BROWARD COUNTY, FL - While they last, scholarships are available for Career Online High School (COHS) at Broward County Library, which allows eligible adults to earn an accredited high school diploma and career certificate without charges or expenses in as few as five months.

In conjunction with a high school diploma, COHS students complete coursework to develop the skills and knowledge that employers are hiring for, making them job ready. They leave the program with a certificate from one of the following high-growth, high-demand career fields: Office Management, General Career Preparation, Child Care and Education (CDA), Security Professional, Commercial Driving, Retail Customer Service, Food and Hospitality, Hospitality and Leisure, Home Care Professional, or Manufacturing.

Requirements for applicants are that they be age 19 or older, reside in Broward County, have a library card in good standing or apply for a library card, and have already completed at least one year of high school. Applicants must also  successfully complete the new readiness survey on the library's COHS webpage, a prerequisite course, and an interview to enter the program with their scholarship.

Once enrolled, students are paired with an online academic coach who provides academic guidance, evaluates performance, and connects the student with the resources needed to master the courses. A student can complete the program in as little as five months but is given up to 18 months. Students are expected to spend 8 to 10 hours per week on COHS.

The COHS program is totally online and completely free, including supplementary materials such as books. Participants need access to a laptop or computer with internet access, which can be used or borrowed free of charge at a Broward County Library location.

A limited number of scholarships are available until September 30, 2022. For additional information on the COHS program, email COHS@broward.org or call the library at 954-357-6230.

This project was funded under the provisions of the DLIS Florida ARPA Grant Program from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Florida's DLIS Florida ARPA Grant Program is administered by the Department of State's Division of Library and Information Services. For FY21-22, "The Career Online High School project is brought to you by the State of Florida and is administered by Smart Horizons Career Online Education."   

About Broward County Libraries
Broward County Libraries Division, named 2020 and 2015 Library of the Year by the Florida Library Association, was founded in 1974 and is one of the largest and busiest library systems in Florida. Broward County Libraries Division's 38 locations provide convenient access to a full range of innovative and cost-effective services that satisfy the changing needs of the people of Broward County for information, education and recreation. Visit our website, Broward.org/Library, or follow Libraries on Facebook and Twitter.