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Operating since 1973,
the National Association for the Legal Support
of Alternative Schools (NALSAS) was founded by its current
CEO, Ed Nagel, who is also principal of the Santa Fe Community School
(sfcs-homestudy.org) and author of CHEEZ! Uncle Sam.
NALSAS was originally “designed to help interested persons/organizations locate/evaluate/create viable alternatives to traditional schooling approaches”---including home study. Subsequently, NALSAS established a process to accredit bona fide members of the National Coalition of Alternative Community Schools (ncacs.org, requiring an on-site visit be conducted by a qualified representative to members of NCACS and educational homeschooling programs that apply. A Certificate of Accreditation issued by NALSAS 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: 1) that a member of NCACS not involved with the control, operation, or proceeds of the applicant program has reviewed and confirmed documentation of their compliance with all state and local laws; and 2) 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. For further information and/or application, contact Ed Nagel, Coordinator and Chairman, Accreditation Division, NALSAS, POB 2823, Santa Fe, NM 87504. (505) 474-0300; E-MAIL: nalsas@msn.com |