Not every online high school is built the same. Apart from different methods of teaching, coursework, and student to teacher balance, there are other important factors that can make an online schooling experience a great one, or one that is, unfortunately, a waste. Much of this comes down to one simple factor: is the online high school program you’re looking into accredited or not? What is accreditation and why is it vital for any student?

What is Accreditation?

Simply put, accreditation is the process of evaluation that every school program must go through. This means that both online charter schools and schools in a traditional setting are required to undergo evaluations to ensure that certain qualities and standards are met for education. Accreditation isn’t a one-time thing either. In fact, programs are evaluated regularly, meaning that any program that was formerly accredited has to continue to meet that standard of education. How can a school lose its accreditation?

• A large number of students in a grade are no longer meeting their educational standards
• The student to teacher ratio isn’t balanced
• Teachers aren’t meeting the necessary educational background
• Or various other reasons

This means that any educational facility must work hard to keep meeting the standards set, and chance accordingly if those standards are raised even higher.

Why is Accreditation Important to any Online High School?

When choosing an online high school to attend, don’t make the mistake of enrolling in a program that isn’t accredited by the state and doesn’t meet the educational standards of accrediting agencies. As high school is a stepping stone to a brighter future, choosing a high school program that is not only accreditated, but exceeds the educational standards set by the state, is of major importance. This ensures that any credit awarded toward a high school diploma will be accepted by both state and out-of-state colleges, as well as any other high schools within the state.

Be Informed and Make the Right Choice

The issue is that many programs seem or appear to have the proper accreditation, but don’t meet the actual standards set by accreditation agencies. Furthermore, there are programs out there that are accredited, but whose programs suffer from being less efficient than others, meaning a student is meeting the lowest standards set by the state, but aren’t given the chance to truly excel in their studies.

This is where Mountain Heights Academy comes in! With over a decade of success, we continue to be a fully accredited program by AdvancED, just like all the public schools in the great state of Utah. This means that, if a student decides to transfer to another high school program, their credits will transfer with them. We urge every family to become familiar with the requirement set in each state. You can read more about them here!

We’re Going Above and Beyond

As a fully accredited online charter school, we comply with all the state-mandated requirements like the public schools around us. This includes:

• Sharing annual reports
• Sharing monthly budget reports
• Meeting statewide testing standards

As with any other public school, we’re available tuition-free to any student that feels they can benefit from our unique program. However, we go beyond the standard. We’re not only an accredited high school, but the highest-performing online school in the state of Utah, with test scores that are at, and above, the state average. With higher graduation rates, we know we’re offering world-class education through non-traditional schooling means. We want to equip every child with the tools to succeed in their future.

Interested in what an online charter high school could mean for you? Browse our curriculum here.

Parents often ask us how and why Mountain Heights Academy can be a tuition-free online charter school. With reason, we understand how families can be taken aback by a positive schooling system that doesn’t require the same monthly or annual costs of private education. And it’s true! Aside from the nominal fees charged at the beginning of the school year, there are no other costs associated with attendance.

The answer we can give families is fairly simple, Mountain Heights Academy is funded at about the same rate as other distract schools, through taxpayer dollars. As a public, and completely online charter school, we’re an incredible alternative schooling experience for many children and adolescents, and we have to thank the hard-working public and educational board for such an opportunity. But, for the sake of education, let’s dive a bit deeper into the funding of a charter school.

What Does Charter Mean?

The word “charter” means many different things in different contexts. In this context, a charter is a contract with binding agreements between two parties. In the case of Mountain Heights Academy, this agreement is between the Academy and the local board of education. This means we’re able to operate under the oversite of the board. Being an online charter school, this also means we have to meet the same educational standards as any other public school in the state of Utah. In the simplest of terms, a charter school in Utah is free because they technically fall under the umbrella of a public school, even if they are slightly different.

Where Does Mountain Heights Academy Get its Funding?

Charter and public schools are funded by you! As a public service, they are funded by the people and there for everyone. Taxes that are paid to the government go into various funds, and of course, one of those funds is specifically for Utah state education. Although there are more than just one solitary education fund that feeds money into a school district, in a general sense, each school district receives a certain amount of money based on several factors, such as attendance and enrollment, to socioeconomic status.

Is Schooling Actually Free?

Yes and no! After a school district receives funds from the state, they give an agreed-upon amount for each charter school to operate. Of course, as each charter school is unique, and so too will be their specific agreement. The state of Utah recognizes the value of charter schooling options. After all, our charter school, as well as others, support the idea of educational innovation and the power of choice. We’re dedicated to providing families with a high-quality education that emphasizes the need for a well-rounded staff of educators and a game-changing curriculum that’s home-based.

