Press Release: New Employee Education Benefits Program Connects English Learners With High School Diplomas While Building Workforce-Ready Skills
Pompano Beach, FL, November 5, 2025— A new partnership between Smart Horizons’ Career Online High School (COHS), an accredited online program that empowers adults to earn high school diplomas, and EnGen, a digital solution for workforce-aligned English language learning, is opening doors for English learners to finish high school while gaining workforce skills. Employers and organizations nationwide can access and invest in the High School Diploma for English Language Learners program for their employees and community members.
One in 10 working-age adults in the U.S. has limited English skills. Just 60% of this population holds a high school diploma, compared with 91% of all U.S. adults. Without this foundational credential, opportunities for career advancement and economic mobility often remain out of reach. These gaps highlight the need to connect this vital segment of the U.S. workforce with access to both English language learning and high school education. By offering the skills-first program at no cost to learners through participating organizations, the partnership also removes a major financial barrier, building accessible academic and career pathways.
“For many adult learners, especially English learners, the path to a diploma is filled with unnecessary detours,” said Dr. Howard Liebman, COHS District Superintendent. “This partnership changes that by integrating English language learning with credit-bearing coursework, streamlining the journey to both educational and career opportunity. The program also benefits participating employers by boosting their ability to attract, upskill, retain, and promote employees.”
In this first-of-its-kind model, learners will:
Earn credit toward a high school diploma as they learn English.
Gain access to courses, resources, and support in 70+ languages.
Build both soft and technical/job skills specific to their industry.
Graduate with dual credentials: a high school diploma and career certificate in fields like health care, commercial driving, food and hospitality, manufacturing, and more.
Prepare to pursue additional industry credentials such as Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), Prometric Certified Professional Food Manager (CPFM), and Child Development Associate (CDA).
Increase their English literacy and education level at no cost to them thanks to 100% employer/library/organizational funding.
Receive a high level of support plus individualized coaching.
“This partnership addresses two of the biggest barriers to economic mobility—English proficiency and educational credentials—by bringing them together in a single, supported learning experience,” said Dr. Katie Brown, Founder and Chief Education Officer at EnGen. “Too often, English proficiency is treated as a prerequisite, effectively boxing out English learners. This partnership breaks that mold by integrating language learning with high school coursework and career credentials, letting learners build skills and earn credit at the same time.”
Both EnGen and COHS have a strong track record of real-world impact. According to a recent survey of 6,000 EnGen learners, 94% felt more confident using English, 90% improved their digital literacy skills, and 75% prefer EnGen’s online, on-demand approach over traditional classroom learning. Additionally, 84% of EnGen learners say they’ll remain with their employer because English instruction is an employee benefit—and 86% say they’ll refer a friend to their company for the same reason.
COHS has helped more than 20,000 learners earn their high school diplomas, helping them advance educationally and economically. In addition, COHS exit surveys report a 99% approval rating—and for many graduates it’s only the first educational step, with 76% planning to pursue college and further credentials. This partnership is designed to amplify those outcomes, combining trusted, proven programs into a single, learner-centered pathway.
For additional information about the High School Diploma for English Language Learners, email engen@mycareerhs.com or visit www.shcoe.org/english-language-learners/.
About Career Online High School
COHS is part of Smart Horizons Career Online Education, the world’s first accredited online school district. COHS was designed to reengage adults and older youth in the education system and prepare them for the workplace or postsecondary education. The program includes a vocational certificate in career pathways such as home care professional, child care, office management, security professional, commercial driving, retail customer service, food services, hospitality, and manufacturing. To date, 20,000+ students have graduated from the program. For more information, visit www.shcoe.org.
About EnGen
EnGen offers an at-scale, AI-powered approach to English instruction, designed to solve a systemic access issue: English learners now represent 1 in 10 working-age adults in the U.S., yet the workforce system serves the needs of just 4% of these workers. A Certified B Corporation, EnGen is filling the gap by partnering with employers, educators, workforce development organizations, and state governments to connect job seekers and incumbent workers with English skills, career pathways, and employment in high-demand industries. EnGen’s workforce-aligned approach addresses employers’ recruitment and retention challenges and advances learners’ economic mobility. For more information, visit www.getengen.com.