The Lake County Library System is offering qualified Lake County residents the opportunity to earn a free, private, accredited high school diploma and career certificate through the Career Online High School project. Lake County was selected as one of only a few communities throughout the state to participate in the pilot program. The training will be administered by Smart Horizons Career Online Education through a partnership with Gale, a part of Cengage Learning.
Lake County Library System will award 30 scholarships for Career Online High School to qualified residents looking to earn a private high school diploma and advance their careers. The applicants will go through an approval process before being accepted into the program. Once enrolled in Career Online High School, each student is paired with an academic coach who offers ongoing guidance and encouragement, evaluates performance, and connects the learner with the resources needed to demonstrate mastery of the course material. Classes are supported by state board certified instructors, and students have 24/7 access to the online learning platform. Coursework begins in one of eight high-growth, high-demand career fields (across a wide spectrum, from child care and education to certified transportation) before progressing to the core academic subjects. Many students are able to graduate in as few as four to six months by transferring in previously earned high school credits.
“This is a fantastic resource that will be very useful to many Lake County residents, and we’re pleased to be able to participate in this state-wide pilot program,” said Paul Alford, Lake County Library Services Division Manager. “This is one more service to fulfill our mission of facilitating lifelong learning. Offering the Career Online High School through our libraries provides potential students a pathway to success.”
Part of the world’s first accredited, private online school district, Career Online High School is specifically designed to reengage adults into the education system and prepare them for entry into post-secondary career education or the workforce. According to the United States Census Bureau, more than 1.2 million working residents of Florida aged 25 to 44 years of age, or 12.1% of the state’s working-age population, lack high school diplomas.
“We’re delighted to partner with Lake County Library System to offer Career Online High School and give residents access to education and the potential to change their lives,” said Paul Gazzolo, senior vice president and general manager for Gale.
Residents can learn more about Career Online High School at local Lake County libraries or by visiting the library’s website.
For more information or questions, please call (352) 253-6180 or e-mail cohs@lakeline.lib.fl.us.