Our mission is to provide you with answers to all your questions, regarding your online learning needs. We have compiled answers to questions that our students have come across in the past, to help you find answers at the tip of your fingers (literally!). However, we are always available, if you need to talk to someone in person, to get your questions answered.
If you plan on working on the courses at home, you need to have access to a computer at home.
We realize that online learning can raise fears about online predators. This is why we make our courses password-protected and secure. We encourage parental involvement and partner with both students and parents to keep and maintain a safe online learning experience. Strong parenting coupled with educating students of the risks of online predators remains vital and essential.
We take online bullying very seriously. The best way to protect against online bullying is to NOT share the student password with ANYONE other than parent or guardian. If you suspect your account is being hacked, then immediately change the password. If this does not solve the problem, then please contact Red Comet immediately to report the problem.
In order for students to complete a Red Comet course, we expect them to spend at least 80 to 90 percent of their time on the computer. The rest of the time may be spent reading outside literature that is readily available at local libraries and schools. Computers help us provide you with effective assessment, planning, and time-management tools. Computers also act as powerful teaching tools that can motivate, stimulate, and inform students about the world around them. This is why we use a unique multimedia approach that also includes reading books as well as going through various educational websites and pertinent videos on the internet.
Some basic skills are required. Use of the computer is an important part of the program. The program is user-friendly.
Red Comet courses are not specifically designed for ESL (English as Second Language) learners. However, students work at their own pace on the courses. Red Comet works for students who need extra time to master a subject, as well as those who learn quickly
Red Comet teachers can make accommodations for students with special needs and will work with the students’ case manager at their resident school. Students / Parents / Schools must submit proof of IEP documentation in order to be eligible for any type of accommodations.
Gifted students can access higher grade courses or Advanced Placement (AP) courses.
Red Comet offers the following subjects:
Any student in grades 6-12 who is eligible to attend a public or private school may take courses at Red Comet. Home schooled students take Red Comet courses as well. If you are attending a public / private school, please ensure your school approves your taking courses at Red Comet.
Red Comet also offers several middle school courses. Advanced middle school students may be allowed to enroll in some of the high school courses or electives with permission from the school that they are currently attending.
Yes, you earn credits for Red Comet courses upon successful completion of all course requirements. We do not award partial credits for incomplete courses.
If you are a student enrolled in a private high school in WA State or are a homeschooled student in WA State, then you may be eligible for tuition-free Red Comet courses. If you are a student enrolled in a public high school in WA State, then you may have to pay to take Red Comet courses (unless they are paid through separate school / district funds).
For students in ALL other states (except WA State) – Yes – students will have to pay for Red Comet courses.
Please go to our Course Catalog to choose the courses that you need. At check-out time, you will be informed about the prices for the various courses that you have chosen. At that point, you can decide if you want to go ahead with your order or not.
Red Comet offers core, AP and elective courses year-round. For a full listing, please Click Here to view our course catalog.
Yes. Red Comet will continue to offer all courses even in summer.
You will have 4 months (120 days) from the date of registering in which you must complete the course. If you do not complete the course in 120 days, you will not receive a grade for this course. After 120 days, you will be denied access to the course material – including the assignments and essays that you had completed as part of the coursework.
If you want to re-take the course, you must re-register and pay for the course again. You will have to fulfill all course requirements all over again.
Virtually all PCs will run Red Comet courses, but we have listed system requirements just in case.
Red Comet uses Agilix Buzz® which supports the following browsers:
Students may study course material on iPads, iPhones and other mobile devices. However, when it is time to take the final tests / submit final essays & assignments, we require that the students log in from a regular computer / laptop (Recommended browser – Chrome).
Dialup Internet Connections – (not recommended)
Red Comet does not support dialup connections and strongly recommends DSL or cable Internet connections.
Headsets – (highly recommended)
To provide the best online learning experience for the student, it is recommended that noise-cancelling headsets be used. Red Comet recommends the LogicTech ClearChat Comfort USB headset. These headsets can be found at various stores or Online for under $30.
Be involved with their learning! Encourage them to develop a schedule for working on their courses. Help them set aside a specific time each day when they can focus on Red Comet courses. If this time slot is the same every day, it helps set the routine for your student and you will see good progress. Make a list of assignments / essays / modules that must be completed by certain specific dates – this will give your student a timeline that he/she can follow. Discuss assignments with your students. Share in their learning. Celebrate their success. Each week, log into the Red Comet site as a parent and check your student’s progress in each enrolled course. Contact teachers if you have questions. Contact Red Comet staff if you have concerns.
Red Comet staff and teachers encourage and appreciate parent communication. The Red Comet issued login id is the best vehicle for communicating regarding your concerns / questions. Phone calls are also effective means of communication when you have a question.
Parents can monitor student progress by checking online and seeing what portion of the course the student has completed. Parents may also communicate with their student’s teacher(s) / Red Comet staff to check the student’s progress.
For students who are enrolled in public or private schools, a PDF version of the final grades will be sent to the registrar at the resident public / private school in which your student is enrolled. Your registrar may then issue a final transcript or use Red Comet’s transcript. If you are a home-schooled student, then a PDF version of the transcript will be sent to the parent/guardian. If the parent requests for a printed copy to be mailed, then the transcript will be mailed via US Mail to the home address of the parent/guardian.
