Online Pathway to Graduation Program
What is the Online Pathway to Graduation
The Online Pathway to Graduation (OPTG) is a year-long program that enables former Montgomery County Public School (MCPS) students, no longer enrolled in an MCPS high school and needing three credits or fewer, to meet the academic requirements for a Maryland High School diploma.
The instruction in these classes will be delivered online. In addition, there will be a teacher in a centrally-located computer classroom who will be monitoring participant progress and facilitating individual instruction.
Participants will progress through the courses at their own pace, completing assignments, and taking assessments to demonstrate mastery of course objectives.
As participants successfully complete each course, credit will be awarded, thus helping the participant progress toward the goal of earning a high school diploma.
Participants still will be responsible for completing all Maryland and MCPS graduation requirements, including High School Assessment and student
Who can participate?
Eligible participants must meet all of the following requirements:
- Former MCPS students
- No longer enrolled in MCPS as of August 31, 2009
- Three credits or fewer needed to graduate
- Already passed the Maryland High School Assessment (HSA) for any online HSA course needed; HSA-related OPTG courses may be taken for credit recovery only and not for original credit
- Have not earned a General Equivalency Diploma (GED)
- Able to complete all graduation requirements prior to their 22nd birthday according to state regulation
- Private school students and others who have never attended an MCPS high school are not eligible to participate in this program.
How much does the program cost?
The cost of the program is $310. For this cost, participants may take up to three credits and must complete all coursework prior to May 27, 2010. No tuition waiver is available..
What online courses are available?
The following table provides a list of all available OPTG program courses. Successful completion of each course will earn the participant 1.0 credit, except for the Algebra I-A and I-B courses which will earn participants .05 credits each.
| English | Mathematics | Science | Social Studies |
| English I (Gr. 9) | Algebra I-A * | Earth Science | World History |
| English II * (Gr. 10) | Algebra I-B * | Physical Science | U.S. History |
| English III (Gr. 11) | Algebra II | Biology * | |
| English IV (Gr. 12) | Geometry | Chemistry | |
| Precalculus |
* For participants who have passed the Maryland HSA; for credit recovery only
When and where are onsite classes scheduled?
Participants in this program access their classes online from any location with an internet connection. Participants must attend the first class session to review online course expectations. The OPTG program support classes will be offered four days a week from 5:30 p.m.–7:10 p.m. English and social studies optional instructional support classes will be offered on Mondays and Wednesdays; mathematics and science optional instructional support classes will be offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Telephone support is available weekdays from 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. All final assessments must be completed onsite.
All onsite sessions will be offered at the Center for Technology Innovation, 4 Choke Cherry Road, Rockville, Maryland.
What are the advantages of the Online Pathway to Graduation Program?
The program will offer the following opportunities for participants to:
- Work at their own pace, with support from a content specialist who is present in the computer classroom
- Access support from the course provider
- Earn from 0.5 to three credits for graduation to meet high school academic credit requirements
How do I find out more about the Online Pathway to Graduation Program?
For additional information about courses needed to graduate, call the Counseling Office at the high school you last attended or call 301-279-3134
Updated October 2, 2009 | Maintained by Web Services
