sports contributions should be "taxed" 10% to help out the academic part.

"Make sure you enroll in the Verified Track for $45 to ensure you are eligible for credit once the course is over." $ 645 for 3 credit hours is not real cheap - more than the typical CC - this may be the new MOOC business model

i summary: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_to_Solve_It

You will need to have a heart to heart with your DS or maybe find an Engineer friend to help. My son is just about the same age. I do not shield him from the world being more competitive. Jobs in America are harder to get then back in my day even for STEM grads. If he truly wants to be an Engineer he needs at a minimum to focus on his Math and Science. If it is still not working at when he hits 16 maybe force him to find a low wage job like at McDonald's for a semester instead of school. My first summer job as a dish-washer in a local restaurant was a an eye-opener to understand how much labor you can do without much pay in return.

and Mark has two boys, one tested gifted and one with special needs - I can't fathom how my post was construed to be against special needs students

<http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/many-us-schools-still-resist-challenging-all-their-students/2015/04/15/e063d446-e304-11e4-905f-cc896d379a32_story.html?tid=hybrid_linearcol_3_na> for discussion - from personal experience this writer does not have a much insight into real US schools - the non-performers in schools want to bring the rest of the class down with them - the parents do not raise children that respect the value of education

you should add these to the pinned HS Math thread

The Algebra class looks like a survey of topics so more depth probably needed plus Trig. I recommend that your DS spends a semester with Foerster - Algebra and Trigonometry: Functions and Applications ISBN 0-201-32460-1 (this older edition is the same) it has answers for most of the odd problems. Just do odd problems then you don't need any other resource. It has lots of word problems! Based on recommendations from the hive, I am using this to supplement my son's Algebra 2 (9th grade at charter school). I like it. After that you could do a fairly rigorous PreCalc course.

free http://www.ck12.org/book/Engineering:-An-Introduction-for-High-School/

yes you have to read the actual reviews - somebody's one star may be your five star! So many parents want school to be just plain easy. But of course there always legitimate beefs like unresponsive teachers not answering questions and getting someone else's grade posted for your child. This happened to my son in Middle School. They corrected it. It was pretty obvious when the grades listed were A,A+,A+,A, D, A+. The teacher did not notice that the D did not fit until I pointed it out.

thanks direct link to courses: http://oli.cmu.edu/learn-with-oli/see-our-free-open-courses/

That's a shame because there should be a basic "standard" for Freshman/Sophomore level Math and Science courses such that one has achieved the required level of knowledge. Calculus I for example. Maybe there needs to be a group such as ABET that at least could certify Freshman level Math and Science courses.

see http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/FAQAccr.aspx An "institution" can not have integrity (it's rules/regs can foster a culture of integrity) only people can have integrity or not. In the particular case I mention there was basically one bad apple at a CC who happened to be the chancellor. One person does not make an institution.

Be aware many CC agreements are within a particular state. YMMV

This is how I was taught back in the day - note we kept the equation in balance and it is easier to transition to the "later on method" (now they teach the Example 2 "good work" method which I don't like) beginning method 2(x+5) = -3x-6 2x+10 = -3x-6 3x+2x+10 = -3x-6+3x 5x+10-10 = -6-10 5x = -16 x = -16/5 later on method 2(x+5) = -3x-6 2x+10 = -3x-6 5x = -16 x = -16/5

For the problem sets the problem number and the next step of the solution should suffice. Also no units (sq inches, etc) then no credit!

When my son used Saxon at his charter school they did around 15 problems per lesson - it seemed to be the right amount of work - other problems were done as test and exam review

GreatSchools.org also has virtual charter reviews

http://cathyduffyreviews.com/grade-level-packages/Virtual-Homeschool-Group.htm

I posted a partial one quite a long time ago - not sure if they links are still valid look for MarkT or saxon

Did you see this? <http://www.amazon.com/Improved-Test-Bank-Geometry-Understanding/dp/0716775948/ref=pd_sim_b_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=1HSG28JCTJD6BTSWHCAC> The test bank contains chapter tests, midyear examination, final examination and answer keys. oops 3rd edition

In the end a student should learn how to do a closed book math test. For example, the SAT will not be open book. Many college math courses will be closed book. When my professors said the test would be open book that meant at least half of the test problems would be much harder than anything you saw in the HW.

This is awesome that they volunteer but IMHO it is "Engineers Without Borders" job to help coordinate this effort not the college administration. A professor or two could certainly step up and volunteer their time for the Engineers Without Borders organization. This thread is about rising college costs and what may contribute to them.

I just finished reading some websites about schooling in general and a constant theme is moving to technology based delivery of content versus traditional text-books. Maybe a secondary market will exist where the content can be printed on demand such as via LuLu for those that prefer it. I think some of the virtual schools will provide some hard-copy text if you ask for it (especially if you site some malady like extreme eye fatigue). So far my DS is fine with computer based content for math but I think he likes hard copy books for English.

http://www.centerdigitaled.com/k-12/EDITORIAL-Michigan-Gov-has-Right-Idea-in-Funding-Trades-Training.html About time someone realizes we can't outsource our plumbers,etc to China.