American K-12 system and Credit Transfer

The American K-12 system of education typically allows the retention of previous credits earned by a student and transfer the same in continuity to her/his subsequent K-12 education. The Credit Transfer System is thus a benchmark for comparing the study pursued and performance of students of K-12 system. Every course carries a certain weightage which in terms of the education system, earns the student a certain number of credits. Generally, the credits are associated with the number of hours of coursework (including but not limited to the consolidation of classroom studies, activities, laboratory works, tutorials and assignments) that a student has deployed towards pursuing a certain subject/course/grade. The student's performance is then mapped with the requirements of the subsequent subject/course/grade that she/he wants to pursue. The mapping requirements of curriculum and studies may differ from one study/course to another study/course. If there is a suitable level of mapping that is exhibited between the previous and subsequent studies, then the performance/grades from the previous studies are successfully transferred to the subsequent studies. Since the 'unit' of measurement of the time and effort invested in previous studies is called 'Credit', hence the system is called as Credit Transfer System.

Applying Credit Transfer to The American High School Diploma Program

The American High School Diploma Program is a preferred and most commonly pursued system in US and a lot of other US-system based (or specific US/American schools in countries around the world) countries, for a 12-year scholastic graduation program. In a lot of countries around the world, it is also commonly called the US or American Diploma Program. The requirements of study in terms of subjects/course/grades are hence typically same, in most schools around the world. This enables smooth and coherent Transfer of Credits, when the student wants to continue her/his education from a school other than the school where she/he began the initial study/scholastic qualification.

Most school students follow a set pattern of course work during their years in the American High School Diploma Program. The individual requirements in particular subjects of the same discipline of study are also typically the same. Hence, in most cases a student invests the same amount of time, number of hours and coursework in pursuing a certain subject, when she/he studies in a particular grade in one school or any other school. The margin of difference in most cases is minimal. Since the students due to various reasons choose, and are authorized to choose how much and what part of the entire grade, they want to pursue in a particular school, and subsequently enroll in another school, hence, they easily carry their previous credits and such credits are then reflected in the form of a consolidated transcript of student performance. To cite a particular example, let us take a student who is pursuing grade X from a particular school, and has 6 subjects A, B, C, D, E and F. If a student has obtained a satisfactory performance or pass grade in A and B, and wants to add C,D, E and F later as his 'cleared/qualified' subjects, she/he can then complete the coursework or requirements of the remaining subjects in another school, and then obtain a consolidated transcript from the school last attended.

American High School Diploma Program is a preferred but still not the only system of K-12 education around the world. There are other systems prescribed by National, State, Private authorities and such systems are also valid either locally or globally. The course requirements between different systems are also mapped and then the subsequent mapping, if found significantly coherent, can hence lead to Transfer of Credits between systems.

Specificity of Credit Transfer for NWAC American High School Diploma Program

The NWAC accredited American High School Diploma Program maps various systems of education around the world and allow for the provision of Transfer of Credits to the American System from other Government approved systems of K-12 education. This mapping is primarily done keeping in view the number of credit hours invested by a student in NWAC American High School Diploma Program in a particular grade/course (which is prescribed in the NWAC American High School Diploma Program curriculum) and then assessing the level of overlap with the previous System/Board/Curriculum from where the student is coming. There is also a clearly prescribed and defined level of acceptable difference between the two Systems/Boards/Curriculum and the same is mentioned clearly in the NWAC American High School Diploma Program curriculum.

The Central/State Board systems and curriculum requirements in terms of credit hours are significantly similar, and fall in the acceptable range of credit hours prescribed by the NWAC American High School Diploma Program curriculum, thus enabling Transfer of Credits from the Central/State Board systems to the American High School Diploma Program. The system of Transfer of Credits prescribed by the NWAC American High School Diploma Program curriculum also draws its inspiration from a similar Credit Transfer System offered by the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS).

The aim of the Transfer of Credits prescribed by the NWAC American High School Diploma Program curriculum is to expand and offer the best levels of global school education to students in India. It also helps NWAC to realize its vision of not debarring any capable and willing student from pursuing a good school education, in spite of any specific reasons that may have debarred her/him from pursuing schooling.