Posted January 12, 2016
By Leslie Postal, Orlando Sentinel
High school dropouts can turn to libraries in Lake, Orange Counties for free help earning diplomas
没有高中外交院的成年人橙子and Lake Counties now have a new way to finish school, courtesy of their public libraries.
县中的图书馆系统是佛罗里达州的11个参加了一个试点计划，为职业生涯的在线高中提供了全面的奖学金，这是一个帮助辍学的计划获得其文凭。
奥兰治县公共图书馆有74 scholarships to hand out, each enough to cover the program’s $1,300 cost. The Lake County Library System has 30.
The online high school program, started in 2010, boasts it is the first online, accredited private high school in the country. Its program offers online classes through libraries around the country, including some in California, Colorado and Illinois.
In Central Florida, both libraries were tapped in December by the State Library of Florida to take part in the new program, so they have just begun talking to potential students. But library officials say providing adults a way to earn high school diplomas fits with their missions, as they already offer many classes and services meant to help residents gain skills.
Three would-be students in Lake already have inquired about the program, which can be done on computer at home or at the library. All three are parents, in their 30s and 40s.
“他们都希望回去获得文凭，因此他们可以为自己的孩子提供更好的工作，并且是一个好的榜样，为自己的孩子，图书馆的成年扫盲计划协调员。
The online high school, and its promise of a diploma from an accredited school, appeals more to some than a GED, which they think has a stigma of being a not-quite-real diploma, she said.
该计划要求学生每周花费八到10个小时的课程工作。根据有多少学分参与者已经拥有，它可能需要五到18个月才能完成。
“This is really like going back to school,” said Donna Bachowski, reference central manager for the Orange library.
所以潜在的学生必须确定他们是否在线学习，如果他们有足够的时间才能投入他们的课程。
该计划包括初始的在线评估和与图书馆人员的接受访谈意味着要确定，“你能做它的工作吗？”Bachowski说。
旧金山公共图书馆于八月推出该计划，11名学生注册，10名更多的人进行先决条件的工作。梅尔戈肖，图书馆的学习和指导协调员表示，它希望在下夏末终止100岁。
吉罗斯在线高中表示，一旦学生开始课程，就会提供学术教练和“很多动手支持”，其中包括传统的学金宝搏彩票术产品，例如美国历史，代数和生物学以及职业技能。
她说，那些注册的人，将该计划视为完成学校的“第二次机会”，并以解决“对它们的重量”的方式。
To qualify for the program, residents must be 19 years old and have a library card. Some attendance in 9TH.建议等级。
参加佛罗里达州的其他图书馆包括大型系统，如Broward County的和北佛罗里达州泰勒县公共图书馆等小型系统。国家专门标记500,000美元。
Though the Florida program provides funding for only one year, Bachowski said if it is successful in Orange, the library might try to raise money to continue it.
要了解更多信息，请转至：http：//www.careeronlinehs.gale.com/fl/f金宝搏彩票ind-library/
[电子邮件受保护]或407-420-5273
如果您的公共图书馆有兴趣了解在您的社区中提供职业在线高中的更多信息，请访问www.gale.com/cohsorcontact your Gale Education Sales Consultant.