The earliest evidence of correspondence (home) study in the United States dates from March 1728, and it has been formally recognized in this country since 1883. The effectiveness of correspondence study has been recognized by a wide variety of organizations and regulatory bodies including state education regulatory agencies, the U.S. Department of…

A review of current literature identifies three growing trends. First, there has been an increase in legislatively mandated accountability that requires taxpayer-funded education and research programs be demonstrated effective by "scientifically based research." To receive federal monies programs must emphasize quantitative,…