South Cook News

In the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, schools across the country had to scramble to find distance-learning solutions, and many have added programs such as Zoom, Google Classroom and Acellus Learning Accelerator to their toolboxes. 

Reavis High School, District 220 in Burbank, is where the primary instruction is being done by teachers from within the system, who are using Zoom and Google Classroom as their primary tools, said Eileen Jastrzebowski, the Student Services director. They do also continue to use Acellus as they have for the past five to six years, as a tool to help students catch up with classmates in areas where they may be behind.

Reavis primarily uses Acellus for credit recovery, such as for students who have transferred in from a different school system or even a different country, she told the South Cook News. Sometimes it is simply an option for a student who had failed a subject to catch back up.

“It has allowed students to earn those credits and not have to come back as a fifth-year senior,” Jastrzebowski said. “So they are able to graduate with their class, on time.”

Acellus is also beneficial to educators, she said.

“It is a product that allows them to make sure they are mastering standards,” Jastrzebowski said. “They are able to realign programs so that students can review and have additional help.”

Reavis High School mostly uses Acellus for standard subjects, such as social studies, English and science, she said. However, they have also taken advantage of other courses within the program.

“We have also used languages, college and career readiness, as well as a social-emotional-physical component that they have for a PE or health credit as well,” she told the South Cook News.

“We feel that the students are definitely able to learn and master standards by using this product, and not just earn a credit.”

For those struggling with hybrid schedules, or who simply don’t want their children to return to in-person schooling yet, homeschooling may also be a viable option. The overwhelming majority of peer-reviewed studies conclude that true homeschooling yields some of the best academic and socialization results.

Acellus also offers both the online, fully-accredited Acellus Academy and the non-accredited – but much less expensive – Power Homeschooling. Acellus is a program marketed as a learning accelerator and alternative for situations where in-person instruction may not be possible.

"Backed by scientific research, Acellus delivers online instruction, compliant with the latest standards, through high-definition video lessons made more engaging with multimedia and animation," the company website states.

A comparison of the two versions by How Do I Homeschool states that the key differences between the programs are accreditation and price. 

Acellus Academy is an online school and has accreditation, whereas Power Homeschool does not. However, the academy option costs $249 a month, compared to $25 per month for Power Homeschool.