Frequenty Asked Questions for Parents

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Why should my child take a HSDL course?

• There are a number of reasons to have a child take a HSDL course. Some reasons would include:
• My child’s school does not offer a course I’d like them to take.
• My child did not earn credit when he/she took the course at our local school.
• My child needs an additional class as a requirement for a college program of study.
• A course will not fit into my child’s schedule at school.
• I would like for my child to complete a high school degree program, and he/she is only a few classes short.

What courses are available?

• To find out what courses are available, take a look at our courses page

How does my child get registered for a course?

• The first step is to contact your local school counselor to discuss the possibility of your child taking a HSDL course.
• Once the local school district has agreed, the local school district needs to fill out the registration materials.
• After the registration materials and payment has been received at Kirkwood,course materials will be sent to the test proctor for correspondence courses.  For online courses, the student will receive an introductory e-mail to the address provided.

How much does it cost?

• The tuition for a Kirkwood HSDL course for Iowa residents is $125 ($150 effective 6-1-09) per semester course, $175 ($200 effective 6-1-09) for those students who live outside Iowa. A $60 deposit is also required for courses with a textbook.

Is there homework?

• Every course has required homework. Individual course requirements vary, and details are provided for each course.  The course is considered incomplete without the homework submitted.

How is testing accomplished?

• When your child registers for a course, a test monitor is identified. Tests are sent to the test monitor indicated on the registration form. Usually, this is a local high school counselor.
• Your child will most likely test at your local school. When they go to test they will need to bring completed homework for the unit for the test monitor to verify.
• After the test is received at Kirkwood, it will be graded, and then a notification of the score will be sent.

How many classes can be taken at a time?

• More than one class can be taken at a time, however it’s highly recommended that you start with one class and see how it goes before deciding to do more than one at a time.
• The goal is for your son/daughter to achieve success, so it’s best not to overload them right away, as that may discourage them from continuing.

How is high school credit awarded?

• When your child has successfully completed the course requirements and returned the textbook to Kirkwood, an official grade and credit form is sent to the local high school accepting the credit from Kirkwood. The credit is usually added to your son/daughter’s high school transcript.
• Please be sure to check with your school on how many credits the course is worth. Each district will convert the Kirkwood credit to fit with their own system.

How can I help my child to be successful?

• The biggest thing you can do is to talk to your child about the course. See how the class is going. If they need help, try to provide it as best you can.
• Because distance learning courses may be new to your son or daughter, assisting them in setting up a routine for the course would be very beneficial. Organization and time management are two critical elements for successful completion of a distance learning course.
• If your child is having difficulty with the course, encourage them to get assistance from their local test monitor, or to contact Kirkwood HSDL.

When is the best time to enroll?

• This is really up to you! Kirkwood HSDL accepts students at any time of the year. Upon registration, your child will have six months to complete a correspondence course and five months for an online course. (Effective 6-1-09, students will have 4 months to complete courses.)
• The best time to enroll would be when you feel there is time to work on the class. Try to avoid those times of the year when there are other obligations or commitments.

What if I have further questions?

• If you have further questions, please contact Marcel Kielkucki, HSDL Coordinator at mkielku@kirkwood.edu.