Operating since 1973,
the National Association for the Legal Support
of Alternative Schools (NALSAS) was founded by former
CEO, Ed Nagel, who
was also principal of the Santa Fe Community School in New Mexico 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,
requiring an on-site visit be conducted by a
qualified representative to members of NCACS and educational homeschooling
programs that apply. However, due to the dissolution of NCACS (effective 3/31/14),
interested alternative schools may still apply for accreditation from NALSAS by following the accreditation process explained here:
ACCREDITATION PROCESS.
U. S. Department of Education information on accreditation:
https://www2.ed.gov/print/admins/finaid/accred/accreditation.html (Retrieved on July 13, 2022 from the U. S. Department of Education, Accreditation in the United States)
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 NALSAS 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 N.A.L.S.A.S., Accreditation Division, 18520 N.W. 67th Ave., #188, Miami, FL 33015.
Phone: 1-800-456-7784. E-mail: educate@nalsas.org
