​The Library of Virginia has just announced that it will expand its partnership with Career Online High School (COHS) to the Richmond Public Library, Handley Regional Library, and Rockbridge Regional Library. This means that adult residents in Frederick, Clarke, Bath, and Rockbridge counties, as well as the cities of Winchester, Lexington, and Buena Vista, can now earn a high school diploma at no cost them.

“The Library of Virginia is dedicated to supporting lifelong learning for all,” said Nan Carmack, Director of Library Development and Networking. “We are excited to offer this opportunity, as well.”

A leader in adult high school education, COHS has been delivered in select Virginia libraries since 2016. Recognizing the program’s economic impact and societal value in cities like Chesapeake where it is currently offered, the state library decided to grow the program to additional regions. 

“This is a wonderful program to support our vision of being an exceptional place to live, learn, and work,” said City Manager Christopher Price at a recent Chesapeake Public Library graduation ceremony. “We work to recruit companies to come here….They want a talented workforce, an educated workforce—and getting that diploma is critical. Congratulations on behalf of a grateful city. We look forward to you deploying your talents in our city for many years to come.”

“You’ve talked about the impact this will have on your own life but don’t forget the impact you have on this entire room of people,” added Chesapeake Public Library Director Amanda Jackson. “You are like a pebble in the water making ripples that go on further than you will ever know.” 

According to the 2020 US Census Bureau report, over 835,000 Virginia adults age 25+ lack a high school diploma, making it difficult for them to advance their education or career. The impact of increasing Virginia’s graduation rate in terms of earnings, contribution, and postsecondary enrollment is illustrated in this Alliance for Excellent Education infographic.

In addition to the high school diploma, students earn a workforce certificate in one of 10 career paths. COHS provides a flexible online classroom, extensive support services, and personal academic coaches to help them succeed. Upon graduation, 76% of students intend to matriculate into postsecondary education in community colleges, state universities, and vocational programs.

“Libraries offer a safe, supportive environment to foster learning and community. Our online education program for adults is a natural extension of library services that empower adults to learn and grow,” said COHS Superintendent of Schools Dr. Howard Liebman. “COHS students can receive support from library staff as well as from our academic coaches. Together, they help students achieve their goals.”

To learn more about the program in Virginia, including how to enroll and available scholarship opportunities, visit va.careeronlinehs.org.

The Library of Virginia is one of the oldest agencies of Virginia government, founded in 1823 to preserve and provide access to the state’s incomparable printed and manuscript holdings. Its collection, which has grown steadily through the years, is the most comprehensive resource in the world for the study of Virginia history, culture, and government with over 130 million items in the collections. The Library also engages the public through in-person and virtual events, education programs, and online resources that reach nearly 4 million individuals each year throughout the commonwealth and beyond. The Library also supports Virginia public libraries by providing consulting, programs, and learning resources, as well as managing financial support as funded by the General Assembly. Learn more at www.lva.virginia.gov.  

COHS is part of Smart Horizons Career Online Education, the world’s first accredited online school district. COHS was designed to reengage adults and older youth in the education system and prepare them for the workplace or postsecondary education. The program includes a vocational certificate in career pathways such as home care professional, childcare, office management, security professional, commercial driving, retail customer service, food services, hospitality, manufacturing, and general career preparation. COHS is currently available through scholarships in more than 2,000 library locations throughout the U.S. To date, over 13,500 students have graduated from the district. For more information, visit www.shcoe.org.  

Our team has decades of experience assisting organizations in delivering their training online. Our Learning Management Platform, NexPort, is trusted by Fortune 500 Companies and educational institutions, managing millions of enrollments. NexPort is a high availability, cloud based service that allows our partners to host one or many campuses. NexPort Analytics allows in-depth analysis of student behavior and progress while NexPort Campus allows partners to manage students, instructors, and curriculum for online delivery. To learn more about what we can do for your organization contact us today.

For 43-year-old Marvin Sandoval, the journey to earning his high school diploma started in his home country of Guatemala. When he left home to follow in the footsteps of his older brothers and immigrate to the United States, Marvin was just 17—and had not been to school in a number of years.

“In Guatemala, education is only free through middle school,” Marvin says. “I am the youngest of nine sons; my family did not have money to pay for my studies.”

Soon after arriving in the U.S., Marvin found employment with McDonald’s—a company he’s proud to still work for more than 25 years later.

Education that works for the full-time employee
During that time, completing his high school education was never far from Marvin’s mind. Yet, many of the avenues he explored felt more like dead ends. “I pursued various adult education opportunities, including the GED, but I struggled to complete them while working.”

Through a McDonald’s restaurant employee benefit, Marvin enrolled in Career Online High School (COHS). “COHS was the perfect solution,” he says. “The program allowed me to juggle work and family—and complete assignments at my own pace.”

Finding success through academic support
Flexibility is just one of the aspects of COHS that helped Marvin achieve his academic goals. He also credits both his manager at McDonald’s and his COHS Academic Coach with helping him stay motivated throughout his program.

“My COHS coach was so supportive, always sending me messages of encouragement,” he says. “She would tell me: ‘Even though it feels like no one is watching, I am here.’ Those messages kept the fire in me.”

Completing his degree wasn’t without its challenges. Marvin often felt like he was starting his education from scratch, having no school records or transfer credits to build upon. He recalls the many nights he’d fall asleep with his computer on his chest, exhausted from working but eager to stay on the path to graduation.

He persevered—and his hard work paid off. He completed all 18 credits, four months ahead of schedule. “Looking back, I know my coach’s support made all the difference.”

A stepping stone to what comes next
Today, not only is Marvin a valued area supervisor for five McDonald’s restaurants, he’s a proud graduate of the COHS program.

