A free online learning program can help Kansas adults complete their high school education as they earn college credit at no charge.
Lyons USD 405, Pratt Community College, eduKan and CompuHigh have come together to offer the Diploma to Degree Program, or D2D. Sponsors said it is the first of its kind in the United States that offers concurrent courses along with dual credits delivered virtually via the Internet.
“There are numerous adult learners needing the opportunity to earn high school and college credit simultaneously,” said Gary L. Sechrist, ons USD 405 superintendent.
The state-funded program is open to all adult Kansas residents who have not received their high school diploma. Students earn high school credits as well as credits toward an Associate Degree by taking tuition-free courses online from PCs, laptops or tablet mobile devices.
During the 2010-2011 school year, 3,092 Kansas students dropped out of school, according to a report by the Kansas Commission on Graduation and Dropout Prevention and Recovery. Kansas residents who do not receive a high school education are more likely than their graduated peers to live in poverty and be unemployed. This results in approximately $260,000 in lost earnings over the course of their lifetime. D2D has the potential to change that, Sechrist said.
“We believe this is the only virtual school in Kansas designed for students 21 years or older that provides this unique educational experience,” he said.
For more information or to register visit  the website, www.diploma2degree.org.