CMEA is a national, nonprofit association dedicated to preserving, articulating, and recognizing faithful Charlotte Mason education. We serve both homeschool families and small schools by providing philosophically grounded recognition and accreditation pathways rooted in Charlotte Mason’s original writings.
No. CMEA is a voluntary association. We do not govern families or schools, replace parental authority, or act as a state licensing agency. Participation is optional and intended to support reflection, clarity, and fidelity to Charlotte Mason’s educational philosophy.
CMEA understands Charlotte Mason education as a coherent philosophy grounded in Charlotte Mason’s own writings, particularly the Home Education series and the Parents’ Review. It emphasizes education as the science of relations, respect for the child as a person, living books, narration, habit formation, nature study, and a humane, ideas-centered approach to learning.
No. CMEA does not accredit homeschools. Instead, we offer recognition pathways that affirm faithful Charlotte Mason practice without institutionalizing the home or evaluating parenting.
Recognition indicates that a homeschool family has thoughtfully and intentionally aligned its educational practices with Charlotte Mason’s philosophy. It is a mark of philosophical faithfulness, not a judgment of academic outcomes or compliance.
No. CMEA recognition has no bearing on state homeschool laws or requirements. Families remain fully responsible for complying with their own state or local regulations.
No. CMEA does not require the use of any particular curriculum provider. Families may use a variety of resources, provided their practices are consistent with Charlotte Mason’s principles.
No. Recognition is based on parent reflection, portfolios, and narrative evidence, not inspections or home visits.
No. CMEA does not require standardized testing. Assessment is understood primarily through narration, observation, portfolios, and thoughtful reflection.
CMEA accredits microschools, tutorials, co-ops, and small private schools that intentionally offer Charlotte Mason education and operate with a clear governance structure.
No. CMEA accreditation is philosophical and educational, not governmental. Schools must separately meet any state licensing or legal requirements applicable to their operations.
Accreditation signifies that a school has demonstrated institutional alignment with Charlotte Mason’s philosophy across curriculum, pedagogy, teacher formation, student life, and assessment practices.
No. CMEA accreditation affirms faithfulness to philosophy and practice, not specific academic results or test scores.
Site visits are recommended for schools seeking full accreditation but may not be required in every case. The review process emphasizes relational understanding rather than inspection.
Accreditation is granted for a fixed term (typically five years), with annual reporting and a renewal review at the end of the term.
CMEA identifies core principles such as living books, narration, habit formation, respect for the child as a person created in the image of God, and education as the science of relations as non-negotiable elements of faithful Charlotte Mason practice.
Yes. CMEA recognizes that faithful application may look different across contexts. Adaptations and modern resources are acceptable when they align with Charlotte Mason’s underlying philosophy and purposes.
CMEA’s standards focus on educational philosophy. With that said, Charlotte Mason was a devout Christian and believed that Christ is the ultimate Teacher and that all truth belongs to Him. She rejected the division between “sacred” and “secular” learning, insisting that every subject—science, literature, art, mathematics, and nature study—falls under the lordship of Christ. Knowledge, in her view, was not simply information to be mastered but a means by which children encounter reality as God has made it. While it is difficult to separate Mason's core Christian beliefs from her philosophy of education in practice, Individual families and schools may express their convictions within their own contexts, provided the educational practices remain faithful to Charlotte Mason’s principles.
No. Both recognition and accreditation are time-limited and require renewal. This encourages ongoing reflection, growth, and engagement with Charlotte Mason’s writings.
No. CMEA provides standards, guidance, and feedback but does not manage daily operations or dictate methods beyond core philosophical commitments.
Yes. Families and schools may engage with CMEA’s resources, publications, or training events without pursuing formal recognition.
Families and schools often seek recognition to:
Because CMEA’s process is reflective, narrative, and relational, timelines vary depending on readiness and completeness of materials.
CMEA does not expedite reviews at the expense of care. Each application is read attentively and considered in light of Charlotte Mason’s philosophy, with the goal of discernment rather than inspection. Applicants are encouraged to view the process not as a hurdle to clear, but as a period of clarification and growth.
CMEA does not invent new definitions of Charlotte Mason education. Our standards are derived directly from Charlotte Mason’s own writings, particularly the Home Education series and the Parents’ Review. Faithfulness is discerned through careful study, shared interpretation, and peer review by educators deeply formed in Mason’s philosophy. CMEA understands this responsibility as stewardship, not ownership.
No. CMEA does not accredit parents or children. Homeschool recognition is reflective and voluntary, designed to honor parental authority while offering clarity and encouragement. Accreditation applies only to institutional settings, where families are entrusting education to an organization rather than exercising direct parental oversight.
No. CMEA does not claim exclusive authority over Charlotte Mason education. Many families and schools practice faithfully without formal recognition. CMEA’s role is to articulate clear standards for those who choose to seek public affirmation of alignment.
CMEA is governed by formal statements of fidelity grounded in Charlotte Mason’s writings, embedded in its bylaws and governance structures. Changes to core definitions require broad consensus, transparent documentation, and supermajority approval, ensuring continuity rather than drift.
CMEA intentionally limits its scope. Reviews are narrative, relational, and time-bound. Standards emphasize philosophy and practice rather than metrics or outcomes. These structural limits are designed to prevent the kind of institutional overreach Charlotte Mason herself warned against.
No. CMEA does not endorse or sell curriculum. Multiple faithful applications and resources are acceptable so long as they align with Charlotte Mason’s principles. CMEA evaluates philosophy and practice, not brand loyalty.
Disagreements are addressed through study, dialogue, and reference to primary sources. CMEA values charitable engagement and acknowledges that faithful educators may differ in application while remaining aligned in principle.
No. CMEA explicitly rejects the institutionalization of the home. Homeschool recognition exists to affirm practice, not to professionalize parenting or impose school-like structures on family life.
As Charlotte Mason education grows in popularity, clarity becomes increasingly important. Accreditation and recognition help families identify schools committed to faithful practice, support schools in resisting drift, and protect the long-term integrity of Charlotte Mason’s philosophy in the public square.
CMEA exists to serve, not control; to clarify, not constrain; and to guard the integrity of Charlotte Mason education for future generations. Participation is always voluntary and grounded in shared conviction rather than external authority.
CMEA’s founder also leads a Charlotte Mason school which exists as a participating member of the CM educational community. While it may serve as a demonstration or pilot site for resources and training, all accreditation decisions are conducted independently and without founder involvement to preserve objectivity.
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