“Earning my high school diploma has given me a sense of purpose and accomplishment. Next, I plan to continue my education with a focus on criminal justice.”

And as for Marvin’s family? “My 83-year-old mother is my inspiration—she learned to read at the age of 63,” he shares. “She’s so proud to hang my graduation photo on her wall for everyone to see.”

​Smart Horizons Career Online High School (SHCOHS) is part of the world’s first accredited private, national online school district. SHCOHS offers affordable, career-based online high schools that serve adults and young adults who need high school diplomas in order to access better career and educational opportunities. The SHCOHS is a NexPort Solutions Partner and their program is managed and delivered using the NexPort Learning Management Platform.

​Our team has decades of experience assisting organization in delivering their training online. Our Learning Management Platform, NexPort, is trusted by Fortune 500 Companies and educational institutions, managing millions of enrollments. NexPort is a high availability, cloud based service that allows our partners to host one or many campuses. NexPort Analytics allows in-depth analysis of student behavior and progress while NexPort Campus allows partners to manage students, instructors, and curriculum for online delivery. To learn more about what we can do for your organization contact us today.

EMPLOYEES GAIN ACCESS TO ACCREDITED HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA PROGRAM
Kroger, America’s largest grocery retailer, has partnered with Career Online High School, a NexPort Solutions Partner, to provide online education for Kroger’s nearly half a million employees. The program is offered through Kroger’s education assistance program, Feed Your Future, and will be rolled out initially to their Fred Meyer and KingSoopers brands, as well as eight Kroger divisions across the U.S.

The Kroger program is hosted and delivered using the NexPort Learning Platform and  joins other leading organizations, including McDonald’s, Hilton, Goodwill Industries, Checker’s & Rally’s, Hopdoddy Burger Bar, and First Watch, in delivering education and upskilling opportunities to employees through the NexPort Learning Platform.

You can read the full announcement here.

About Kroger

At The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), we are Fresh for Everyone™ and dedicated to our Purpose: To Feed the Human Spirit®. We are, across our family of companies, nearly half a million associates who serve over 11 million customers daily through a seamless shopping experience under a variety of banner names. We are committed to creating #ZeroHungerZeroWaste communities by 2025. To learn more about us, visit our newsroom and investor relations site.

About Career Online High School
Founded in 2009, Smart Horizons Career Online High School (COHS) is the world’s first private accredited online school district. SHCOE offers online high school diploma programs designed to re-engage adults and older youth in the educational system and prepare them for the workplace or postsecondary education. The high school program includes a vocational certificate in career pathways such as home care professional, child care, office management, certified protection officer, homeland security, commercial driving, retail customer service, food services, hospitality, and general career preparation. For more information, visit https://smarthorizonsonline.org/​.

Employees at corporate-owned locations of the national drive-thru restaurant franchise can now earn a diploma and entry-level workforce certificate through Career Online High School and access English language learning

Checkers & Rally’s Restaurants, an iconic and innovative drive-thru restaurant chain known for its exceptional value, people-first attitude and “Crazy Good Food,” has announced an expansion of the ed2go Career Online High School (COHS) program and myTimeENGLISH (MTE) online ESL program to employees nationwide.

The Career Online High School (COHS) program is hosted and delivered through the NexPort Learning Platform. Thanks to Checkers & Rally's partnership with the COHS, eligible employees at all corporate-owned U.S. locations can now earn an accredited high school diploma, along with a workforce training certificate in fields such as food services, customer service, hospitality and general career preparation.

Checkers & Rally’s is one of a growing number of companies, including Hilton, Goodwill and First Watch, partnering with ed2go, part of Cengage, to offer education and upskilling opportunities to employees utilizing the NexPort Learning Platform and the COHS curriculum. Benefits like COHS and MTE can help improve employee retention, reduce turnover, enhance the ability to promote from within and increase return on educational investment.

You can read the full announcement here.

About Checkers & Rally’s Restaurants, Inc.
Based in Tampa, Fla., Checkers & Rally’s Restaurants, Inc., an iconic and innovative drive-thru restaurant chain known for its “Crazy Good Food,” exceptional value, and people-first attitude, operates and franchises both Checkers® and Rally’s® restaurants. With nearly 900 restaurants and room to grow, Checkers & Rally’s is a proven brand with flexible building formats that is aggressively expanding across the country. Checkers & Rally’s is dedicated to being a place where franchisees and employees who work hard can create opportunities for themselves, their families, and their communities. In recent years, the brand has earned several of the industry’s most prestigious awards including: “#1 Most Craveable Fries” by Restaurant Business; Best Franchise Deal and “Best Drive-Thru in America” by QSR Magazine; Top Food and Beverage Franchise by Franchise Business Review; the “Hot! Again” award from Nation’s Restaurant News and has consistently been ranked on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500.

About Career Online High School
Founded in 2009, Smart Horizons Career Online High School (COHS) is the world’s first private accredited online school district. SHCOE offers online high school diploma programs designed to re-engage adults and older youth in the educational system and prepare them for the workplace or postsecondary education. The high school program includes a vocational certificate in career pathways such as home care professional, child care, office management, certified protection officer, homeland security, commercial driving, retail customer service, food services, hospitality, and general career preparation. For more information, visit https://smarthorizonsonline.org/​
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About myTimeENGLISH
myTimeENGLISH is an easy-to-use, online General English program that empowers learners to achieve their personal language goals on their own, at their own pace. For more information visit NGL.Cengage.com/myTimeENGLISH.

Los Angeles Public Library is the first public library in the United States to offer an accredited vocational high school diploma for their patrons. The Career Online High School program, which is hosted on the NexPort Learning Platform, is now available in all 78 branch locations and 11 literacy centers. Read more ...