Basics of DETC Accreditation for Correspondence Schools

Basics of DETC Accreditation for Correspondence Schools The Distance Education Training Council (DETC) has been accrediting correspondence schools since 1955. Today, hundreds of distance learning colleges and high schools have been granted accreditation from the DETC. Many graduates from DETC accredited schools have used their degrees to gain promotions or to continue in their studies. But, others have been disappointed to find that their degrees do not hold the same weight as diplomas from regionally accredited schools. If youre considering enrolling in a school with DETC accreditation, make sure you get the facts first. Heres what you need to know: The Good – Approved by the CHEA and USDE Both the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the United States Department of Education recognize the DETC as a legitimate accrediting agency. The DETC has proved itself to have high standards and a thorough review process. You wont find any diploma mills here. The Bad – Trouble Transferring The biggest problem with DETC accreditation is that regionally accredited schools dont view it as their equal. While credits from regionally accredited schools may transfer to other regionally accredited schools easily, credits from DETC accredited schools are often looked upon with suspicion. Even some schools with DETC accreditation view transcripts from regionally accredited schools as superior. The Ugly – A Battle With Regionally Accredited Schools If youre planning on transferring schools or pursuing additional study, be aware that each school has its own transfer policy. Some schools may accept your DETC credits unconditionally. Some may not give you full credit. Some may reject your transcript completely. A study conducted by the DETC showed that, of the students who attempted to transfer credits to a regionally accredited school, two-thirds were accepted and one-third were rejected. The DETC blames the rejected credits in part on anti-competitive business practices in higher education. Whatever the case, be aware that rejection is very possible. A Solution – Plan Ahead If you want to make sure that your transcript from a DETC accredited school will be accepted when you transfer, make a list of potential transfer schools. Call each one and ask for a copy of their transfer policy. Another good strategy is to check out the Higher Education Transfer Alliance database. Schools in this alliance have agreed to be open to schools with any type of accreditation that is approved by the CHEA or USDE – including the Distance Education Training Council.

The Write to Santa Program in Canada

The Write to Santa Program in Canada More than 6,000 Canada Post volunteers, both staff, and retirees help the Jolly Old Elf with Canada Posts Write to Santa program. Every year, over a million children from all around the world, take advantage of the program by writing to Santa and receiving a personal reply. Letters are answered in the language in which the letter was written, including Braille. Requirements for Letters to Santa Via Canada Post All mail should include a full return address so Santa can answer. Be sure to mail your letter so it gets to Santa before December 14.  Santas mailing address is: Santa ClausNorth PoleH0H 0H0Canada No postage is required for letters to Santa from Canada. However, from other countries, you will need to mail them with the appropriate postage for your country to deliver the envelope to Canada where Santa and his helpers can receive it and reply. Canada Post asks parents to make sure letters to Santa do not include treats for Santa, like cookies. For the fastest delivery to Canada from other countries, its best to use standard sized envelopes and ensure you have placed the correct postage. Santa does not have an email address, according to Canada Post. You will need to send him paper mail. Receiving a Reply From Santa If you send your mail from Canada by early December, you should receive a reply in the mail by December 14, according to Canada Mail. If you dont get a reply, send another letter before December 14. Mail sent by December 14 should have a reply back to your child by December 24. Replies to other countries may take longer as they are dependent on the delivery by the mail systems of those countries.   Getting Creative With Your Childs Letter to Santa Santa and his helpers are happy to see your childs wish list. But you can enliven your letter with pictures, drawings, funny jokes, and stories telling about your childs favorite games, sports, friends, pets, and other details. This helps  brighten the mail and make it easier for Santa and his elves to craft a personal response that will delight your child. It can be a fun experience to help your child write the letter and explore what excites them and what they find most interesting in their lives. Tips for Teachers In order for Santa to write the best letters, his elves need some information about each child. Teachers may check with Media Relations at Canada Post to find templates and checklists to complete a class package of letters to Santa. Yearly requirements and tips are often released in mid-November.   To make sure your students get a response before schools and daycares break for the holidays, mail your classroom letters by December 8. Note that this date may change from year to year, depending on where weekends fall and the volume of letters experienced.