The Newport News Public Library is offering free online classes for 10 people who want to earn their high school diplomas.
The Career Online High School program is only available to residents 19 years and older through scholarships sponsored by the library. It started Jan. 13.
“Earning a high school diploma is a life-changing achievement,” said Sonia Alcántara-Antoine, director of the Newport News Public Library. “By offering Career Online High School, we’re empowering our residents to seek new opportunities and transform their lives.”
Students learn topics from high demand career fields such as child care and certified transportation to office management and homeland security before transitioning to core subjects, according to a news release from the library.
Each student gets paired with an academic coach, is taught by board certified teachers and has access to the courses 24/7.
“Students are able to graduate in as few as three months by transferring in previously earned high school credits but are given up to 18 months to complete the program,” according to the news release.
Paula Morehouse, spokeswoman for the NNPL, said there are a handful of scholarships available each year, 10 to be exact, and the remaining seats will roll over to the following year.
Prospective students must apply by filing out an online assessment. If he or she passes, the student will take a two-week or prerequisite courses and then have a panel interview with three members of the library, who will decide which students receive the scholarship.
For more information about the Career Online High School program, call 757-247-8677 or email nnlibrary@nnva.gov.