Of course, running Mountain Heights Academy isn’t without its costs, as there’s always a cost to educating students. However, we take pride in using our funding responsibly, to ensure that every child that comes to use has the chance to receive the education they deserve. As a publicly funded establishment, your family will never have to pay the cost of attendance.

Making the switch from a traditional school setting to online classes can be tough for a student of any age. Whether the student has decided to change schools in the middle of the year or is planning to get a fresh start at the beginning of the next, transitioning from any school is a big move.

The fact of the matter is, changing schools can mean changing much more than just the environment of learning. When a student and parent decide that online courses are the right course of action, they’re deciding to change everything from the normal learning schedule to their daily social interactions. For older teens, in particular, taking online high school classes can be a truly positive change for those that have found brick and mortar schools aren’t working for them. However, there are several things to keep in mind when making the switch.

Give Yourself Time to Adjust

A typical mistake families tend to make as they transition out of a traditional school is not giving the student enough time to adjust. Many parents and students think that switching to an online school will be free of stress and immediate challenges. Remember that even switching from one traditional high school to another can often live a student with the feeling that they’ve “taken a step backward”. It takes time for a teen to adjust to a new schedule, new forms of communication with educators, and different types of socialization.

There’s no true time frame around making a full adjustment, as every student is different. Keep in mind that it may take you more time than you originally thought. Openly communicate with teachers about any struggles that you might be having in regards to adjusting to courses, communication, or the learning interface. They’re here to help! For those starting a brand new year at Mountain Heights, remember that the first year of online schooling is often the hardest. As a team, a family should review the online schooling interface and courses before the student even begins classes. This helps a student get acclimated to an entirely new system before the pressure of learning is on.

Develop a Schedule

One of the greatest benefits of making the switch to online high school courses is the chance for self-paced learning. Although a student won’t have to abide by a normal schooling schedule, this doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be free of one altogether. Having structure is the key to success in online learning. Make sure that flexibility is used responsibly. It should act as an advantage for a student with a unique schedule, but should never be abused.

Stay Involved

Socialization is profoundly important for any high schooler, but when students switch to a school setting where socializing isn’t automatically part of their day, it can be difficult to make time for it. However, a parent should make sure that the student is able to interact with others their age. Whether they’re participating in a sport or engaging in a Mountain Heights social activity, make time for some fun! Transitions are far easier when a balance is struck between schooling and life.

To be a good parent, you know that you’ve got to be an open one: open to your child’s thoughts and feelings, and open to hearing about who they are and who they want to be. You’ve always encouraged your child to come to you with any problems they may be having. You’re used to being their sounding board about those monumental moments at school: you were excited to hear about a new favorite substitute, or tackling an intimidating science project, or their triumph after a breakthrough in geometry. These were all milestones that you were happy to share with them. Lately, though, the tone of these accounts—-no matter if they’ve involved a personal success or a trepidation—-has shifted in a way that you never would have expected them to.

What’s Wrong?

You feel as though a dark cloud has descended over your child, and no amount of light from you or anyone else will pull them out of it. It suddenly feels like your child is only telling you one story, and you know it all too well; the principal characters may change, the subject matter may change, but the throughline is constant: your child is unhappy in their current environment. The unpredictabilities that await your child at school can be major stressors to them, and the following are just a few:

• Their class sizes have increased enough to reduce the amount of one-on-one time that they used to have with their teachers
• Their friendship group has splintered apart into unhealthy cliques
• An imposing fellow student has rattled their confidence by targeting them for bullying
• Myriad non-educational distractions on campus are pulling their focus away from their studies.

Whatever the reason, the traditional schooling system is now setting them back instead of propelling them forward, and you need to find a nontraditional alternative.

What’s Right?

Figuring out which alternative is right for your child might seem like a daunting task, but take heart: your child broke through that dark cloud long enough to tell you the truth about what they were feeling, and now it’s time to listen to their needs and search together for the solution that best suits your family. Read on for a breakdown of several well-established nontraditional schooling options available to you.

