The Los Angeles Public Library celebrated the 10th anniversary of its Career Online High School (COHS) program with the Spring 2024 graduation ceremony at Central Library on Saturday, April 13.
Speakers included Susan Broman, assistant City Librarian; Valerie Lynne Shaw, president of the Board of Library Commissioners; and Stacy Lieberman, president & CEO of the Library Foundation of Los Angeles, as well as two COHS graduates.
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Los Angeles Public Library was the first public library in the nation to offer adults age 19 and over the opportunity to earn an accredited high school diploma and career certificate online through COHS. The Library began its program in 2014, enrolling qualified adults in a program that offered grants to residents of the City of Los Angeles. There is no cost to students for the program, who are looking to prepare for workforce entry, advance their careers or continue their education.
“We are so proud to have spent 10 years supporting Angelenos with Career Online High School here at Los Angeles Public Library,” said Broman.
“This game-changing program epitomizes our commitment to lifelong learning. Since we began offering COHS, 944 graduates have improved their lives with the help of our program, and hundreds more are currently enrolled.”
Once enrolled, COHS pairs each student with an academic coach, who provides the student with an individual career path, offers ongoing guidance, evaluates performance and connects the student with the resources needed to master the courses. Students have up to 18 months to complete the program.
Funding for the Career Online High School is provided by the Library Foundation of Los Angeles and the California State Library.
“Career Online High School exemplifies how the Library is a force for change in the lives of our community members, offering programs and resources for people at every stage of life, from babies to senior citizens,” said Shaw.
For more information about the Career Online High School program, including the qualification requirements and application process, visit the Los Angeles Public Library website at lapl.org/cohs.
A recipient of the nation’s highest honor for library service — the National Medal from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Los Angeles Public Library serves the largest and most diverse urban population of any library in the nation. Its Central Library, 72 branch libraries, collection of more than eight million books, state-of-the-art technology accessible at lapl.org and thousands of public programs provide everyone with free and easy access to information and the opportunity for life-long learning.
