Correspondence School
Correspondence School, originally a school giving instruction by mail. This type of study is also called distance education or home study because students receive lessons and complete tests at home, then return finished work to the school. Today computer networks, radio, television, and videotapes are also used to deliver information to correspondence school students. Instruction is offered from elementary school to graduate school levels. Vocational training and professional training are especially popular, and some professional organizations offer correspondence courses to their members.
Correspondence schools developed in Europe in the mid-1800's. In the United States one of the first degree-granting correspondence programs was offered by Illinois Wesleyan University in the 1870's. Other noted United States correspondence schools were the International Correspondence Schools (incorporated in 1890) and the University of Chicago's correspondence program (begun in 1891). From World War II until 1974, the United States Armed Forces Institute offered correspondence courses to service men and women. Today, branches of the military have their own correspondence schools.
(formerly National Home Study Council) provides information about correspondence study and sponsors the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council. DETC was founded in 1926 and has its headquarters in Washington, D.C.