Minimum age for alt-credit attainment?

[studyingfortests]

Hi,

Does anyone know if there's a minimum age for use of sites like SDC, Sophia, Straighterline, etc?  I have a friend with an extremely precocious child who is interested in taking some classes over the summer (college credit is nice but not crucial.)

I took a quick look at Sophia's TOS and could not see any mention of age requirements.  I know she would not be able to get admitted to many colleges until 18 or 20, but could she earn alt credits between now and then?

[bjcheung77]

Just a couple of quick questions. Alternative credit can be anything from AP to ACE/NCCRS. How young is the child? Is she here in the US or international? If she's in her junior/senior year, that's when I highly recommend dual enrollment vs AP and ACE/NCCRS. Here's a post from yesterday: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...#pid361190

[Vle045]

My son is 15 and he is able to create an account on Sophia

[bjcheung77]

If your student is international, Onlinedegree.com is the only one they won't be able to attend. Further to that, for OD.com they require the student to be 18 years old. All other major ACE/NCCRS providers we use, I recall require the student to be 13 years of age at minimum and there are no other restrictions regarding their geography.

[dfrecore]

I don't think there's a minimum age for all of these. I don't know that Study.com has a minimum age, I've never heard of that before.

Khan Academy is a good free option. ModernStates (and I think you can take a CLEP at any age).

[bjcheung77]

@OP, Yes and No, there are age requirements... All content or course providers (college credit bearing or not) have to follow Privacy Policy Acts, it's been the case since COPPA came into effect for children's privacy protection, that act is directed to anyone under 13.  As an example, since Sophia.org was mentioned, they do have an age requirement of 13, here's an old post in 2020.  https://www.facebook.com/sophia.org/post...5623775119

There is a workaround of course, have the guardian or parent sit with the student and sign up, thus getting parental consent or permission to do so!  Technically it's just for "legal" purposes, it's not fully enforced, most of the details are hidden in their Privacy Policy or Terms of Service/Use.  And an FYI, for Study.com, it's weird they have it at age "sweet 16"... If you're under that "age", just get your parents to pay for it anyways, thus bypassing the age requirement.

[Insert Name]

My stepdaughter has 17 units from Sophia completed, and halfway through another course. She was 13 when we set up her account. Can’t speak first hand for any of the other sources.

[bellbaby]

Hi,

Does anyone know if there's a minimum age for use of sites like SDC, Sophia, Straighterline, etc?  I have a friend with an extremely precocious child who is interested in taking some classes over the summer (college credit is nice but not crucial.)

I took a quick look at Sophia's TOS and could not see any mention of age requirements.  I know she would not be able to get admitted to many colleges until 18 or 20, but could she earn alt credits between now and then?

My teens have had a study.com account for years. They are currently using Sophia for Dual Enrollment and will complete their last 30 credits using Liberty Online (unless plans change.)

[Vle045]

How do you use Sophia for Dual Enrollment?

[bellbaby]

How do you use Sophia for Dual Enrollment?

Just Homeschooling and using the gen ed to meet HS requirements.