Crystal Siblag and Tommy Lumb are the first two Lake County residents, and among the first in the state, to earn accredited high school diplomas through the Career Online High School (COHS) program at the Lake County Library System. Providing a unique opportunity for some of the 13 percent of Lake County adults without high school diplomas, Lake County partnered in December 2015 with Gale, a leading provider of library resources and part of Cengage Learning, to offer the innovative new program which allows students to earn a true high school diploma as opposed to a GED.
“This diploma opens up a lot of future opportunities for me,” said Lumb, 28, of Groveland. “It has given me back much of the confidence I had lost.”
Siblag, 31, of Leesburg, said her Career Online High School degree will allow her to further her education and eventually begin a career in health services.
“I was able to better myself and become a positive example to my family,” she said.
Individuals with a high school diploma earn an annual average of $10,000 more than those without a diploma.
“Public libraries transform communities by providing lifelong learning and enrichment,” said Lake County Commissioner Leslie Campione, liaison to the Library Advisory Board. “Our hope is that by offering this program in Lake County, many local residents will benefit both directly and indirectly.”
In fact, lack of a high school diploma correlates to a greater likelihood of unemployment, living below the poverty level, and incarceration, according to Lake County Library Services Division Director Paul Alford.
“These trends have a huge impact on individuals, families, and our communities. However, we can help reverse these trends by providing educational programs like COHS,” said Alford.
The Lake County Library System awards scholarships for Career Online High School to qualified learners looking to earn a high school diploma and advance their careers. Once enrolled, Career Online High School pairs each student 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 board-certified instructors, and students have around the clock 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.
The Florida Division of Library and Information Services has provided Lake County with $51,800 in scholarships for the program.
Residents can learn more about Career Online High School at one of the 15 Lake County libraries or by visitinghttp://mylakelibrary.org/cohs. For more information or questions, email [email protected] or call 352-253-6180.
The Lake County Library System is dedicated to promoting life-long learning under a cooperative countywide library system; and engaging the community by offering physical and digital content, programs and services critical to education, research and workforce training. For more information about the Lake County Library System or to find out about future programs, call 352-253-6180, or visithttp://mylakelibrary.org or https://www.facebook.com/LakeCountyFLLibrary.