Why We Don't Recommend Acellus/Power Homeschool
And What We Think You Should Know Before You Choose It
If you're considering Acellus or Power Homeschool because you want an easy, all-in-one homeschool solution, we encourage you to do your homework before you enroll.
Our organization does not recommend Acellus or Power Homeschool as an all-in-one homeschool curriculum.
This isn't because every family who uses Acellus/Power will have a bad experience. It is about why, after looking at the program and the company behind it, we would not choose it for our own homeschool recommendations.
It's easy to complete. Is your child learning?
Acellus and Power Homeschool use a highly structured, computer-based approach built around video instruction, questions, and measurable progress through lessons or "steps."
That makes it very easy to see that your child is doing schoolwork.
But completion isn't the same as learning.
We have heard repeated concerns from homeschool families and tutors that students can move through the material by focusing on getting the required answers rather than developing a deep understanding of the subject.
For families who want substantial writing, discussion, hands-on learning, experimentation, primary sources, independent thinking, or deeper academic exploration, we encourage you to look carefully at what a program actually requires—not just how many courses it offers.
And moving a child to a higher grade level doesn't necessarily solve that problem. A more advanced course can still use the same basic "watch, answer, move on" approach.
If your goal is simply to get through the required material, Acellus may appear attractive.
If your goal is deep learning and a rich educational experience, we think you should look elsewhere.
The 2023 controversy matters
We are particularly concerned about what happened with Acellus accounts in 2023.
Acellus made significant changes to its platform during the school year, including changes involving Tutor Mode and how students progressed through courses. Homeschool families reported problems with course resets, lost or altered coursework, and accounts being affected without adequate advance notice.
There were also reports of student coursework being deleted and not restored. For families who had invested months of their child's education into the platform, these weren't minor inconveniences. This is one of the risks of putting your child's entire education into a proprietary online system:
You don't control the platform.
Its policies can change. Features can change. Courses can change. Pacing can change. Pricing can change (Acellus has doubled and tripled in cost.) If you have built your entire homeschool around that system, those changes can have a significant impact on your family.
We also encourage you to research the company
There are also questions about Acellus founder Roger Billings that families may want to research for themselves.
Acellus founder Roger Billings also founded the International Academy of Science and has used the title "Dr." based on a doctorate awarded through an institution associated with him. Questions have been raised about the credentials and accreditation of that degree.
Billings was also excommunicated from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) after disagreeing with the mainstream church's ban on polygamy. He later founded the Church of Jesus Christ in Zion.
We aren't saying that someone's religious beliefs automatically determine whether an educational program is good or bad.
We are suggesting that parents should know who is behind the company they are supporting and understand its history and philosophy.
Research the people. Research the companies. Research the history. Then decide whether this is a company whose educational philosophy and leadership you are comfortable supporting.
But isn't Acellus accredited?
Yes. Acellus Academy is WASC-accredited.
It also offers NCAA-approved courses and College Board-approved AP courses.
So let's be clear: accreditation is not our objection to Acellus Academy.
Do homeschool students need to use accredited resources? No. We have addressed that in this article.
A program can be accredited and still not be the educational approach you want for your child.
The better question isn't simply:
“Will this count?”
Instead ask:
“Is this the education I want my child to receive?”
Whatever resources you choose, look beyond the marketing.
Try sample lessons. Look at the writing requirements. Examine how students are assessed. Understand the pacing. Find out what happens if your child needs to move faster or slower.
And remember:
You don't have to choose a curriculum because it makes homeschooling look like school.
You have the freedom to choose what works for your child.
That's the whole point of homeschooling.
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