of Education requires you to provide 172 days of instruction, averaging four hours per day. 

Enlightium’s school calendar has 180 school days (around 210 days with summer school). Additionally, students have access to the courses 24/7 for most days of the school year, including weekends and holidays.

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Standardized Assessment

The Colorado Department of Education requires that students be assessed with a nationally standardized achievement test to determine if they have made sufficient academic progress according to their ability. Students must be tested or evaluated in grades 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11. 

Enlightium provides multiple assessment options to help you see how your student is progressing per given grade level:

• Grades PreK-8: IXL diagnostic assessments or Iowa Complete Annual Assessment; you can also opt out of an assessment. Students in grades 3, 5, and 7 should take the Iowa Complete or another standardized assessment
• Grades 9-12: Guidance for college-preparatory assessments such as the PSAT, SAT, and/or ACT

Alternatively, students can be evaluated by a Colorado-certified teacher, a teacher employed by a private school, a licensed psychologist, or a person with a graduate degree in education. These services are not offered by Enlightium Academy.

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Immunization Requirement

Immunization is required in the state of Colorado; therefore, parents are required to keep their children’s immunization records or exemptions for medical or religious reasons. Enlightium Academy does not require student immunization, but may request a copy for our records, as we must abide by state regulations. 

You may find the Colorado state exemption form here. To complete an immunization exemption form, the state of Colorado requires you to be eligible under the religious exemption.

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Keep a Portfolio

The law requires Colorado parents to keep:

• Attendance - Enlightium provides your family with progress reports via email. You can screenshot the details in these emails to show attendance.
• Test scores - This can include occasional screenshots of test scores and/or standardized assessment scores.
• Immunization Records - See “Immunization Requirement” above for details

You may need to provide your state with additional information, so please keep a digital record every year you are enrolled at Enlightium Academy, which should include:

• Curriculum information and samples - Enlightium provides its families with both curriculum overviews by grade level and samples by course.
• Academic plans - Enlightium Academy counselors provide academic plans during the admission process for each of our four divisions of grades: primary school (PreK-2), elementary school (3-5), middle school (6-8), and high school (9-12).
• Grades - Enlightium provides report cards for all students at the end of each quarter. Transcripts are available upon request.
• Academic Awards - Enlightium provides qualifying students with certificates for Honor Roll, Scholar’s List, Dean’s List, Outstanding Improvement, and the Presidential Award.
• Social/Competition Achievements - Enlightium holds social events and competitions throughout the school year, such as art competitions and involvement in the Student Council.

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Enlightium Parents App with Group for Colorado Families

Enlightium Academy has an app and a desktop platform for families of currently enrolled students. Within this app is a group just for families living in Colorado to inform and support each other in fulfilling your state’s requirements. Your family will be provided a link to download the app after enrolling.

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Ready to Enroll at Enlightium Academy?

1. Explore Enlightium Academy’s website
2. If you have any questions:
   
   1. Chat with a team member
   2. Email consultants@enlightiumacademy.com
   3. Call (866) 488-4818 option 2
3. Ready to enroll? Click here to start the enrollment process, and select the “Enroll Now” button.

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*Alternative to Option 1

Alternatively, families with students enrolled at Enlightium Academy can choose Option 3 (Homeschooling with a certified teacher) if:

• The student is enrolled in the parent-led Book-Based Program or the parent-led Bronze Package, AND
• The parent, guardian, or the student’s tutor holds a valid Colorado teaching certificate.

The benefits of choosing Option 3 include the fact that the family is not required to notify the state. Additionally, under Option 3, the student is not required by the state to take a standardized assessment, though he or she will be required by Enlightium Academy. 

Since 2003, Enlightium Academy has supported K–12 students in online, book-based, hybrid, and partner schools. Our dedicated faculty and staff, in collaboration with parents, deliver high-quality instruction and individualized learning. We focus on developing each student’s academic, spiritual, physical, social, and emotional well-being.

To find out if Enlightium is the right school for your family, schedule an appointment, call (509) 319-2288, or visit EnlightiumAcademy.com. 

We review state requirements and regulations annually; however, each state may update its guidelines more frequently. If you have additional questions, please contact your state board of education.

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Sources reviewed in April 2025:

• https://hslda.org/legal
• https://www.cde.state.co.us/choice/homeschool 
• https://www.cde.state.co.us/choice/homeschool_attendancelaw