Students must work with academic counselors at their public or private school to decide on which courses they must enroll in.
Yes, a student enrolled in your school can register for courses on Red Comet if your school will accept credits from Red Comet.
If your school is a private high school in WA State, then your student can enroll in Red Comet courses and may qualify for tuition-free courses.
The student/parent or your school will have to pay for the course.
Red Comet offers core, AP (Advanced Placement) and elective courses. For a full listing, please see our online Course Catalog.
Students may enroll in Red Comet courses for original credit, credit retrieval or to better their grades. However, please keep in mind that Red Comet does not offer a separate version of courses for credit recovery. Students needing credit recovery will have to enroll in the original credit version of the course and successfully complete the course to receive a transcript. For a full listing, please see our online Course Catalog.
Red Comet courses are written at the identified grade span reading level. Our program allows special needs students to work at their own pace and complete the course work. Red Comet teachers will make the necessary accommodations (those that are possible in an online environment) to assist students with special needs to successfully complete the coursework. These accommodations include extending timelines to complete the coursework, and providing tests on paper format (tests must be administered by a proctor). Some Red Comet courses have podcast audio files. For these select courses, students can access the Podcast file on site or download to listen to offline. In the past, students with special needs (autism, ADD, ADHD, visually-impaired, hearing-challenged, impairments due to substance abuse, etc.) have successfully completed their coursework on the Red Comet platform.
Please do bear in mind that Red Comet teachers are not endorsed in special education and students with an IEP must continue to work with their case manager at their resident school to meet the objectives of the IEP. Students / Parents / Schools must submit proof of IEP documentation in order to be eligible for any type of accommodations.
No, the course material is not available off-site; however, most courses allow you to print one page at a time.
When a student successfully completes a course, Red Comet will email a “Course Grade Report” to the school (usually to the Registrar.) The Report contains information regarding the final grade and credit earned. Only upon special request will the Grade Report be sent via US Mail to the school.
Please Contact Us so that we may address all your questions. You may also call us on the toll free number: 1-888-730-1101.
Yes - you definitely have the option. Please contact us so that we can understand all your requirements and deliver a solution that fully addresses your needs.
Red Comet may accept a student who has been expelled or has a long-term suspension. These students will be treated as home-schooled students.
No. Under no circumstance will Red Comet allow a student to re-take a test UNLESS there is undisputed proof that a technical error caused the test to shut down (resulting in lower scores.) All grades are final. Essays, assignments and other key course requirements will be excused only in the case of IEP Accommodations. Students without a formal IEP will NOT be excused from completing essays, assignments and other key course requirements.
Prior to starting course work, Students must read and ‘accept’ the Written Student Learning Plan prior to starting the course. The Written Student Learning Plan clearly outlines the syllabus and other course requirements.
In order to receive credit, all courses require the student to complete the following as part of course work:
Complete all assignments, essays and projects as part of the coursework. Please refer to the grading policy to figure out what you need to complete to get your final scores. Go to your grade book to keep track of your scores.
The school must approve the student to register in a Red Comet course.
We need a school contact with whom we can stay in touch; we will send updates on the student’s progress and contact you in case of non-progress.
No - our platform is web-based. You do not need any special software to access our system. You just need a working computer and reliable high bandwidth connection.
Red Comet verifies all student submissions for plagiarism. We verify the student’s submissions against ALL content available on the internet + previous student submissions. If we detect plagiarism, then we will zero out the scores and send a warning to the student and the school contact. Upon repeat plagiarized submissions, student will be suspended from the course. Student may not resume work until s/he follows the intervention procedures.
Students may take as many courses as they need as long as your school approves. If you are taking tuition-free (state-funded) courses from Red Comet, then you may take a maximum of 4 courses at any given time.
Your students can get started as soon as we receive all necessary student information (student name, email id, DOB). We will also need to know how to invoice you/collect payment for the course. For students who are paying for the course (or if your school is paying for the course), then the student may start the course anytime during the calendar year. Red Comet will enroll the student and send an Orientation email within 24-48 hours of receiving the order. Students may start as soon as they receive the Orientation email with instructions.
Students who will be enrolling in the tuition-free program at Red Comet must fill out all the necessary forms and submit the Choice Transfer Request to their local school district. These students will be enrolled in their courses ONLY after we receive the necessary approvals from the students’ local school district. The tuition-free program is offered ONLY during the school year (and not summer) and is offered in 2 sessions – Fall session and Winter session. Students must start and complete their courses on the given dates.
Yes - our online system is available 24/7.
Each course also has a navigation module, which provides details on course layout etc.
Teachers receive many emails each day so they strive to reply to students needing help and answering questions within 24 to 48 hours during the school week while correcting and returning assignments within 5 business days.
Students will rarely send assignments via email. Most assignments are turned in through web tools provided on our online platform. On occasion, a student may need to submit work in formats other than a text response (for example PDF) This depends entirely on the subject matter dealt with in the course.
