According to the U.S. Department of Education, accreditation is “a voluntary process of self-regulation and peer review by which a program demonstrates to an outside organization, association, or agency that the program is meeting the quality standards set by that organization.”
The International Association for Liberated Education (IAFLE) accredits private schools, non-public schools, church schools, umbrella schools, and/or homeschool programs that demonstrate a commitment to excellence through innovative education.
Step 1: Application (30 days)
The first step in the accreditation progress is: APPLICATION. Eligible schools must complete the online application and pay the $200 application fee.
Eligible schools MUST have been in operation for a minimum of 12 months prior to submitting the online application.
All applications will be initially reviewed by the IAFLE Board of Directors and will either be accepted or rejected in writing within 30 days.
If your application is accepted, then you will be invited to the next step in the accreditation process.
Step 2: Evaluation (60 days)
The second step in the accreditation process is: EVALUATION. During the Evaluation phase, we will primarily be evaluating two key components of your program: organization and operation.
Organization (30 days)
In order to evaluate your school’s organization, applicant schools must submit a written description of the following organizational items:
- Articles of Incorporation (or Association or Organization)
- Designated Contact or School Representative
- History of the School
- Biography of School Owner/Founder
- Organizational Chart
- Educational Program
- Methods of Delivery
- Enrollment Data for the last 2 years
- Faculty Qualifications
- Library / Learning Resources
- School Website
- Financial Resources (audited financial statements or corporate tax returns for the last 2 years)
- Physical Resources (address the general adequacy and size of structures used for instruction and student activities)
- Copy of Enrollment Application
- Copy of Student Handbook
- Copy of School Policies and Procedures
- Terms and Conditions for Enrollment
- Refund Policy
- Proof of Compliance with all State and Local Laws which may include:
- Business License
- Registration as a Private School
- Fire and Safety Inspections
- Health Inspections
- Annual Survey
- Background Check
- Certification and/or Qualifications of Teachers and Administrators
- Curriculum
- Scope and Sequence
- Graduation Requirements
- Three-Year Plan for Continuous School Growth and Improvement
Once you have submitted all of your documentation for your school’s organization, the IAFLE Board will make a determination if the applicant school is approved for an evaluation of your school’s operations through an on-site visit within 30 days.
Operation (30 days)
During the Evaluation phase, an official IAFLE representative will conduct an on-site visit. An “official representative” is an active director, board member, school administrator, or officer of an educational program currently accredited by IAFLE who has agreed to make on-site visitations in his/her area to applicant programs.
The applicant school must submit a $3,000 on-site visit fee if they are located in Florida, or a $4,000 on-site visit fee if located in another state. The IAFLE representative will verify that all information and claims submitted in the application are accurate including compliance with local health and fire safety requirements.
Upon completion of the on-site visit, the IAFLE representative will submit a written report along with a recommendation for approval or disapproval of accreditation to the IAFLE Board of Directors. Upon receipt of this recommendation, IAFLE will notify the applicant school of rejection or issue a Certificate of Accreditation within 30 days.
On-site visits must be completed at least once every 3 years unless there is a change of name or location. If a school plans on changing its name or location, they must notify IAFLE in writing at least 90 days prior to officially changing the school name or location.
Step 3: Accreditation (1 year)
Accreditation with IAFLE lasts for 3 years, but each school must submit annual dues in order to maintain accreditation. IAFLE is a non-profit organization which relies upon the annual dues of its accredited members to maintain operations and to provide services to accredited schools. The annual dues for each accredited school are $500 per year and must be paid once per school year of accreditation prior to December 31st of each year. Failure to pay annual dues will result in suspension of accreditation.
ACCREDITATION FEES:
- Application Fee: $200 (for NEW applicants ONLY)
- Candidacy Fee: $500 (for NEW applicants ONLY)
- Annual Dues: $500 (for ALL accredited schools)
- On-Site Visit (Florida): $3,000 – every 3 years
- On-Site Visit (Other States): $4,000 – every 3 years
*NOTE* All accreditation fees and dues are non-refundable.
A Certificate of Accreditation issued by IAFLE is not meant to represent an evaluation and/or approval of the materials, teaching staff, or educational philosophy employed by the applicant program. Rather, only one standard is applied: consumer protection – an assurance to the general public:
- that a member of IAFLE has reviewed and confirmed documentation of a school or program’s compliance with all state and local laws; and
- that the conditions and advertising claims made regarding their location and operation have been verified (that the program is what it purports to be and does what it purports to do).
Whether such a program is desirable or suitable for meeting the needs of a particular learner then becomes a question for the consumer to determine.
IAFLE does not dictate what curriculum or educational philosophy must be used. Instead, IAFLE supports academic freedom, school choice, and the right of parents and students to choose an alternative education program that best fits their needs.
If you have any questions regarding applying for IAFLE accreditation, please contact us at: IAFLEaccreditation@gmail.com.