What is U.S. History for Expats?

U.S. History for Expats is a program of U.S. history courses designed specifically for students living outside the United States wanting to learn U.S. History. We provided elementary classes including Grade 4 Virginia History, accredited middle school courses, and accredited high school courses.

What is the format of a typical course?

Elementary School: Each Sunday you will receive a ‘blueprint’ and additional activities for the week. Your child can complete the asynchronous assignments online or via a newspaper we will mail to you at post. Each course is very adaptable to your needs with a flexible 32 week schedule.

Middle School: Each course uses the Google Classroom platform with nine required units and an optional tenth unit. Each unit consists of an Intro Activity, a Unit Organizer, a Midpoint Check-in, a Project Planning, and a Final Project. Students are provided feedback on the Unit Organizer. Parents and students are provided feedback at the end of each unit.

High School: Working through tutorials, students will complete a 90 day semester course covering specific topics in U.S. history from the colonial periods through WWII (U.S. History A) or the end of WWII through Modern America (U.S. History B). Students are given a pacing guide and the option for individual support. Along the way students will be asked to complete assessments through discussions, short answer questions, tutorial and unit tests, and a final exam.

Are the courses accredited?

U.S. History for Expats middle school and high school courses are accredited by the the Middle States Association. We are meeting the MSA’s 12 standards. This is the same body that accredits many international schools and thousands of schools within the United States. Our accreditation is in effect until 2032.

How long does each unit take to complete?

Elementary School: Students can expect to take as little as 30 minutes to read the material with an additional 30 minutes to complete the activities at the end of each lesson.

Middle School: Each unit should take a minimum of 2.5 hours to complete but more likely about 4 hours. The entire course should take about 40 hours over the course a school year.

High School: Students will need to dedicate several hours per week to successfully complete the class in 90 days. As needed, we can adjust the course length to fit your needs.

Are the classes self-paced?

Yes, the program is self-paced. We provide a model schedule for students to complete the course over the course of one school year.  We can also customize schedules based on individual needs.

Will my special needs child be able to take the course?

Yes, U.S. History for Expats can accomodate for most special needs students. In general, if your child is able to attend an international school or “school at post”, we will be able to provide similar services as a regular classroom teacher.

Will my Gifted & Talented child be challenged?

Yes, U.S. History for Expats has included material for Gifted & Talented students to be challenged at their ability level. Throughout the course we have included ‘spicy’ assignments for G&T/AAP students. In addition, U.S. History for Expats can provide differentiated assignments and tutoring on an individual basis in addition to the extensions already offered. 

Can more than one child take a course?

Yes, we can provide courses for all your middle school children. 

What do you provide parents?

Parents will receive a materials at the beginning of the course which provides details about each unit of the course. In addition, parents will receive continual contact with progress reports, written comments, progress reports, end of course report, and transcripts (MS and HS only).

How long does it take to enroll my child?

The enrollment process takes approximately 15-30 minutes if you need to create an email account for your child and about 15 minutes if your child already has an email account. Students can access the course immediately after enrollment.

Does my child need his/her own device?

Not necessarily. A student can use any computer, even a family computer, as long as he or she can log into a unique Google account. The computer needs to have a camera, microphone, and speaker.

When can my child enroll?

Right now! We have a rolling enrollment policy. If you are using the Supplementary Instruction Allowance, the courses should be completed before the summer break. Please keep in mind you can only take advantage of the Supplementary Instructional Allowance under certain circumstances (See section below).

Will my child be working independently or with a group of other students?

Currently, all courses are independent. However, we have designed the units so students can work in groups to complete some of the Unit Organizer activities and Final Projects in groups. This will depend on a variety of factors such as location. Students will have an opportunity to work with others during our “Junto” meetings held each month.

What instructional materials does my child need?

All instructional materials and subscriptions to online services covered in each course are included. You will not incur any additional expenses with the exception of materials and technology needed to complete the final project in each unit. There will always be an option to complete an assignment without additional materials. 

What if my child wants to complete more than one course in an academic year?

Please contact us. While one course per year is the norm, we can work individually with you and your child to ensure the best possible experience with our courses. 

When can my child start the course? 

Elementary School: Students can begin the online version of the course within a day or two of registering. Depending on the mail system to your post, you can expect the newspaper print versions with a few weeks of registration.

Middle School: Immediately upon completing the registration, you will receive a classroom code and instructions to begin the course. Your child will have access to the class. All new students are highly encouraged to start with the orientation.

When does my child have to finish the course?

Each course closes on August 1 of the school year in which the course began. For example, for the 2023-2024 school year, all units must be completed by August 1, 2024.