Flexible High School Credit Recovery: A Scaffold to Success
Sometimes things happen. Life gets in the way and despite best intentions, high school students fall behind in their course work. One thing leads to another, and before you know it, a needed class – a prerequisite to next year’s math course, or a course required to graduate – is failed. For some students this means going to school in the summer to recover credits, which may impact work commitments or other plans. Or cause delays in high school graduation. Or simply cause them to fall farther behind, and in some cases eventually drop out.
In my years in education, I’ve seen many scenarios like this – and given the choice, I believe that students who have the flexibility to work on their studies at the times that fit best within their own personal schedules are more likely to persist and be successful. In our technology-driven society, access to education need not be limited by barriers of time or place. Flexibility can help drive success.
Nonprofit VHS Learning, based in Massachusetts – offers a turnkey high school credit recovery solution. VHS Learning has a 30-year history supporting schools and students. They offer credit recovery courses in many subjects, including Algebra 1 A/B, Algebra 2 A/B, American Government, American History A/B, Biology A/B, History A/B, Chemistry A/B, Civics, Earth Science A/B, English 9 A/B, English 10 A/B, English 11 A/B, English 12 A/B, Geometry A/B, Health, Physical Education, Physical Science A/B, Physics A/B, Pre-Algebra A/B, Pre-Calculus A/B, Spanish 1 A/B, Spanish 2 A/B, Spanish 3 A/B, World Geography & Culture A/B, and World History A/B. The great news is these courses are conducted entirely online – only internet access is required. Many courses are adaptive, so students can test out of modules they have already mastered. Because the courses are asynchronous – and not conducted live over a platform like Zoom - students work at their own pace and at the times that work best for them, allowing them to maintain work or other commitments and still earn the credits they need. Students receive a final transcript upon course completion.
One thing I love about these courses is that each one is taught by a certified high school teacher who grades work, provides support, and is an expert in the subject matter – something not always the case in other credit recovery programs - so there is always someone available to answer questions and provide students with assistance if needed. As a non-profit organization, you can be assured that VHS Learning puts students and schools first. And with an average credit recovery course pass rate of 88%, students taking these courses have a high likelihood of success, helping them to move forward and achieve their goals.