About
Our Purpose & Mission
Essential Church School’s purpose is to serve people as they fulfill their God-calling to homeschool by providing an academic structure with Kingdom perspective which equips families with faith-filled knowledge and resource.
Our Faith
Essential Church School believes in the essential tenets of the Christian faith shared by Jesus in Matthew 22:37-39 (NIV): “Love the Lord your God will all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.”
In our love for God, we believe:
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NLT)
“…There is one God, the Father, by whom all things were created, and for whom we live. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created, and through whom we live.” 1 Corinthians 8:6 (NLT)
“For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures…There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:11-12 (NLT)
“But God made them male and female from the beginning of creation. This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one. Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.” Mark 10:6-9 (NLT)
Complying with the Law
Alabama does not have a separate homeschool law. Essential Church School functions under the church school provisions in the Alabama Code and is currently a ministry of Move Church.
For church school enrollment, the law states that it is the parent’s responsibility to file a church school enrollment form with the local school superintendent. Attendance records are also required by law to be maintained and kept on file with the church school. Essential guides families in complying with the law.
Essential students are enrolled in a school. They are not enrolled in a homeschool. Homeschooling becomes the method of education, not the enrollment status.
Home School Legal Defense Association
Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) is an association of attorneys who teach their own children at home and who defend the homeschooling rights of members nationwide. One of the most comforting areas of support any homeschool family can have is the assurance of knowing you have help with any legal matters that may arise.
Essential highly recommends, but does not require, membership with HSLDA. A group status with HSLDA has been set up which provides a membership fee discount.
Our Staff & Board Members
Jan Holmes
Director
Roger & Kathy Murray
Executive Board
Kristy Trent
Administrator
Our Families Say
- The information meetings, personal guidance, and resources have been an invaluable help in our homeschool! We're grateful for ECS!
- Essential staff have always been amazing in personally helping me with homeschooling and cover school questions or struggles. Thank you for doing what you do for us.
- Essential Church School was the perfect cover school for a beginner homeschool family! Kristy was SO responsive and helpful. I loved the freedom of getting to choose everything we do and how, with just the attendance to report. I enjoyed that flexibility. I also love the affordable price to enroll. HUGE help with a one income family!
- I love Essential! I was so overwhelmed our first year of homeschooling, especially choosing a cover school! But Essential is the perfect blend of having a community and school guidelines with the freedom to teach however it fits your family.
- Essential school is a very cost effective, low requirement cover school option. The staff is very quick to respond with any questions I may have and knowledgeable.
- Essential has been such a blessing to me and our family! It is affordable and being able to submit grades and attendance online has made our world-traveling family home school experience so much easier! I've tried other cover schools so trust me on this!! And Kristy is absolutely the most helpful and informative home school administrator I know!
- I have enjoyed being a part of Essential. The website makes everything convenient and readily available for keeping the students grades, attendance, etc organized. Kristy has always been helpful and supportive with questions that have come up.
- We love the peace of mind, support, and knowledge that ECS gives.
- Working with Essential Church School has been a great experience for our family. They've provided the administrative support I was looking for, they encourage community, and still allolw us all the freedom we crave as a homeschooling family. Thank you, ECS!
- We have used Essential Church School for our legal school cover and school records for five years now. There was one year my son needed to transfer to public school for part of the year. Having our records at ECS made it a breeze to transfer everything over. We're so thankful to Kristy Trent and the other administrators who have helped us at ECS throughout the years.
- What I love about Essential is that they're affordable compared to other church schools and they are very prompt with e-mails. They are on top of everything which is great and are very helpful if you have any questions, concerns, etc. I also love that they offer home school families different ways to learn, have fun, and meet new people. I can honestly say that I have had a good experience with Essential and look forward to many more years with them.
- Essential is a rapidly growing cover school that strives to create a Christian school experience. From the park dates to the graduations, ECS has helped my family transition from public school to homeschool with ease! Kristy is truly a Godsend!
- Everyone I had the privilege to deal with was ready and willing to help and support me. I appreciated that very much!
- Essential Church School has been a constant source of support and an invaluable resource in our homeschooling journey.
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