• Private schools: If your child is simply in need of a more focused academic environment than a public school, a private school might be the right option; however, it could be cost-prohibitive to most families. Aside from the cost, if your child’s discomfort at school stems from social anxiety, a public school might not be right either. struggling to be around other students all the Talk to your child about what it really is that’s making schooling difficult.
• Charter schools: A less cost-prohibitive choice, but one that may require a specific set of skills or interests for admission and entry. These schools can be ideal for the artistically or agriculturally inclined students who’d in smaller classrooms promoting individuality and diversity, but might not be right for a student who is still seeking relief from the traditional classroom setting.
• Homeschooling: Parents act as full-time instructors. There are still state-required benchmarks that a student must reach, but the curriculum is still designed by the parent-teacher. If your child is already struggling with a lack of focus and direction, the absence of a regimented structure might detract from it even further.
• Online or Digital schools: The schooling system of the future. Online school free the teacher and the learner from the restrictions of a brick and mortar institution, and offers both structure and flexibility. Digital high schools can also offer both synchronous instruction (students and instructors interacting in real-time), and asynchronous instruction (students learning at their own pace and with their own time schedules). The proper application of both types can enhance both cognitive and personal participation.
• If your child is suffering from crippling social anxiety, for whatever reason, an online schooling experience might be their best option. It combines structure with freedom and interaction with solo learning time. Talk to your child about what’s best for them, and consult the experts at Mountain Heights Academy if our acclaimed digital high school is the right fit.

During this unprecedented public health crisis, many of us are struggling with overwhelming feelings of unrest and unease. As we march towards an uncertain future, the loss of our collective routines has exacerbated the situation—and no one is feeling this upheaval more than school-aged children. If your child has attended a traditional school for the entirety of their academic lives, they are probably unsure of what’s expected of them in a digital classroom.

As a parent researching how to best prepare your student to shift from an in-class learning module to remote learning, you’d like to familiarize yourself with online education as well. As the semester unfolds and online learning becomes the standard, we at Mountain Heights Academy—the highest-rated online high school and digital learning provider in Utah—would like to do our part by providing you with some insights that will ease the transition.

Keep Your Chin (and Grades Up)

One of the most difficult hurdles to overcome in these trying times is a loss of enthusiasm and momentum. Help your student maintain their enthusiasm for the learning process—and even enjoy their experience of online learning in a non-traditional setting—during this period of isolation and separation. “Check-in” with your child frequently and allow them to express their feelings about the current crisis.

New “Flex,” But Ok!

Online classes allow your child to study at their own pace while also granting them the flexibility to learn other skills and engage in outside activities. Use the extra time that you and your student will be spending together at home to develop some new interests, such as learning a musical instrument, or “cottage” industries like knitting, sewing, or woodworking.

No Student is an Island

If your student enjoyed regular social interactions with friends at school before this transition, be sure to include some online “meetups” with some of their best schoolmates throughout the day. Smartphones and computers have made it easier than ever to make a “face-to-face” video call with friends, and those interactions are more important now than ever. A student is more likely to stay on task with regular intervals of rest; if you’re working from home as well, ask your child to accompany you for a walk around the block.

Seize the Day

Your student’s teachers are working diligently to ensure a successful transition to online learning. Contact them and thank them, and ask if they’re designating any “office hours” during the day when your student can feel free to contact them for individualized help with schoolwork. Be extra understanding to the teachers integrating online coursework with their individual instruction—remember, they too are adapting as quickly as possible to the situation.

Stay Present

At Mountain Heights Academy, we’ve perfected a non-traditional model that elevates every student, but online learning is still different from in-person learning. Not only is your student constantly bombarded with difficult news stories, but the Internet itself is also a source of distractions that pull focus from their studies. Ask your students for some updates as they work; if they’re concerned about current events and desperate for news, watch an update with them after their schoolwork is completed.

At this point in history, technology is your student’s best means of communicating with the outside world. Mountain Heights Academy understands this integration of technology—and of adapting to non-traditional learning situations—as the state’s highest-rated online high school. If you’re unsure of which steps to take to ensure your child’s success in this uncertain climate, contact us for a consultation. With patience, understanding, and innovation, you can help your student make this semester one of their best.

If your favorite student has been struggling with the major physical upheaval of having in-person school canceled through the rest of the year, you should know that they’re not alone: the pandemic that’s forced the shutdown of every brick-and-mortar has also barred athletes from championship games, theater lovers from final bows, and seniors from their graduation ceremonies.

Although you’ve always strived to give your student the best possible schooling experience possible—and provide them with consistency, stability, and normalcy—there are some events that just can’t be anticipated. You want to salvage what you can of the year, but you’re not sure where to start: after all, how do you replace some of those milestone experiences, and make learning online in virtual school fun and accessible? Read on for some ideas on how to make the rest of the school year—and this upcoming summer quarter—memorable for more reasons than one.

