A study examined the course structure and educational practices used by National Home Study Council (NHSC) member institutions. To gather data for the study, researchers mailed questionnaires to 60 members of the NHSC. Based on data from the 51 usable responses, the researchers determined that the average age of students enrolled in programs offered by the institutions is 28. The schools offer an average of 16 courses each. The individual courses, which have an average of 58 assignments or submissions, take students 18 months to complete and have a 50-percent lesson completion rate. The majority (75 percent) of examination questions are objective in style, and most exams are graded by hand by "qualified instructors." Approximately 45 percent of the schools use toll-free telephone lines for educational purposes, 82 percent use preprinted (stock) motivation letters, 49 percent own their own computers, and 65 percent publish a newsletter for students. The overwhelming majority (94 percent) of the schools are optimistic about their future over the next 18 months and are planning to offer new courses shortly. (MN)