Partnership With the New Jersey State Library System Represents the First Statewide Implementation of Career Online High School
Several public libraries throughout New Jersey are offering residents the opportunity to earn accredited high school diplomas and credentialed career certificates through Career Online High School, a program brought to libraries by Gale and Smart Horizons Career Online Education and arranged locally through the New Jersey State Library (NJSL), an affiliate of Thomas Edison State College. Qualified residents will be able to earn a high school diploma completely online and gain valuable career skills.
Thanks to a Literacy Innovations grant awarded to the State Library by New Jersey’s Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the following libraries are making the program available for free to residents:
- Camden County Library System
- Elizabeth Public Library
- Long Branch Free Public Library
- Scotch Plains Public Library
- Somerset County Library System
- Trenton Free Public Library
Currently, there are nearly 700,000 adults in New Jersey aged 25 and over who lack a high school diploma or equivalent, almost 12 percent of the state’s population. 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.
“This innovative project is the latest step in the transformation of public libraries in the digital age into full-fledged community resources,” said Mary Chute, New Jersey State Librarian in a press release announcing the launch of the program. “New Jersey’s libraries are committed to supporting the development of a well-educated and well-trained workforce, which will enable New Jersey’s employers to compete in the global market.”
The libraries will award scholarships for Career Online High School to qualified learners. 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 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 4 to 6 months by transferring in previously earned high school credits. Seats are limited and restrictions apply.
“One of our main goals is to re-engage disenfranchised individuals in need of a high school diploma back into the educational system,” stated Dr. Howard Liebman, founder and CEO of Smart Horizons Career Online Education. “Teaming with the New Jersey State Library System to offer hundreds of thousands of library patrons across New Jersey the ability to earn an accredited high school diploma represents another major step towards that goal.”
New Jersey residents interested in the Career Online High School program should visit www.njstatelib.org/yourdiploma.
About The New Jersey State Library
The New Jersey State Library has four bureaus: the State Library Information Center (SLIC), Lifelong Learning (LLL), Library Support Services (LSS) and the NJ State Library Talking Book & Braille Center (TBBC). The State Library connects people with information through its service to libraries, government and people with special needs. The State Library, which is affiliated with Thomas Edison State College, coordinates, promotes and funds the New Jersey Library Network, of which we are a proud member. Last year, attendance in New Jersey’s public libraries was well over 51 million with total circulation of almost 64 million, an increase of almost 6 million. For more information, visit http://www.njstatelib.org.
About Cengage Learning and ed2go
Cengage Learning is a leading educational content, software and services company for the academic, professional and library markets worldwide. ed2go, part of Cengage Learning, is the largest provider of turnkey online training and education solutions serving the adult education, career, and corporate training markets. With over 2,000 colleges, universities, community based organizations and other training providers, ed2go has served more than 2.5 million students. ed2go’s ever-growing catalog of Online Courses and Career Training Programs makes it simple for students to enrich their lives or reach professional goals in a supportive and engaging environment. ed2go also can help educational institutions jump-start their online education programs or augment existing distance learning options. For more information visit www.cengage.com or www.ed2go.com.