Online High

Today’s Focus School is iQ Academy Arizona. It is part of the growing iQ Academy chain of schools.

Snippet from listing: At iQ Academy, our priority is to deliver a high-quality, personalized education that prepares students for life beyond high school. We accomplish this by offering a complete learning package which includes standards-based curriculum, an innovative virtual learning environment and an extensive support system involving teachers, counselors, learning coaches and staff who are personally committed to helping students realize their greatest potential.

Today’s Focus School is iQ Academy Arizona. It is part of the growing iQ Academy chain of schools.

Snippet from listing: At iQ Academy, our priority is to deliver a high-quality, personalized education that prepares students for life beyond high school. We accomplish this by offering a complete learning package which includes standards-based curriculum, an innovative virtual learning environment and an extensive support system involving teachers, counselors, learning coaches and staff who are personally committed to helping students realize their greatest potential.

It seems simple and it seems like the place where you should start, but so many don’t even make the attempt. What is it?

Get referrals.

How do you get referrals? You can:

1. Ask people you know.
2. Ask your local school district (but don’t be surprised if they don’t know much; it varies widely).
3. Ask in our Forum.
4. Ask on other websites.
5. Ask current students by finding them using Google.
6. Ask former students by finding them using Google.

Importantly, don’t just sign up for a school without doing your due diligence. Even when an online school is free, time is not. Best to determine if a school will be a good fit for you right up-front.

Sometimes you really are only as good as your technology. You absolutely want to get a look at what the learning management system (your “classroom”) looks like before signing up. You may be surprised to discover that much of their program is actually completed off-line and that the only online component is when you upload your work.

If that works for you, then all is well and good. For many students, though, the hope is that there is something more interactive in nature. There should be a way for a school to show you what this all looks like. If they cannot, you have every reason to wonder why that might be so difficult for them.

Beware of a lack of transparency. It is not a deal-killer, necessarily, but it does mean that you need to do more research.

So, what are you looking for? In essence, you might see audio components, video components, some way to interact with teachers (and, perhaps, students), and more. It should not be: “Here’s a textbook that we have thrown up online. Here are questions. Answer the questions.”

As we continue with this series, you are encouraged to post a response on the blog and/or to ask questions in the forum.

Advice #2: Choose an online high school that is accredited and/or approved. This can look a little different from colleges where you absolutely want the school to have regional accreditation.

1. Regional Accreditation that can be verified through a listing at CHEA.

2. National Accreditation that can be verified through a listing at Distance Education & Training Council.

3. Recognition by a state department of education.

4. Recognition by a public school district.

We have now reached the problematic schools. There are certain schools that are legitimate endeavors, but, for whatever reason, do not possess any one of the four types of recognition above. If you come across such a school, I encourage you to ask about it in the forum. That way others can benefit by your experience.

Today’s Focus School is iQ Academy California. It is part of the growing chain of iQ Academy schools.

Snippet from listing: iQ Academy is dedicated to the education of the whole student, and recognizes the importance of incorporating opportunities for social engagement, community service, a full developmental guidance strategy and career and college planning in addition to the highest quality, standards-based online courses and certified instruction for students at all levels of achievement.

Over the next several weeks, I am going to be offering advice to folks on how to earn a high school diploma online.

Advice #1: Never sign up for an online high school until you have seen what it looks like inside. Not all online high schools are created equal. Some have just thrown print content onto the Internet and want to say they are an online high school.

Here’s the key: If a school will not let you see what it looks like inside, be concerned. Be very, very concerned. It is an easy thing to provide guest accounts. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Blueprint Education, a nonprofit educational organization, is providing curriculum expertise to help Eagle Quest of Nevada offer accredited curriculum based on their existing program content in the “Hero’s Journey” program.

To read more about it, see Eagle Quest of Nevada will offer high school credits for Hero’s Journey Program.

I would encourage you all to take a look at our new-to-us school, Ashworth College High School. Clearly, as you can tell from the name, it is related to the online Ashworth College. Take a look.

Laurel Springs School will be offering 74 summer school courses this year. Go on vacation, but take your laptop with you and you are good to go. See this article about online summer school.