Accredited Online ClassesIf you have ever thought about taking accredited online classes or have a child that wants to take them, you have lots of options available to you. There are lots of things to consider when deciding which school to use. Not every school is created equal. First, you need to decide exactly what you are looking for and how much time and money you have available. If you just want a certificate from a school to fulfill a requirement at a job, then you don't need to spend as much money as someone that wants a quality education. Needs of Your Student - Does your child like to spend a lot of time on a computer screen? Does he/she prefer to work with books and paper? Do they want to take one course online or a whole year? Is your student an athlete or entertainer who travels a lot and needs to be able to access and complete their classes online? Subject Area - What type of classes do you want to take? Do you want to earn a degree or just take some classes for High School credit? Do you want your student to take one or two classes online or all of their coursework? Here are other factors to consider when thinking about accredited online classes: Costs - Most schools start at $775.00 per year or $495.00 per course. They also have at least a $150 registration fee per year. Christian or Secular - Some schools let you choose whether you want a Christian or secular curriculum. Teachers - Those schools that offer video or online schools provide the teachers who teach the lessons. In a correspondence situation, the student either teaches himself or the parent teaches the student. There is always plenty of support from the school though if there is a problem understanding a subject or concept. Testimonials - Make sure you look at the testimonials on each site and read between the lines. They will certainly only put the best testimonials there, but often you can read closely and find out even more information on whether the school would be a good fit for your family. You can ask them their retention rate. That can often give you a good indication of whether they have lots of happy customers and students. Time Frame - Most schools work with the September through May schedule although many will give you extensions into the summer if you need more time. Type of Courses - Some schools offer correspondence courses and some schools offer online classes. Here are some accredited online classes that I found: AOP Monarch Alpha Omega's new online homeschool program. This is similar to Switched On Schoolhouse, only it's online. Griggs University and International Academy Keystone School - Middle school and High school online courses. International Virtual Learning Academy Return from Accredited Online Classes to Homeschool How To home page |
