STATE | Registration | Approval | Accreditation | Licensing |
---|---|---|---|---|
Alabama | mandatory | mandatory with broad exemptions | ||
Alaska | voluntary |
|||
Arizona | ||||
Arkansas | ||||
California | ||||
Colorado | voluntary acknowledgment | |||
Connecticut | voluntary | |||
Delaware | ||||
District of Columbia | mandatory | |||
Florida | ||||
Georgia | ||||
Hawaii | mandatory | |||
Idaho | ||||
Illinois | voluntary | voluntary | ||
Indiana1 | voluntary | |||
Iowa | See below.2 | |||
Kansas | mandatory unless accredited | voluntary | ||
Kentucky3 | ||||
Louisiana | voluntary | |||
Maine | voluntary | voluntary | ||
Maryland | mandatory, church schools exempt | |||
Massachusetts | mandatory4 | |||
Michigan | mandatory | |||
Minnesota | ||||
Mississippi | mandatory for schools receiving public funds | |||
Missouri | ||||
Montana | voluntary | |||
Nebraska5 | voluntary | voluntary | ||
Nevada | mandatory with exemptions6 | |||
New Hampshire | mandatory | |||
New Jersey | mandatory on a limited basis | |||
New Mexico | voluntary | |||
New York | mandatory for nonpublic high schools issuing diplomas only | |||
North Carolina | See below.7 | voluntary | ||
North Dakota | mandatory | voluntary | ||
Ohio8 | ||||
Oklahoma | voluntary | |||
Oregon | voluntary | mandatory for public placement for special education services | private school residential programs only | |
Pennsylvania | mandatory for sectarian schools | mandatory for nonsectarian schools unless accredited | ||
Puerto Rico | voluntary | mandatory | ||
Rhode Island | mandatory | |||
South Carolina | voluntary9 | |||
South Dakota | mandatory | voluntary | ||
Tennessee | voluntary | mandatory, unless membership in specified associations | ||
Texas | ||||
Utah | voluntary | |||
Vermont | voluntary | |||
Virginia | voluntary | mandatory for special education schools unless approved/ accredited | ||
Virgin Islands 10 | voluntary | |||
Washington | mandatory | voluntary | ||
West Virginia | mandatory, with alternative | |||
Wisconsin | voluntary | |||
Wyoming | mandatory for nonreligious elementary and secondary schools |
1 Indiana has a voluntary recognition process for non public schools.
2 Iowa private schools have the option of state accreditation or operating with licensed instructors.
3 Kentucky law provides for the voluntary certification of private, parochial and church schools.
4 Massachusetts law requires mandatory approval of private schools by the local school committees.
5 Nebraska private schools have the option of approval or accreditation; and, if these options violate parent's religious beliefs, parents can elect to comply with other state requirements.
6 Nevada nonprofit fraternal or benevolent institutions offering instruction to their members or their immediate relatives are exempt from licensing subject to the approval of the State Department of Education.
7 North Carolina private schools must file a notice of intent to operate within the state.
8 Ohio private schools are chartered on a voluntary basis by the State Board of Education.
9 South Carolina private schools have the option of state approval or membership in the South Carolina Independent School Association or a similar organization. Parochial, denominational and church-related schools are exempt.
10 The Virgin Islands' law provide for mandatory certificates of operation issued by the Department of Education.
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