Today’s Anniversary: The Department of Education Organization Act

by | Oct 17, 2023 | New Blog

It’s October 17, and President Jimmy Carter signed the Department of Education Organization Act on this date in 1979. You might think that Cabinet-level departments are all quite old and have been a part of American government since 1776, but some of them are newer, and the Department of Education is one of the newer ones. Today is a good occasion to review what the Department of Education does and what it doesn’t do. The Department of Education is primarily concerned with financial aid, collecting data, focusing attention on key educational issues and prohibiting discrimination while ensuring equal access to education. The Department of Education does not accredit or recognize schools, nor does it establish curriculum or set graduation requirements for a high school diploma program. Those responsibilities fall with individual states. Because we are located in Illinois we follow the guidelines of the Illinois State Board of Education for our middle school program and high school program, but we welcome students from all 50 states. Thank you to all of the various organizations including the United States Department of Education which work hard to ensure that all students receive the best education possible.

I found all the material and methods extremely satisfying. It made the classes simple enough to learn while still being able to enjoy the process! I spent my first two years of high school in a public school, but American School made it an enjoyable experience while still giving me the education I need. My parents have never been so proud to see so many good grades coming from a homeschool program.

Alex from Illinois

I especially liked and appreciated all of the instructors’ positive comments, feedback and helpful hints on my son’s exams. You cannot put a price tag on a high school diploma, although I felt the fees were quite reasonable. I’m really thankful that there is a back-up plan for students who are lacking credits to graduate.

Judy from Michigan

My overall interaction with American School has been positive. I find the study guides essential tools to being able to get the full benefit of the textbooks. They often explain things in a more understandable detail. The service of American School has been prompt with addressing my needs, such as requesting more courses, getting progress reports in a timely manner, etc. I do appreciate the feedback from the instructors on my exams. My experience with American School has been more than satisfactory.

Khadijah from Florida

The courses from American School have been awesome! They are challenging but also really enjoyable. The textbooks were all very clear and detailed. The study guides were wonderful. They really helped me understand the lesson concepts. I have improved by miles! I definitely will keep using American School until I finish high school.

Carmen from South Carolina

I really enjoy studying through American School. It helped me prepare for college classes. You learn to become independent and motivate yourself to finish.

Carissa from California

I found American School’s curriculum very satisfactory. I enjoyed the material and its methods. Grammar and math, my toughest subjects, were much easier to understand than any of my previous books. The comments my instructors left on my graded work were helpful and encouraging. Overall I was happy with my courses.

Charli from Texas

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Curriculum

American School’s innovative paper-based and online curriculum offers something for everyone in grades 6-12. Students can choose from more than 100 self-paced courses in traditional subjects such as English, math, social studies and science and take electives in such subject areas as business, career and technical education, fine arts, and world languages,

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As a not-for-profit institution, American School puts students’ educations first. Our tuition is affordable—much lower than many other distance education and online high schools—and all textbooks and study materials are included at no additional cost. Monthly payment plans are available for students in full years of American School’s middle school or high school program.

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When students are accepted at American School, they not only receive interesting curriculum at a reasonable cost from a pioneer in distance education; they also receive outstanding, caring student service. Students may enroll anytime and work at their own pace. Help is available from American School staff during business hours and around the clock in American School’s Online Student Center.

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Founded in 1897, American School later became the first correspondence school to become regionally accredited. Today we are accredited by three reputable accrediting bodies and recognized by the Illinois State Board of Education as a non-public high school. American School’s diploma is accepted by colleges and universities, and thousands of high schools use our courses for credit recovery.

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