Struggling through high school is a reality for many students across the country. According to recent figures, a student drops out of school every 26 seconds in the US. For many students it isn't that they don't want an education, many are facing obstacles like teenage parenthood, language barriers, or difficult economic situation at home, forcing them to work. Many education leaders have tuned into this, and are looking for alternatives, such as virtual education, to keep struggling students in school.

Credit recovery is one of the fastest growing segments of online learning. Curriculum providers are constantly developing new products that are designed to help struggling students master the material they previously failed. Credit recovery course provider Aventa Learning has designed courses that give students the opportunity to learn important vocabulary terms and definitions in either English or Spanish.

North Carolina Virtual Public School offers struggling students 12 credit-recovery courses, all with a more personalized introductory process, giving students the one-on-one attention they need to feel accustomed to the new system.

The Youth Connection Charter School Virtual High School in Chicago is a fantastic example of credit recovery programs successfully changing the lives of students. The program serves students ages 18-21, who have dropped out of school and need 7 or fewer credits to graduate. Students take virtual courses provided by K12 Inc. and work with certified teachers to complete the credits they need to graduate. Students also attend a learning center at Malcolm X College of Chicago to work on their online courses with the guidance and support of teachers and staff. Students are also able to access their courses outside of the learning center for greater flexibility.

In its first year, 60 students, or 92 percent of eligible students, graduated from the YCCS Virtual High School program. The flexibility these programs provide, along with the strong foundation of support each student receives, puts these former struggling teens on the path to success, and to a more promising future.