Your Guide to Finding Supplemental Courses

Frequently Asked Questions

What are supplemental courses?

Supplemental online courses are additional educational programs that students can take outside of their regular school curricula. These courses are designed to either fill knowledge gaps or expand a student’s understanding of areas not fully covered in their school curriculum. They can include academic subjects, such as advanced mathematics or literature, as well as more skill-based learning, such as coding or graphic design.

If you are considering enrolling your child in a supplemental learning program, there are a few things to consider:

• Make sure the program meets your child’s needs and goals.
• Choose a program with experienced and qualified instructors.
• Communicate with your child’s teachers to ensure that the supplemental learning program aligns with their school curriculum.

Why choose supplemental online courses?

There are several reasons why high school students may benefit from enrolling in supplemental courses. A common motivation is academic enrichment, as some students seek to deepen their knowledge of certain subjects. Other students may require additional support to grasp challenging topics, and supplemental courses can provide the targeted help they need. In many cases, students use online supplemental courses as a strategic tool to prepare for standardized tests, such as the SAT or ACT, or to engage with college-level material to gain a competitive edge in their academic journey.

Supplemental courses also serve students with learning needs not being met by their chosen school. For example, students who attend schools that don’t offer advanced subjects, such as AP Physics or Computer Science, can bridge this gap by enrolling in online courses and enhancing their college application profiles.

Benefits of Taking Supplemental Courses Online:

• Flexibility to learn at your own pace
• Access to a wider variety of subjects
• Ability to revisit difficult concepts or topics
• Opportunities to improve college readiness
• Chance to learn practical, in-demand stills for future careers

How do I find the right courses for my child?

Finding the right supplemental courses can be overwhelming with so many options available, but a few tips can help parents and students get a sense of its effectiveness.

• Look at reviews or testimonials from other students who have taken the course to get a sense of its effectiveness.
• Determine why the student needs a supplemental course. Is it for enrichment, college prep, or remedial support?
• Research different e-learning platforms and compare their offerings in terms of course quality, instructor expertise, and price.
• Some students thrive in self-paced courses, while others need live interactions with instructors or peers.
• Ensure that the student’s schedule allows for supplemental coursework without overwhelming them.

How do I match supplemental courses to my child’s school curriculum?

When looking for extracurricular courses, it’s important to make sure that the selected programs align with the student’s current school curriculum. This will ensure that the student is filling any gaps in their education or adding to their knowledge in a complementary way. For instance, a student who excels in English but finds science challenging could benefit from a targeted online supplemental science course that focuses on their specific areas of difficulty.

Questions to Ask Yourself:

• How does this course fit into my child’s academic plan?
• Will the credits or skills earned in the courses be recognized by my child’s school?
• Will this course address my child’s specific academic strengths or weaknesses?
• Hos does the course match my child’s learning style?
• What is the level of difficulty, and is it appropriate for my child’s current academic level?
• Will the course align with my child’s high school graduation or college entrance requirements?

How do we incorporate supplemental courses into our routine?

There are many ways parents can incorporate supplemental learning into their child’s daily routine. One way is to find educational apps and games that their child enjoys and can play regularly. Another way is to set aside time each day to read or engage in other educational activities together as a family. Adding supplemental courses to an already busy high school student’s schedule can be challenging. 

Maintaining a balance between a student’s core schoolwork, extracurricular activities, and personal time is essential. Below are a few strategies to make this work:

• Create a weekly schedule that includes time for the supplemental course, making sure it doesn’t interfere with important schoolwork.
• Break the course into manageable chunks, and set goals for completing each section by a certain date.
• While online supplemental courses allow for flexibility, students should still follow a loose schedule to ensure they stay on track.

Options for Supplemental Courses

Individual Course Enrollment

Whether you’re looking to take a class not offered by your local school or looking to pursue a special interest outside the education setting, many platforms offer individual courses that you can take! You’ll need to work with your local school if the class is something you are hoping to receive credit for as there may be guidelines for where courses can be taken.

Dual Enrollment for Academic and Career Growth

Dual enrollment offers high school students the opportunity to take college-level courses while earning credit toward their high school diploma. In many cases, these courses are available online, giving students even more flexibility in managing their academic load. Students can learn at their own pace, manage their time effectively, and complete assignments in a more flexible setting than traditional face-to-face classes. This is especially useful for students with busy schedules or those who may not have access to local community colleges.

For students living in rural areas, online dual enrollment opens up access to a wide range of courses that may not be available locally. Whether a student is interested in advanced calculus, environmental science, or even niche subjects, such as digital marketing or social media management, they can find a course that fits their academic goals and future career plans.

For students interested in career and technical education (CTE), online dual-enrollment courses offer the same benefits as traditional in-person classes, with the added flexibility of online learning. Through CTE dual enrollment, students can earn both high school and college credit while gaining real-world skills and certifications in a variety of career fields, including healthcare, information technology, automotive technology, and manufacturing.

CTE dual-enrollment courses are designed to provide students with practical skills that can be applied in the workforce immediately after high school graduation. Many of these courses also offer pathways to apprenticeships and internships, giving students hands-on experience that complements their academic learning.

Multi-district, fully online schools 

In many cases, families can also find supplemental online courses at fully online schools that operate across multiple districts. While these schools specialize in creating an environment where students can complete all coursework online, they may allow for part-time enrollment. 

For example, in Arizona, Primavera Online School enrolls more than 10,000 part-time students each year. And in Minnesota, the online public school Minnesota Virtual Academy allows students to enroll part-time or full-time. 

You can explore whether your state offers free, fully online schools by checking your state roadmap. If so, you can reach out to online schools in your state about part-time enrollment options.