Provided by Prince William County
Prince William Public Libraries (PWPL) is offering qualified community members the opportunity to earn an accredited high school diploma and credentialed career certificate. The program is offered through Career Online High School (COHS), brought to public libraries by Gale, a Cengage company. In Prince William County, it is estimated that 40,000 adults – more than 10% of the County’s population – do not have a high school diploma.
“Earning a high school diploma is a life-changing achievement,” said Deborah L. Wright, library director. “By offering Career Online High School, we’re empowering our residents to seek new opportunities and transform their lives.”
PWPL will award scholarships for COHS to qualified learners looking to earn a high school diploma and advance their careers. The first step for interested applicants is to take COHS’s self-assessment. The short online assessment helps to evaluate if the program is right for the potential student and if it will meet their educational and career needs.
Once enrolled, COHS pairs each student with an academic coach. The coach assists with developing an individual career plan, offers ongoing guidance and encouragement, and more. 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, 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 at pwcgov.org/cohs.