It’s Okay to Not Be Okay

According to experts in the fields of social work, child psychology, and education, right now it really is okay for your child to “not be okay.” Make sure that you are all ears when they need to share their feelings with you, especially when they are expressing feelings of loss or grief. Although your student is still working through their coursework online, they are mourning the loss of some physical, in-person milestones. Encourage them to stay connected with their friends and their teachers; at Mountain Heights online school, for example, some of the state’s best teachers are readily accessible to help meet any student’s needs. Online schooling allows for scheduling flexibility, so you can work around any instructor’s class schedule to set up some private check-ins.

The Future is Out There

Most critically, help foster your student’s faith in themselves and their futures—let them brainstorm ways to make new, less-conventional milestones, and support their creativity. A few options to optimize online learning and virtual school include:

• Inviting family and friends to a “virtual” graduation. If you have a high school senior at home, head to the nearest, properly socially-distanced park, and snap a few great photos of your teen to add to a grad “slideshow.” Work together on collecting the names of all the most important friends and family that your teen would like to see at their graduation, and meet up online to celebrate.
• Talk to your teen: is the flexibility of virtual school enhancing their learning, or do they miss the structure of traditional school to stay on task? If it’s the latter, and you’re lucky enough to be working from home, work on a schedule together, and check in on their task lists during the school day. If you’re an essential worker and unable to be on site with your student, then feel free to text and call.
• Plan for the summer together: as the first wave of the pandemic wanes and more opportunities for safe and socially-distanced travel and outdoor activities open up, start planning out some hiking trails and parks to visit. This is also an opportunity to continue some fun and valuable online learning at a much more flexible and steady pace, allowing your student to grab some credits for the next year and accomplish some personal growth goals. Mountain Heights offers a wide selection of online summer courses to intrigue and inspire.

Not So Rocky Road

The transition to online learning at the outset of the crisis may have been a rocky one, but you and your students can be hopeful as you look to the future. Between virtual meetups and graduations—and continued virtual school over the summer—there’s plenty to look forward to. Keep an open ear when you listen to your student discuss their feelings, and work together towards new kinds of memories.

Some of you may have just had a crash-course in online schooling. The end of the 2019-2020 school year looked a lot different for many students, teachers, and parents. Those who attended traditional schooling found themselves suddenly studying and teaching at home at the beginning of the year.

Thankfully, our students at Mountain Heights Academy had less of a, if any, learning curve when it came to online high school in 2020. It’s a model they’re familiar with, and one we have honed over the years. Our online charter school is accredited on par with other public high schools in Utah. So while virtual schooling may have presented challenges initially, we believe it can be done well.

Online Schooling 2020

There is a lot of uncertainty regarding what schooling will look like for Utah students in the fall of 2020. Public schools are looking at the very best methods to employ to ensure both teachers and students have a successful school year, regardless of where they learn. Thankfully, Mountain Heights online charter school can take a lot of guesswork out of what online schooling in 2020 will look like.

You can preview our curriculum now, helping your student know what to expect in the upcoming academic year. Doing high school online in Utah doesn’t have to be a confusing, stressful time for you or your student!

Is Virtual Schooling Just as Good?

Our teachers and educators have curated Open Source content, including Honors, AP, and concurrent enrollment options for high schoolers. This means students can work online at their own pace with the appropriate academic challenges. Teachers are required to hold virtual office hours so students can receive additional instruction as needed. This is a system we’ve always had in place, so no student feels left behind doing their online school.

Preparing Students Now

Although we all hope that our state and students find a new normal that works for them, the chances of going back to a traditional school in the same way as before are slim. We understand that the thought of your student being forced to receive an education from home can be stressful, to say the least. We believe that with proper preparation, parents and students can prepare themselves for successful learning in their own homes. This summer, remember to keep up with studies as much as possible. Create clear spaces for learning within your home. This way, if your student isn’t able to return to their physical classes in the fall, they will be mentally prepared to make the most out of their new situation, as well as find joy in it.

Salt Lake Online High School

Mountain Heights Academy is open to all Utah residents and offers free tuition, as such, it is an ideal choice during these uncertain times. Regardless of whether or not students will physically be able to enter the classroom in the fall, they can rest assured they’re taken care of at Mountain Heights.

