Earn an accredited high school diploma at PCCLD
PUEBLO, Colo. — Pueblo City-County Library District is offering qualified Pueblo County residents the opportunity to earn an accredited high school diploma and credentialed career certificate through Career Online High School, a program brought to public libraries by Gale, a Cengage company. Part of the world’s first accredited, private online school district, Career Online High School is specifically designed to reengage adults into the education system and prepare them for entry into post-secondary career education or the workforce. The program is free to Pueblo County residents.
“The Pueblo City-County Library is pleased to provide adults in our community with the opportunity to earn a high school diploma, when needed. We know for a variety of reasons that young people can miss out on completing requirements for a high school diploma. The Pueblo City-County Library's online high school program — which is geared for adult learners — helps overcome this gap. This is important because data shows high school graduates enjoy better job opportunities, increased income, and improved productivity throughout life,” said PCCLD Executive Director Jon Walker.
PCCLD will award scholarships for Career Online High School to qualified learners looking to earn a high school diploma and advance their careers. Once enrolled, Career Online High School pairs each student with an academic coach, who assists with developing an individual career plan, offers ongoing guidance and encouragement, evaluates performance and connects the learner with the resources needed to demonstrate mastery of the course material.
Classes are supported by board-certified instructors and students have 24/7 access to the online learning platform. Coursework begins in one eight high-growth, high-demand career fields — from child care and education to certified transportation — before progressing to the core academic subjects. Students are able to graduate in as few as six months by transferring in previously earned high school credits but are given up to 18 months to complete the program.
Earn an accredited high school diploma at PCCLD
PUEBLO, Colo. — Pueblo City-County Library District is offering qualified Pueblo County residents the opportunity to earn an accredited high school diploma and credentialed career certificate through Career Online High School, a program brought to public libraries by Gale, a Cengage company. Part of the world’s first accredited, private online school district, Career Online High School is specifically designed to reengage adults into the education system and prepare them for entry into post-secondary career education or the workforce. The program is free to Pueblo County residents.
“The Pueblo City-County Library is pleased to provide adults in our community with the opportunity to earn a high school diploma, when needed. We know for a variety of reasons that young people can miss out on completing requirements for a high school diploma. The Pueblo City-County Library's online high school program — which is geared for adult learners — helps overcome this gap. This is important because data shows high school graduates enjoy better job opportunities, increased income, and improved productivity throughout life,” said PCCLD Executive Director Jon Walker.
PCCLD will award scholarships for Career Online High School to qualified learners looking to earn a high school diploma and advance their careers. Once enrolled, Career Online High School pairs each student with an academic coach, who assists with developing an individual career plan, offers ongoing guidance and encouragement, evaluates performance and connects the learner with the resources needed to demonstrate mastery of the course material.
Classes are supported by board-certified instructors and students have 24/7 access to the online learning platform. Coursework begins in one eight high-growth, high-demand career fields — from child care and education to certified transportation — before progressing to the core academic subjects. Students are able to graduate in as few as six months by transferring in previously earned high school credits but are given up to 18 months to complete the program.
Adult Learner Program helps bridge literacy gap
PUEBLO, Colo. — The Adult Learner Program at Pueblo City-County Library District is evolving its traditional programming to include much-needed computer literacy skills.
"The Adult Learning Program is expanding to meet the needs of our community. Traditionally literacy programs exist to help adults learn to read and write, however we have additional needs in today’s society. Understanding how to use a computer and computer programs is a new form of literacy. Digital literacy is important and allows library staff to help patrons complete job applications, create email accounts and use basic digital tools," said Rebecca McGhee, Adult Literacy Administrator for PCCLD
Recently PCCLD was host to a Grow With Google event that brought free digital training resources to the Pueblo community. Adult learners can continue to develop their 21st century skills, thanks to a partnership with Google.
"As a way to further and modernize our adult literacy program, PCCLD developed a partnership with Google to offer Grow with Google Workshops. The Grow with Google Digital Workforce Ready workshop series helps build resumes, practice interview skills, conduct a job search and complete job applications. Updating skills is easy in this workshop series because classes have curriculum attached but the topics addressed are open-ended; learners can receive one-on-one coaching or work independently," said McGhee.
Digital Workforce Ready classes are held every Friday, from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Training Room on the third floor of Rawlings Library, 100 E. Abriendo Ave. No registration is required and all classes are free and open to the public. Friday, Nov. 1 will be the final installment of the workshop series.
The National Coalition for Literacy also notes that:
• Roughly 36 million adults in the United States struggle with basic academic skills, making it difficult to function effectively as workers, parents, citizens and consumers in today’s society,
• Individuals with high school credentials earn about $10,000 more annually than those without.
• Education levels had more effect on earnings over a 40-year span than any other demographic factor, such as gender, race, and Hispanic origin.
• Roughly half of adult immigrants in the U.S. report that they speak English “less than very well,” yet by 2030, nearly one in five U.S. workers will be an immigrant.
• Approximately 37 percent of adults enrolled in adult education are unemployed.
• As of 2018, 63 percent of all jobs in the U.S. require education beyond high school-grade level. Yet nearly half of the workforce has only a high school education or less and/or low English proficiency.
The National Coalition for Literacy also states that nearly 30 percent of adults with household incomes at or below the poverty line do not have high school credentials. In order to provide instruction for this population, many adult literacy programs rely on volunteer tutors. The Adult Learner Program at PCCLD is no different.
“The Adult Learning Program's Learning Coaches can help learners to complete their GED by helping them to brush up on any content area. Learning Coaches are dedicated to helping learners improve their lives. Currently, we have a shortage of Math Learning Coaches and are in need of tech-savvy individuals willing to help with the program."
For more information about the Adult Learner Program, call Rebecca McGhee at (719) 553-0206 or email rebecca.mcghee@pueblolibrary.org.
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