Dr. Howard Liebman, CEO and Superintendent of Schools for Smart Horizons Career Online Education (SHCOE; www.shcoe.org), is pleased to announce that SHCOE has partnered with K12 Inc. (www.K12.com)–the nation’s leading provider of proprietary curriculum and online education programs for students in grades K–12—to launch Independence Career Online High School (www.iconlinehigh.com.)

SHCOE became the world’s first AdvancED/SACS accredited online school district in February of 2011 and serves both non-traditional teenage and adult learners. Powered by SHCOE’s career online education model, Independence Career Online High School will enable adult students to complete an 18-credit high school diploma as well as earn a credentialed career certificate. Career certificates will include: Childcare, Transportation Services, Office Management, Homeland Security, Protection Services, and General Career Preparation.

Established in 1999, K12 Inc. provides individualized public and private schooling options in 33 states and around the world. K12 also provides a complete continuum of individualized education products and solutions to over 2,000 school districts in the United States, as well as direct to consumers seeking high-quality online curriculum for enrichment, homeschooling, or remediation. K12 has delivered over 4 million online courses to students in 70 countries worldwide.

“SHCOE looks forward to becoming an integral part of K12’s network,” said Dr. Liebman. “K12 is a leader in individualizing secondary online education and our strategic partnership with them represents a tremendous opportunity for both organizations. Independence Career Online High School will allow K12 to expand its private school offerings, while enabling both organizations to increase and enhance career education opportunities for adult students around the country”.

Bruce Davis, Executive Vice President of Worldwide Business Development for K12, said, “We’re thrilled to partner with SHCOE to expand our private school offerings and provide a career-focused schooling option for adult students seeking their high school diploma. We look forward to serving adult learners and helping them on their career path at Independence Career Online High School.”