View Our Plan: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1g-ppT8RFc652PxfFcV4hPL81JrJeCsDp/view 

If you’re like most parents just trying to do their best for their children in these difficult times, faux experts have increasingly flooded your social media feeds with anxiety, fear, and deliriously false information as the weeks leading up to the start of school fly by. As you begin to make the difficult decision about whether or not to let your favorite student return to a traditional school, the deluge of information—both accurate and false—can seem overwhelming.

Even before the current issue of the pandemic loomed constantly in the background, there have always been reasons to consider whether or not non-traditional education would be best for your student. In order not to get completely lost in the noise of the moment as you decide what’s best for your family, try to remember these considerations while you assess your situation.

Accentuating the “Normal” in “The New Normal”

As you speak to your favorite student about their own desires for the future, you might hear this refrain: “I want to go back to school.” Although of course, you’d like to consider this request, be sure to assess the underlying issue: that your children might actually just be asking for a return to some semblance of normalcy. When weighed and measured against their health, that desire might not stack up: but, there are still options available that might make the transition into the next year easier. Returning to school online does not necessarily have to mean a diversion from their typical life—instead, schooling online limits the potential for infection, which actually promotes the chances of further normalcy in the future. Meeting up with friends won’t happen at all if we can’t stop the spread, and socially distanced visits and activities can continue. If you are leaning towards online schooling while your child argues to return to a traditional school, let students know that their health is important above all else.

Socialization Salvation

You might be thinking that getting back to traditional schooling is important for your student’s successful socialization—but, what does socially-distanced schooling look like? There shouldn’t be any lunch table groups, any lockers, any recess games, any study halls, any sitting next to friends, any talking to people in the hallway, or any dances—even though, most likely, non-distanced slip-ups will occur. So, although you’ll want your children to benefit from the social experience, a return may hinder those activities in the long run. A non-traditional, online school will ensure that your student is progressing academically, and will make expanding a safe social “bubble” a reality—by controlling what can be controlled, it will allow you and your student social “options” with valued friends that will benefit them emotionally and developmentally in the long-term, rather than risking their lifelong health for a short-term goal.

Stop Treading; Start Swimming

You might be afraid that your child will be “left behind,” but by whom? The entire country is grappling with the same issue, leaving all children in the same predicament. The right online school can support their academic goals in a low-stress, physically safe environment, as your student connects with the very best educators available. Treading water in fear—and diving into the deep-end with hands tied—might actually be holding your child back in the long run. Consider prioritizing their safety while maintaining their sanity: and encourage them to not only keep their heads above water, but to swim to shore. If your student is still unsure about attending online classes, take time to assess our curriculum, both academic and social. Maybe then, the decision will be simpler to make! And of course, we’d love to talk to you about how Mountain Heights Academy is changing the online schooling system. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to us.

One of the perks of online public school is the flexibility. But, with that freedom comes a lot of responsibility! It can feel daunting to think about creating a custom schedule for your online student, but we believe it can be done. Here is what we suggest.

Creating Your Custom Online Public Schooling Schedule

Not to sound redundant, but being flexible is vital. What does this mean? Allow yourself to explore some scheduling options for you and your student before settling on a routine. Most public schools establish a daily routine, and you should consider the same when attending Mountain Heights Academy online.

• Pick the best time of day to study: Is your student an early-riser? If so, maybe mornings would be best for diving into the courses. Do you have a night owl on your hands? Then allow your high schooler to sleep in, and tackle schoolwork in the afternoon. No matter when your child learns best, embrace that time of day and make yourself available to offer help if needed.
• Build-in breaks: It’s important to schedule breaks into every schooling day. Elementary children have a recess for a reason! Regardless of your student’s age, help them make it a habit to step away from their schoolwork in somewhat regular intervals throughout the day. Whether it’s just for a stretch, a snack, or a walk around the neighborhood, it can help your students digest the information they have studied and feel refreshed and ready for more. Encourage your student to use this time to get away from screens and get their bodies moving.
• Consider the family dynamic: When creating a custom schedule for an online school, consider the family as a whole. Do you have a work schedule to keep? Are there other children at home who need assistance with online learning? What extracurricular commitments do you have? Scheduling school time around these things can help keep your student focused and free from distractions.

Many, if not all, public schools in Utah have commenced for the new academic year. While their schedules, policies, and learning tools may differ from those in years past, you can rest assured that Mountain Heights Academy is still offering accredited online learning without disruption. We know that consistency and stability play an essential role in the well-being of all our students during this uncertain time. With your help, we believe you can have a comfortable learning environment that allows your child to succeed and thrive, no matter if learning from home is a short term or long term commitment.