Smart Horizons Career Online Education (SHCOE) and ed2go are pleased to announce that Platt College has become the newest partner in the Bridge to Start high school program.

SHCOE is the world’s first AdvancED/SACS accredited online school district, offering an instructional program that enables students to earn an 18-credit high school diploma and a credentialed career certificate in one online program. A division of Cengage Learning, ed2go is a leading provider of online courses for adult and continuing education students with over 2 million students enrolled in various courses.

Launched by SHCOE and ed2go in May of 2012, the Bridge to Start program at Career Online High School provides a fast-track, AdvancED/SACS-accredited, online high school program that is specifically designed to re-engage students back into the educational system. The program allows students to earn the high school diploma required for entry into colleges and post-secondary career training institutions.

Through on-campus hybrid learning labs set up at Platt College, students will be able to take advantage of SHCOE’s innovative online education model while also immersing themselves in a campus-based learning experience. Platt College has six campuses located in Oklahoma and Texas.

“We are pleased to expand the program to Platt College,” said Dr. Howard Liebman, CEO and Superintendent for SHCOE. “The program is a win-win: students benefit from earning a diploma and career certificate, which positions them for enrollment in college, while Platt College is able to identify a new audience of potential students for whom enrolling in their higher education programs was not previously an option.”

“The Bridge to Start high school program provides many students a terrific opportunity to expand the skills and education they need to succeed,” said Ron Stefanski, Chief Business Development Officer for Cengage Learning. “ed2go is extremely excited to partner with Platt College to deliver the Bridge to Start program, expanding opportunities for those needing a high school diploma to pursue their dreams of further education and career employment.”

Visit www.ed2golive.com/cohs for more detailed information about the Bridge to Start high school program for post-secondary institutions.