Get your diploma online
Libraries will offer high school courses
“There are a lot of reasons people don’t complete their high school diplomas. We want to give them a second chance.”
Broward County adults who do not have high school diplomas will be able to get them – and some career training – through an online program launching at the public library.
Funded by the state for the first time this year, Career Online High School offers accredited high school degrees and career certificates. Enrolled students take all their courses online with the support of an academic coach.
The Broward County Library system is one of 11 in the state to pilot the program. It will provide full scholarships for 75 county residents to complete their degrees and certificates through the program, which normally would normally cost about $1,300.
“There are a lot of reasons people don’t complete their high school diplomas,” said Vonda Ward Byrant, learning services coordinator for the library system. “We want to give them a second chance.” Vonda Ward Byrant, library learning services
coordinator
The creators of Career Online High School say it is more effective than the GED because it involves taking courses instead of just tests. It also includes career training they say could open more doors.
Certificates are available in eight fields ranging from child care and education to office management. Students start the program by declaring a major and taking career courses, then move on to high school courses like math, English and social studies.
“There aren’t as many night schools as there used to be and besides that there’s just the GED,” said Howard Liebman, founder of the Smart Horizons Career Online Education, the Pensacola-based company that helped create the program.
“That’s good for some people that are comfortable taking tests and they can take these five tests and get their high school equivalency. We wanted to focus on folks for whom the GED wouldn’t work.”
The program requires students to be at least 19 years old, have completed at least ninth grade and hold a library card. It takes up to 18 months, with courses available online to provide flexibility for