Benefits of Nonpublic School Recognition by
the Illinois State Board of Education
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Nonpublic School Recognition gives assurance to parents that the school's educational program has been approved by the Illinois State Board of Education. Recognition by the Illinois State Board of Education may be accepted as a status comparable to Accreditation by an approved Accrediting Association by those entities that require students to have graduated from an Accredited Institution. Recognition by the Illinois State Board of Education is a requirement of the Illinois State High School Association for school membership and student participation in sanctioned interscholastic contests, tournaments, and activities. Recognition by the Illinois State Board of Education is also a criteria used by some private and public funding agencies when considering educational grants, scholarships, etc. Graduation from a Recognized School is an aid to entrance in many colleges, universities, and other post-secondary educational institutions. Graduation from a Recognized School is a requirement for acceptance and/or assignment to most military training programs and for eligibility for a possible military bonus at enlistment. Graduation from a Recognized School is also a requirement of certain professions in Illinois for the eligibility of students to sit for licensing examinations in fields that are covered under the Illinois Nursing Act, Dental Hygiene, etc.
There are, currently, several State Recognized Non-public elementary schools in the region, with more coming on-board each year.CFS encourages other Christian schools to seek State recognition and in some instances has been instrumental in helping them attain it. However, Christian Fellowship School remains the only pre-K through 12th grade school in southern Illinois that is listed as “RECOGNIZED” on the Illinois State Board of Education website. Maintaining this status requires much time, effort and expense, but the benefits the students stand to derive from it far outweigh the cost.
Attendance at a Recognized Nonpublic School is an aid in transfer and acceptance of academic credits to public elementary or secondary schools whose policies so require.