VHS Learning's Flexible Course Additions
Since 2022, VHS Learning's Flexible courses have helped students resolve academic scheduling issues. Now, the nonprofit has more than doubled its Flexible courses, offering students 34 courses in three categories for the upcoming 2023–24 school year: Flexible Advanced Placement® courses, Flexible one-credit courses, and Flexible half-credit courses. The half-credit category is a new addition by VHS Learning and allows for course enrollment on a rolling basis year-round.
"Our original catalog of Flexible courses was so popular we knew that we were meeting an important need," said Carol DeFuria, President and CEO of VHS Learning. "Some students choose to take our Flexible courses during the school year to give them more scheduling flexibility, which is especially helpful for those with athletic commitments and other extracurricular activities, while others just prefer a self-paced course."
Flexible AP® Courses
VHS Learning has five new additions to its catalog of Flexible AP® courses:
- AP® Biology Flexible
- AP® Chemistry Flexible
- AP® Computer Science A Flexible
- AP® Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism Flexible
- AP® Physics C: Mechanics Flexible
AP® Biology Flexible, AP® Chemistry Flexible, and AP® Computer Science A Flexible are one-credit courses. Students taking AP® Macroeconomics, AP® Microeconomics, AP® Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism, or AP® Physics C: Mechanics will earn a half credit for each course.
Course registration for all Flexible AP® courses opens on September 5, 2023. Students can enroll in the courses for the upcoming 2023–24 academic school year on any Monday from September through December. Coursework must be completed by June 15, 2024, so students who join later in the enrollment period must progress through the material at a faster pace.
Flexible One-Credit Courses
Six new standard-level one-credit courses have also been added to VHS Learning's Flexible course offerings:
- Algebra 2 Flexible
- Chemistry Flexible
- English 10 Flexible
- Geometry Flexible
- Spanish 2 Flexible
- U.S. History Flexible
As with the Flexible AP® courses, students will be able to register for these courses on September 5, 2023. They can then enroll in their selected course on any Monday from September to February. Students must complete their course by June 15, 2024, so later enrollees will need to work at a faster pace.
Flexible Half-Credit Courses
The new Flexible half-credit category currently contains seven courses, which are designed to be completed in about 20 weeks:
- Chinese Language and Culture Flexible
- Criminology Flexible
- Cybersecurity Flexible
- Health Flexible
- Personal Finance Flexible
- U.S. Government and Civics Flexible
- Writing The College Application Essay Flexible
Registration for all half-credit courses is now open, and students can begin their chosen courses immediately.
All eligible Flexible courses have been NCAA-approved. VHS Learning teachers will regularly interact with students in asynchronous discussions, host weekly office hours, and invite students to monthly one-on-one progress meetings.
Students have been taking note of VHS Learning's Flexible course offerings. In 2022, the first Flexible AP® full-credit courses were offered. In 2023, enrollments for AP® full-credit Flexible courses have increased by more than 700% from 2022 levels.
Non-AP Flexible half-credit courses became available in 2023. Enrollments for the AP® half-credit courses have almost doubled from the previous year's enrollments.
"These comprehensive, teacher-led self-paced courses give students the opportunity to embark on new learning experiences after the beginning of the traditional semester start," said DeFuria. "Instead of being bound by semester and school year start dates, students can use VHS Learning online Flexible courses to fill gaps in their academic schedules and take courses that would otherwise not be possible."
About VHS Learning
VHS Learning is a nonprofit organization with 27 years of experience providing world-class online programs to students and schools everywhere. More than 600 schools around the world take advantage of VHS Learning's 300+ online high school courses—including 29 AP® courses, credit recovery, and enrichment courses—to expand their programs of study. VHS Learning is accredited by the Middle States Association Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS), and the Accrediting Commission for Schools and Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACS WASC). Courses are approved for initial eligibility by NCAA. For more information about VHS Learning, please visit the website and follow on Twitter.
