Recently, the North American Council for Online Learning (NACOL) published a parent guide entitled "Sorting through Online Learning Options: A Guide for Parents"

Kirkwood HSDL would like to provide answers to the questions presented in the guide based on our program.

Question 1: Have you verified in advance that the school to which you wish to have the online grades/credit transferred will accept them?

Answer: Yes! Students enrolling in Kirkwood HSDL courses must receive permission and authorization to take our courses in advance of enrollment. This ensures the grades and credit will transfer back to the school in which the student is currently enrolled.

Question 2: Is the program that interests you accredited by a recognized regional accrediting agency?

Answer: Kirkwood Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Question 3: What are the credentials of the teachers who teach the online courses?

Answer: Teachers who teach Kirkwood HSDL online courses meet the highly qualified definition for teachers in Iowa. They have Iowa certification specific to the subject areas being taught.

Question 4: How much interaction will the teachers have with students; is the program teacher-led or more computer-aided instruction?

Answer: Kirkwood HSDL fits more into the computer-aided instruction model. Students work in courses at their own pace, receiving 4 months from the date of enrollment to complete a course. Their instructor/facilitator is available through e-mail communication to assist students with any questions they may have.

Question 5: What are the costs involved? Are there costs beyond the tuition such as materials fees?

Answer: The cost of a Kirkwood HSDL course is $150 per semester.  A few of our online English courses require a textbook, and there is a $60.00 refundable textbook deposit fee for those courses. No additional costs or fees are required.

Question 6: Can your child accelerate through the course if he or she is capable? Can your child start the course at any point in the year?

Answer: Students taking Kirkwood HSDL courses work at their own pace. A pacing chart is established for them at the beginning of their course, but students are allowed to work ahead of pace.

We offer variable entry, which means a student can start a course at any point in the year. Students have 4 months from their date of registration to complete a course.

Question 7: How is assessment handled in the course? Is it all online? Will you be required to go to a physical facility to have your child participate in state assessments?

Answer: For Kirkwood HSDL courses, students take assessments at the end of a unit of study, as well as a final exam. All exams must be taken in the presence of a proctor. Part of each exam is taken on the computer and part of each exam is taken in a pencil/paper format.

Because we are a supplemental program, students would be responsible for taking state assessments at their local school district.

Question 8: Does the provider require your child to be online at certain times of the week?

Answer: No, students in our program must log and must be actively working toward completing the course each week. Students may log in when it works in their schedule.

Question 9: If you and/or your child do not like the course, can you drop the course without a grade penalty or payment penalty?

Answer: Students may drop a course and receive a partial refund up to 14 days from the date of enrollment. Courses not completed are given an "Incomplete" status. Please see our refund policy for more details.

Question 10: Upon completion, what will you receive to show that a grade was earned and will they also send a record to your child's school?

Answer: Upon completion of a course, an official grade report will be sent to the student as well as to the student's school. The grade and credit will transfer based on each individual district's standards and guidelines.

Question 11: How long has the virtual school been operating and can they give you a list of the schools, districts, and/or states that use their program?

Answer: Kirkwood HSDL has been in operation for over 30 years. (We were previously known as the High School Correspondence Program.) We have been offering online courses for over 3 years. Upon request, we can provide the names of schools, districts, and/or states that use our program.

For additional information, please contact Karla Schlesselman, Kirkwood HSDL Office Coordinator, at kschles@kirkwood.edu