Empowering students to earn college credit from high school classrooms

Key points:

As an educator, I’m continuously searching for ways to give my students a leg up. When I discovered Modern States, a philanthropic organization offering free online courses that give any student the chance to learn college-level content, I knew it could be transformative for my students.

There are lots of different ways that high school students earn college credit, but one of the most powerful is also one of the least known. I first learned of the College Level Examination Program, a set of standardized assessments created and administered by the College Board since the 1960s, when I was in college myself. CLEPs assess college-level knowledge and passing scores on the exams are accepted as credit at more than 2,900 colleges and universities. I took two CLEP exams, and the credits I earned saved me time and money as I worked toward my degree.

Today, working in both a state and a school committed to helping students earn college credit before graduation, I saw a world of opportunity in Modern States, which debuted in 2017. The organization created a library of 32 online courses, taught by college professors and designed specifically to prepare learners for CLEP exams. Learners can take classes and then use the CLEP exams to demonstrate their learning and ultimately receive credit. Here’s how I’ve incorporated its courses into my classroom, along with some tips for educators looking to expand opportunities for their students:

Start small and map it out

When I first learned about Modern States, I was excited but also overwhelmed. My fellow teachers can attest to how much we all have on our plates, so adding new material is daunting. It took me wading in and really examining how the course modules aligned with my own Social Studies curriculum to figure out how to incorporate it best. After immersing myself, I easily developed a plan that brought together the Modern States course material with each of my classes. This allowed me to seamlessly integrate preparation for the U.S. History I CLEP exam into my existing classes, instead of treating it as a separate task.

I also make Modern States (and taking the CLEP test) optional for my students–but I do give extra credit for passing the exam. I take grades on module completion, but I exempt students who choose not to participate.

My advice? Start with one subject, connect the Modern States content to your teaching goals and your student’s learning goals, and then expand once you all can see the value.

Build buy-in through stories and expectations

When we first discuss Modern States and CLEP, I hear from many of my students that they don’t understand what the exams are or why they should take them. I share my own story: How I discovered CLEP in college and wished I’d known about it sooner. Framing it as an opportunity to save time and money helps students see the value.

Encourage confidence through preparation

I set high expectations in my classroom, creating a culture where students rise to the challenge. Passion and belief in their potential go a long way. One of the most rewarding aspects of using Modern States is seeing students grow in confidence.

Make CLEP testing available at your school

When I first took this on and it was time for my students to sit for their exams, they had to travel to local CLEP testing centers. While that sounds simple, it creates one more opportunity for students to opt-out, be late, or miss their opportunity. After we realized the value of CLEP and Modern States, I worked with my assistant principal on opening a CLEP test center at our school to make it simple and familiar for students to test. It was surprisingly easy to set up and now students can take their exams during the school day without having to arrange transportation to a test center.

This accessibility removes significant barriers and it’s one of the reasons so many of my students are succeeding. If your school isn’t a CLEP testing center yet, I encourage you to explore the process. It’s simpler than you might think and can make a world of difference.

I couldn’t be prouder about what my students are achieving. At the end of last semester, 100 percent of my students who took the U.S. History I CLEP passed, and 92 percent passed U.S. History II–that’s 30 of my students earning college credit for free. To date, nearly 700,000 learners have taken Modern States courses, with 150,000 CLEP exams attempted for an estimated tuition and fee savings of nearly $200 million. Knowing my students are part of these remarkable achievements makes their success even more meaningful.

Modern States has been an essential tool in my classroom. It’s given students an affordable, accessible pathway to higher education. By opening doors to college credits while still in high school, students gain a powerful head start on their journey to higher education and future success.