Alabama Connecting Classrooms, Educators, and Students Statewide

As I mentioned in the Alabama Learning Exchange post, another state program to enhance education is Alabama Connecting Classrooms, Educators, and Students Statewide, also known as ACCESS. In some rural or low-income areas, schools cannot offer classes such as advanced placement courses, advanced diploma courses, and some electives such as foreign language classes. Through online courses, interactive videoconferencing, and hybrid courses, ACCESS allows all public high school students the opportunity to take courses not available at their schools.


All three ways of taking courses are just as effective as learning in a normal classroom setting, meet state standards, and are taught by certified teachers. Online courses are taken during the school day and allow students to be taught coursework through the Internet. Interactive videoconferencing is a way to connect two or more classrooms from different schools through video and audio connections as shown in this picture. A hybrid course is a combination of two types of classes. For instance, a student can take a class which is a combination of an online class and a class in a regular classroom setting.

For students to be enrolled in these courses, they have to see their school guidance counselor first to see if they qualify for classes offered through ACCESS such as the advanced placement classes. Also, these courses are best for students who are computer literate, comfortable asking questions or for help, and who are independent learners. Along with the classes, there is software available for students to use for certain classes such as the ChemLab which offers lab simulations.

By offering classes that some students would normally not be able to take, ACCESS is an excellent program which allows all high school students in Alabama the opportunity to have the same quality education. I went to a high school in Mississippi, and I took a calculus course through interactive videoconferencing. The class was just as effective as a normal classroom setting, and it also allowed the students in my class to interact with students from another high school.