The Conejo Valley Unified School District board unanimously approved a program to offer online classes for high schoolers who want a new way to earn college credits.

The pilot program will begin this summer.

"We're going to try it out," said Jeff Davis, CVUSD's director of secondary education. "We're looking at about 55 students (per class), but we could go a little larger if we need to."

Health education, honors psychology and honors sociology are the three classes that will be offered for $175 each. The classes will be created and monitored by CVUSD teachers, who will be trained to teach online courses. Students will also need to attend a training session before beginning the class.

Davis said teachers will meet with their students three times during the course of the class: on the first day of school and at the midterm and final exams.

The courses will be offered through University of California College Prep and are University of California and California State University approved.

UCCP courses are free to California school districts until June 2010 with the understanding that the district will provide usage data and basic student information for UCCP to report to its state funding partner. Information is only reviewed by approved UCCP personnel, Davis said.

Class fees will be used to pay the teachers giving the courses.

Information on when and how to sign up for the classes will be on the CVUSD website in February.

Visit www.conejo.k12.ca.us for more information.