What is the difference between an accredited diploma and a regular high school diploma?
November 18th, 2008The student must have a legally issued diploma according to the State in which the diploma was issued. If, for example, the State authorizes both accredited and non-accredited high schools to issue diplomas, either type is sufficient.
For people who prefer to earn a traditional diploma in a nontraditional way, there are about a dozen accredited courses of study for earning a high school diploma by correspondence, or distance study. The programs are either privately run, affiliated with a university, or administered by a State education department.
Distance study diploma programs have no residency requirements, allowing students to continue their studies from almost any location. Depending on the course of study, students need not be enrolled full time and usually have more flexible schedules for finishing their work. Selection of courses ranges from vo-tech to college prep, and some programs place different emphasis on the types of diplomas offered. University affiliated schools, for example, allow qualified students to take college courses along with their high school ones. Students can then apply the college credits toward a degree at that university or transfer them to another institution.
Taking courses by distance study is often more challenging and time consuming than attending classes, especially for adults who have other obligations. Success depends on each student’s motivation. Students usually do reading assignments on their own. Written exercises, which they complete and send to an instructor for grading, supplement their reading material.
A list of some accredited high schools that offer diplomas by distance study is available free from the Distance Education and Training Council http://www.sunshinehighschool.com
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