How Nova Scotia 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 Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, 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! As you review your country’s homeschooling requirements, keep in mind that Enlightium Academy is a U.S.-based school and holds dual accreditation through Cognia and ACSI. Although not registered in Nova Scotia, this accreditation allows Enlightium to serve students worldwide and provides a high school diploma recognized nationally and internationally. For families living in countries that require an apostille to validate foreign educational records, Enlightium can help guide you through the apostille process should you choose to pursue official recognition of your student’s U.S. studies.

Please note that the resources below serve as a starting point for your family; it is important that you research Nova Scotia, Canada’s homeschooling requirements.

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Homeschooling Options

In Nova Scotia, homeschooling is a legal alternative to attending a public or private school. Families enrolling with Enlightium Academy may use Enlightium’s accredited online program as their instructional curriculum while remaining responsible for meeting Nova Scotia’s homeschooling obligations.

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Nova Scotia, Canada’s Homeschooling Requirements at a Glance

Country Educational Funds = No

Parent Notifies Country = Yes

Academic Calendar Requirement = Required Hours

Subjects Required = No

Age Requirement = 5-16

Instructor Qualifications = No

Standardized Assessment = No

Immunization Requirement = No

Keep a Portfolio = Recommended

Enlightium Parents App with Group for Nova Scotia, Canada Families = Yes

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Country Educational Funds

There do not appear to be any educational funds in Nova Scotia, Canada, at this time.

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Notifying the Country

By September 20 of each year, parents must submit a Home Schooling Registration Form for each student using this online form. A mail-in option is available, but you need to ensure that the form is received by September 20. 

This process involves providing:

• A completed form for each student.
• A copy of the birth certificate for children who are:
  
  • Entering primary school, and/or
  • New to the provincial education system
• A signed and dated “Parent/Guardian Declaration” on page 1 of the Home Schooling Registration Form.

Each June, you must submit a progress report to the Minister. Enlightium provides quarterly report cards which should fulfill this requirement.

If your family decides to withdraw from Enlightium, you must notify Nova Scotia by mail, phone, or e-mail.

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Calendar Requirements

Nova Scotia does not prescribe a specific number of instructional days or hours for homeschooling. However, instruction must be provided throughout the school year, and families must meet required registration and reporting deadlines.

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 Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development does not appear to require specific subjects to be taken.

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 and younger:

Students are not required to attend school but can enroll in primary school at Enlightium Academy to have a head start in their academics.

Aged five to 16:

They must attend a school such as homeschooling with Enlightium Academy. Students must continue their education at a school of their parent’s choice until they turn 17.

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Instructor Qualifications

Nova Scotia does not require homeschooling parents to hold teaching credentials. Parents are legally responsible for planning, delivering, and evaluating instruction. While Enlightium Academy employs accredited teachers, those teachers are not certified by Nova Scotia EECD, and parents remain the educators of record under provincial law.

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 BJU Press, while students in the Online Program use the Ignitia digital Christian curriculum or Enlightium’s custom online curriculum. All programs include 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.

*For students living in the U.S., this does not necessarily mean that their teachers are certified in the student’s state of residence, but instead in the teacher’s state of residence. For most states, this distinction is not important to the student’s academics.

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Standardized Assessment

The Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development does not appear to 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 Nova Scotia does not require a routine portfolio submission, keeping a portfolio of coursework, assessments, and progress reports is strongly recommended. Enlightium Academy’s report cards, transcripts, and coursework samples can support this requirement. Additional information may include:

• Attendance - Enlightium provides your family with weekly progress reports. 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.
• Course plans - Enlightium Academy counselors provide them during the enrollment/re-enrollment process based on the student’s grade level: 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 after quarters 1, 2, and 3, and report cards/transcripts at the end of the school year or summer.
• 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, 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 Nova Scotia, Canada 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 Nova Scotia 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, 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 January 2026

• https://hslda.org/post/Canada 
• https://www.ednet.ns.ca/homeschooling/questions-answers
• https://hemsns.ca/education-act-regulations-policy/
• https://crhe.org/canada/nova-scotia
• https://www.nshea.org/frequently-asked-questions