History of COHS
Career Online High School (COHS) was founded by Dr. Howard Liebman in 2009, borne out of a need to provide a high school education and career training for adults and older youth who have dropped out of high school. Liebman, with co-founder Steve Webley, founded the first online high school district, seeking to serve adult learners wanting to re-engage in the educational system. The COHS program seeks to serve students with a history of educational trauma – those who left school because of educational challenges or personal circumstances beyond their control.
The program was originally conceived and offered within the context of companies as a continuing education opportunity for employees. In 2014, the program then expanded to public libraries. This partnership with public libraries offered a way for community members to become re-engaged in the educational system, explore new careers and opportunities to move on to higher education. Today, the program operates in over 150 library systems across the US.
COHS at Richland Library
In November 2018, Richland Library launched the Career Online High School (COHS) program, which is a national program accredited by COGNIA and managed by Smart Horizons. This program is free for Richland County residents who are 21 and older and have a Richland Library card.
In addition to obtaining a diploma, the online program helps prepare students for careers, whether they are entering the workplace for the first time or wanting to advance in their current places of employment. Students may choose a Career Certificate course from one of the following 10 high-growth, high-demand career fields and complete coursework to develop the skills and knowledge that employers are looking for:
Child Care
Introduction to Commercial Driving
Food and Hospitality
General Career Prep
Home Care Professional
Hospitality and Leisure
Office Management
Retail Customer Services Skills
Security Professional
Introduction to Manufacturing
Here are the steps to get started:
Step 1: Take the online Readiness Survey on the Richland Library Website: https://www.richlandlibrary.com/services/earn-your-high-school-diploma
Step 2: Enroll in and complete a prerequisite course in two weeks or less.
Step 3: Potential students will be contacted by a COHS team member to schedule an interview to share more information about the program and enrollment process.
Since the program's launch at Richland Library in 2018, and as of May 2023, 68 students have graduated from this program, and 5 Graduation ceremonies have been held. Currently, there are 33 active students, including 6 students who have completed 75% of the program and are expected to graduate in the next few months.
Graduation and Beyond
Although Career Online High School students may have taken a non-traditional path to earning their high school diploma, the achievement of their goals is celebrated with the traditional graduation ceremony, complete with cap and gown, and lots of smiles and tears from proud families and friends.
Graduates are ready to advance in a career or pursue further school/training. In addition to their accredited high school diploma, each graduate also receives a credentialed career certificate in one of ten high-growth, high-demand career fields. These certificates assist in employment as they demonstrate that these students have been introduced to new skills for the job they’re seeking.
Why is earning a high school diploma important?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Career Outlook in May 2023:
- In 2022, people without a high school diploma had the highest unemployment rate (5.5 percent) among those at all education levels, with unemployment rates decreasing as education increased.
- Workers whose highest level of education was a high school diploma made just over 25 percent more than those who didn’t finish high school—and earnings improved with every level of education completed.
Authors:
Phillip Windsor, Business and Careers Librarian
Janet Hatch, Business and Careers Librarian
Diane Luccy, Business and Careers Manager
