118-Year-Old Distance Ed School Goes Online
After a 118-year history of delivering traditional
paper-based
correspondence courses for students working toward their
high school diplomas,
the American
School has moved recently into providing similar online
alternatives.
It started in late March by introducing a new set of
its
traditional paper-based courses in which the exams can be taken online.
The
American School now has more than 50 paper-based courses with the online
exam
option.
American School President Gary R. Masterton said this
hybrid
approach to learning is comforting to students because "they know their
exams
have been received and can expect quicker turnaround time than if they
submit
their exams in the mail."
Then, early in April, the American School introduced
an online
general high school program, for students who want to earn a high school
diploma and enroll in a two-year college, and a college preparatory
program,
for those who want a high school diploma and to enroll in a four-year
college
or professional school.
"This is a watershed moment in American School’s
history," Masterton
said of the online programs.
Each program requires 18 units of credit. The general
high
school program has 12 required courses and six electives, while the
college
preparatory program calls for 13 required courses and five electives —
all of
which are now available online.
Both programs require a mix of English, social
studies, math,
science and study skills courses. The college preparatory program has
additional math and science requirements.
On April 16, the American School added to the list of
potential online electives that moves beyond the original business,
career and
technical courses to now include subjects like creative writing,
astronomy,
literature and international business.
American School, one of the oldest nonprofit distance
education
institutions, offers diploma programs and individual courses for
homeschooled
students. A four-year, 18-unit online college preparatory program costs
$3,600,
or $900 a year. Individual unit courses, which typically take a full
school year
to complete, are $250.
Masterton said the American School would continue to
offer
paper-based courses for those who prefer that approach.
"We know that many students will be excited to earn
their
diplomas online," he said, "but, at the same time, we know that many
students
prefer to learn through more traditional means such as reading a book
and
mailing us their exams."
About the Author
Michael Hart is a Los Angeles-based freelance writer and the former executive editor of THE Journal.