CORVALLIS, Ore. - The K-12 Online program at Oregon State University, which provides high school and middle school curriculum via the Web, has received accreditation as a distance education school by the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools.
The approval followed a review by Richard Darst, executive secretary for NAAS of Oregon, and Wilbur Starr, principal of Santiam Christian High School in Corvallis. The program has been offered through OSU Ecampus for the past three years, and met standards for accreditation on its first review.
Accreditation requires approval on such issues as employment of teachers with "highly qualified" licensure, provision of sound curriculum, and the availability of student services.
"I was impressed with the quality of programs offered, and the vision for the future of the K-12 Online program," Darst said, following his review. "The accreditation allows this program to be recognized nationally and internationally, and facilitates credit transferability."
Tryna Luton, Ecampus P-12 outreach coordinator and K-12 Online administrator, said that accreditation ensures the online courses meet the national and Oregon content standards, and provides quality assurance for the courses and programs.
OSU K-12 Online offers options for high school students with varying needs and backgrounds: high achievers seeking additional challenge or courses not offered at their school due to budget cuts; home schooled students looking for a particular course; or students who have missed school due to illness or truancy. For middle schoolers, K-12 Online offers integrated units - courses that are completed in one to three weeks and include study in English, math, science, social science and art.
Examples of thematic units include The Dynamic Earth, Art in the Real World, Planning a Park, and Chance and Happenstance.
For more information on these and other P-12 programs offered through OSU Extended Campus, visit k12online.oregonstate.edu or call 800-667-1465.
Source
Tryna Luton, 541-737-9732