Career online high school available free to residents

Earn accredited private high school diploma through St. Petersburg Library System

ST. PETERSBURG –Residents now can earn an accredited private high school diploma online through the St. Petersburg Library System. As a member of the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative, St. Petersburg is offering qualified community members the opportunity to earn an accredited private high school diploma and credentialed career certificate through Career Online High School, a program brought to public libraries by the state of Florida and Gale, a part of Cengage Learning.

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. Currently, more than 23,000 adults in St. Petersburg lack a high school degree or equivalent.

The St. Petersburg Library System will award scholarships for Career Online High School to qualified learners looking to earn a private high school diploma and advance their careers. Once enrolled, Career Online High School pairs each student with an academic coach, who assists with developing an individual career plan, 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 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. Students are able to graduate in as few as six months by transferring in previously earned high school credits but are given up to 18 months to complete the program.

Residents can learn more about Career Online High School at any St. Petersburg library or by visiting the library’s Web site, www.splibraries.org/COHS. Other Pinellas residents can learn more about the program and find a library offering the program near them by visiting www.pplc.us/ ohs.shtml.

For more information or questions, contact Angela Falsey, Adult Services Coordinator, St. Petersburg Main Library at 727-892-5295.

The St. Petersburg Library System is pleased to offer this program as a part of its Community Development Initiative, a method to enhance the provision of resources, services and programs focused on the education, economy, ecology, equity, efficiency and engagement of our community.

About your St. Petersburg library

St. Petersburg’s Library System provides library resources to meet the educational, recreational, cultural, intellectual and social needs of its diverse community. It operates seven community libraries, including the Main Library, North Community Library, South Community Library, West Community Library, Johnson Community Library, Mirror Lake Community Library and a micro-library at Childs Park.

For more information, visit www.splibraries.org.