Niswonger Online
Niswonger Online is an online supplemental course provider supported by the Niswonger Foundation and a consortium of school districts across the state of Tennessee. The Niswonger Foundation is a nonprofit foundation that has been operating in East Tennessee since 2001. The Foundation aims to help prepare students in Tennessee’s rural school systems for the increasingly rigorous education necessary to compete for 21st-century jobs.
In 2010, the Foundation was awarded a Federal i3 Grant and with this, the Niswonger Online program was created to help ‘level the playing field’ for our school systems. As an accredited NCAA-approved provider of online courses, we take pride in offering a diverse range of over 50 general education classes spanning all subject areas.
By enrolling in our courses, students have the opportunity to fulfill required classes online, thereby creating room in their schedules for pursuits such as music, athletics, JROTC, Advanced Placement (AP), or dual enrollment options.
Moreover, Niswonger Online aims to bridge the gap by providing courses that may not be accessible within students’ local schools.
Beyond course access, our platform equips students with essential technology and communication skills vital for success in high school, college, and future endeavors. Our course structure also teaches students the value of time management skills through the asynchronous platform.
Niswonger Online currently serves students in grades 8-12. All Niswonger Online courses are taught by adjunct, Tennessee licensed teachers, and meet all Tennessee state standards.
Niswonger Online Website- https://niswongeronline.com/
Niswonger Online Courses Offered- https://niswongeronline.com/courses/
AP Access for ALL:
AP Access for ALL represents a statewide collaboration between the Tennessee Department of Education and the Niswonger Foundation. The Niswonger Foundation is a non-profit organization that has been active in East Tennessee since 2001. The Foundation’s primary objective is to equip students within rural school systems in Tennessee for the heightened educational demands essential to compete for 21st-century employment opportunities.
In April 2021, the Tennessee Department of Education launched the AP Access for ALL program. The program provides students across the state access to free, AP courses virtually, ultimately eliminating financial barriers and supporting student enrollment in AP coursework not currently offered at their home high school. As a College Board and NCAA-approved online provider, we take pride in offering a diverse selection of 22 Advanced Placement courses spanning all subject areas.
Prior to the inception of AP Access for ALL, only half of Tennessee’s public high school students had the opportunity to enroll in an AP class within their local school. Presently, AP Access for ALL extends its services to 98% of public school systems in Tennessee, delivering 22 online Advanced Placement courses. Currently, the APAA program serves approximately 3,000 students each year with enrollments from over 250 high schools across the state.
“This program demonstrates that every student deserves access to college-level coursework, no matter where they go to school.”
- Lizzette Reynolds, TN Commissioner of Education
All courses are instructed by licensed Tennessee educators who have undergone AP training for their subject area and CanvasLMS training to be effective teachers in the online environment.
Key aspects of AP Access for ALL include:
- Providing students with a head start on college by enabling them to earn college credit and bypass introductory courses while in high school, thereby saving both time and money.
- Covering all online course supplies, instructor fees, and AP exam fees at no cost to schools or students.
- Offering scholarships to nearly 1,000 teachers for attending virtual AP Summer Institute Training, resulting in $600,000 in saved professional development fees for Tennessee schools since 2020.
- Granting over $97,000 to 200+ teachers to support the development or expansion of AP programs at local high schools since 2021.
APAA Website- https://tnapaccessforall.org/
APAA Courses Offered- https://tnapaccessforall.org/course-listing/
