How British Columbia 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. As K-12 education policies are different in each country, it is a parental responsibility to check on their country’s requirements and fulfill them as applicable. To assist parents with this process, Enlightium provides basic information about some country’s requirements. Parents are also encouraged to review their country’s requirements at hslda.org/legal/international and/or the British Columbia (B.C.) Ministry of Education and Child Care, as educational policies are subject to change over time.

Homeschooling is legal in many countries; however, with the 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 British Columbia, Canada’s homeschooling requirements.

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Homeschooling Options

In British Columbia, families may choose either homeschooling or distributed learning (DL). Families enrolled with Enlightium Academy will be considered homeschoolers, not DL students, because Enlightium is a U.S.-based private school and is not registered with the B.C. Ministry of Education or staffed by BC-certified teachers.

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British Columbia’s Requirements at a Glance

Country Educational Funds = No

Parent Notify Country = Yes

Academic Calendar Requirement = No

Subjects Required = No

Age Requirement = 5-16

Instructor Qualifications = No

Standardized Assessment = Not Required by the Country

Immunization Requirement = No

Keep a Portfolio = Recommended by Enlightium

Enlightium Parents App with Group for British Columbia Families = Yes

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Country Educational Funds

There do not appear to be any educational funds in British Columbia at this time.

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Notifying the Country

To comply with B.C. law, parents must register their child as a homeschooler with a local public or independent school by September 30 each year. Registration allows the family to homeschool independently and use Enlightium Academy as their instructional program. To register your child:

1. Click here to find a list of schools that accept homeschool registrations.
2. Contact one to determine how to register; optionally, you can post in the British Columbia group in the Enlightium Parents app to know where other Enlightium parents have registered.

When registering, parents typically provide:

• The student’s name and date of birth
• The parent/guardian’s contact information
• A signed statement confirming their intent to homeschool

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Calendar Requirements

The British Columbia Ministry of Education and Child Care does not require a certain number of days or hours of instruction each year.

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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Required Subjects

The B.C. Ministry does not mandate specific subjects for homeschoolers, but it recommends providing a well-rounded education that covers literacy, numeracy, science, and social studies, should you choose to or need to transition to traditional schooling.

Families using Enlightium’s Christian curriculum already receive instruction in these core areas, as well as electives and Bible studies. 

After you enroll/re-enroll and before your student starts courses at Enlightium Academy, your student’s counselor will send you an email with a recommended course schedule consisting of core courses and, if applicable, courses that fulfill Enlightium’s graduation requirements. Your student can also select from Enlightium’s elective courses.

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Age Requirement

Ages four 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 five through 16:

Students must continue their education at a school of their parents’ choice until they either graduate or turn 16. This includes homeschooling with Enlightium Academy.

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Instructor Qualifications

In B.C., parents are not required to be certified teachers, and they may select any curriculum or support provider they choose.

As a part of Enlightium Academy’s dual accreditation, Enlightium teachers are state and/or ACSI-certified; however, they are not B.C.-certified. Because Enlightium is not registered in British Columbia, parents act as the primary educators of record and use Enlightium’s teachers for academic support, grading, and feedback within the homeschool framework.

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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Standardized Assessment

The British Columbia Ministry of Education and Child Care does not require a standardized test for homeschooled students. However, Enlightium Academy requires students to take an annual assessment to keep track of how students are progressing. Enlightium provides the following options per grade level:

• Grades PreK-8: IXL diagnostic assessments or Iowa Complete Annual Assessment. We recommend the IXL diagnostic assessment, as it provides more flexibility in scheduling and does not have an additional fee.

• Grades 9-12: Guidance for college-preparatory assessments such as the PSAT, SAT, and/or ACT

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Keep a Portfolio

While B.C. law does not require homeschoolers to submit a portfolio, parents should maintain learning records and samples of student work to demonstrate ongoing instruction, should they be requested by their registering school.  Enlightium recommends families keep a digital record every year, which should include:

• Attendance - Enlightium provides your family with progress reports via email. You can screenshot the details in these emails to show attendance.
• 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.
• Test scores - This can include occasional screenshots of test scores and/or standardized assessment scores.
• 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 British Columbia 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 British Columbia to inform and support each other in fulfilling their country’s homeschooling 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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Since 2003, Enlightium faculty and staff have served partner schools, hybrid, online, and book-based program K-12 students. With parental support, excellent instruction, and a personalized approach to learning, Enlightium equips students with the academic, spiritual, physical, social, and emotional skills they need to succeed in life. For any other questions about Enlightium, please call (509) 319-2288 or visit EnlightiumAcademy.com.

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

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Sources reviewed in November 2025:

• hslda.org/legal/international
• https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/administration/legislation-policy/independent-schools/homeschooling
• https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/education/kindergarten-to-grade-12/support/homeschooling/homeschooling-procedures-and-guidelines.pdf 
• https://bchea.ca/getting-started/where-to-register/ 
• https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/support/classroom-alternatives/homeschooling