No - students are not required to visit the Red Comet office. All questions can be answered via phone or email.
No - students can do most of their work at home or at another location.
The student can login from the school computer. When school is closed, the student can log in from a public library or a community center. Alternately, the student can also work from a friend / mentor’s home. All work will be saved on the Red Comet platform. The student can continue his/her work from different locations.
Students are responsible for contacting the Red Comet at 1-888-730-1101 for assistance. Computer problems do not excuse the student from required work so it is very important to seek solutions for technical problems immediately. If the problem cannot wait, the student can also call our toll-free number to seek assistance. Technical support will be available from 9:00 to 5:00 Mondays to Fridays (Pacific Standard Time).
Students can communicate with the teacher on our Learning Management Platform. Students can also contact their Red Comet teacher by sending an email. These emails will be answered within 24-48 hours. Students may also call our toll free phone (1-888-730-1101) and leave a message for the teacher to return the call. This information is posted in the Getting Started section of every Red Comet course.
Students can get academic help from their teachers at school. However, if students have questions on the tests, essay prompts or submissions, then they must direct these questions to the Red Comet teacher.
Please contact us if you want your teachers to grade your students' submissions. This cannot be done for individual students who enroll but if you have more than 25 students enrolling in Red Comet courses, then we can discuss options with you.
No – this cannot be done UNLESS you have a separate sub-domain that we create for you. We will create a separate sub-domain if you have at least 25 students enrolled at any given time. In this case, your school must issue the transcript & credit to students.
The best way to contact a teacher is on the Learning Management Platform or via email. Teachers will respond to the students' email and clarify any questions / issues the student has.
Students can turn in their assignments as soon as they complete them. We do not put any time restrictions on the submission of assignments.
Students can turn in their essays / compositions as soon as they complete them. We do not put any time restrictions on the submission of essays.
NO - this is seriously discouraged. Students are encouraged to take tests as and when they finish studying the different sections.
All tests are online. For most courses, you must type your essay/composition and take the final test online.
For some of the elective/enrichment courses, you will have an option of typing your work on your computer and uploading a file to the site.
For some elective courses (like Foreign Languages/Arts / Music / Physical Education), you will need to scan or record your work and upload a PDF file, Audio file etc. to the site.
For most courses, students will type their answers in a dropbox provided for each assignment on the site.
Students will have 120 days (about 4 months) to complete the course.
Yes - if the student is not enrolled in the Tuition Free program.
No. A student needs to put in at least 75 hours of study and work time to complete a course. Please note that most students complete a Red Comet course in 3 to 4 month time.
Students will receive a transcript only when they have successfully completed all course requirements and have passed the course.
Yes - there will be time extensions ONLY if there is a valid reason (illness, accident, family issues, unforeseen circumstances, etc.)
We do not have courses that are categorized as credit retrieval. Once student completes all course requirements and successfully passes the course, the student will receive credit for the course.
A student has about 16 weeks to complete the course. It would be ideal if a student can devote 5 hours a week OR an hour each weekday on the course. This will ensure steady progress.
All our courses require about the same amount of work. It does not matter if the student registers for our courses during the school year or during the summer session.
The student can take as many courses as he can handle and as many as the school approves.
Not necessarily. The prices for our courses are published in our course catalog. Occasionally, we will run some special discounts which you can make use of.
We do not offer refunds. The student / parent must ensure that this is the right program for them before they enroll in a Red Comet course.
Red Comet AP courses, by design, have more academic rigor than a regular catalog subject area course. Expectations for student submission and responses to questions are significantly higher than an ordinary subject area course without the AP designation. Rubrics are embedded within the course to guide teachers and students toward the level of understanding expected to be successful on the College Board AP exam.
To answer the above questions, we have to look at the differences between online and in-person courses.
There are two significant differences between taking an online AP course versus the classroom version. First, most, if not all, classroom models involve teachers who are AP certified. Universities have special training programs to certify AP instructors, and many schools require anyone teaching an AP course to be AP certified. This certification is in addition to state teaching endorsements. Online teachers may or may not hold this advanced training. In a classroom environment, AP certified teachers teach the lessons, while in an online environment, the student engages in self-paced learning.
Next, students enrolled in classroom AP courses many times are selected based on a set of criteria that includes pre-testing and or teacher recommendations. This type of selection ensures that students have the necessary skillset and discipline required to succeed in an AP environment. In contrast, the enrollment process for online students depends on the honor system. In an online environment, the enrolled students may or may not be suited for working in an AP course. Because of this, we often see a higher than average dropout rate in AP courses (when compared to regular core courses) before course completion.
Completing an AP course through Red Comet does not of itself count towards advanced college credit. However, students can take it for high school credit or if they want to take the College Board AP test (that awards advanced college credit).
Ultimately, successfully passing a Red Comet AP course will improve students’ chances of successfully passing the College Board AP exam. However, enrolling in the Red Comet AP course cannot guarantee success in the College Board AP tests.
In conclusion, just like online courses in core areas are not for every student, we can say the same for online AP courses. Online AP courses are not for everyone, and students and parents must ultimately decide to enroll in one.
