The Foreign Service Journal, December 2010

86 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 0 S CHOOLS S UPPLEMENT at the American School Foundation of Monterrey, advises. “Not all on- line providers are created equal.” Keller adds, “The program we use (K¹²) is also accredited in the U.S., so credits earned from the online courses do count toward graduation requirements.” Experienced Foreign Service par- ents know that the best international schools meet stringent standards to receive accreditation from one of several regionally based accredita- tion boards in the United States. Many online schools receive the same regional accreditation, as well as accreditation by their home state. Accreditation matters in assuring quality and transferability of credits from high school to high school, as well as their recognition during the college admission process. Academic integrity presents chal- lenges for both traditional schools and online classes. Dr. Doug Barn- ard, director of the Mesa Distance Learning Program, says: “We’ve been doing this for 11 years. I’ve learned that academic integrity is a big issue. Many programs are wide-open for students to cheat. We have several electronic ways to catch people not being honest. The big question is: How do you know the person taking the final exam is the same person who did the work?” Like the Mesa Distance Learning Program, the University of Nebraska uses proctors to ensure integrity. Proctors are required for closed- book tests. Family members cannot serve in that capacity, but teachers, counselors, administrators, head librarians and embassy or consulate officials can. A teacher’s knowledge of his or her students is another way to enforce honesty. “I was committed to knowing my students, knowing their performance abilities and the quality of work they present, and reviewing their work during the week, which helps ensure their integrity,” says K¹²’s Amy Valentine, who was an online teacher for sever- “Choose your online provider with care,” Dr. Jeff Keller, superin- tendent at the American School Foundation of Monterrey, advises. Continued from page 80 Continued on page 90