Ashworth College and Carville Job Corps Partner to Deliver Accredited High School Diploma Curriculum to Area Youth

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Jul 20, 2010, 08:15 ET

Distance learning leader provides education essential to career success

NORCROSS, Ga., July 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Ashworth College today announced that it has been named the exclusive provider of high school curriculum to the Carville Job Corps Center and the local youth it supports. Ashworth (http://www.ashworthcollege.edu), a leader in distance and online education, offers a wide range of flexible career-focused diploma and degree programs.

The Carville Louisiana Job Corps affiliate, and its national parent organization, assist local youth, ages 16 through 24, in improving their quality of life through vocational and academic training at no cost to the student or the family. In combination with hands-on career training, participating students complete core classes to fulfill graduation requirements.

"Our high school diploma programs have been developed to specifically address the needs of working adults and non-traditional high school students, making Ashworth a natural fit," said F. Milton Miller, Ed.D., Ashworth Vice President, Education.

"We're excited to be working with the Carville Job Corps Center. Like us, they are committed to teaching young people the skills needed to become employable which can include completing their high school education," Miller added. "By helping these students earn a high school diploma, together we will be giving them significant career advantages, compared to not having a diploma or a GED."

An Ounce of Prevention

According to a recent speech by President Obama, more than 3,300 American youth drop out of high school every day. Many of these students have already experienced a long process of academic disengagement with minimal support or encouragement in school or at home before finally running out of motivation.

Sadly, it's often the start of a trend that will follow them for life. Without a high school diploma they will have a harder time finding a job, and they will earn much less when they do find one. They are more prone to health issues, living in poverty, and themselves having children at an early age, who in turn have a higher propensity to drop out of high school themselves.

On a brighter note, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, high school graduates can earn as much as 23% more per year compared to someone who did not receive a high school diploma. Through its partnership with the Carville Job Corps, Ashworth is able to offer an extensive high school curriculum which includes high school correspondence courses and high school online diploma programs in general and college preparatory studies, vocational high school and a broad range of single high school courses.

"We are excited to offer these students a regionally accredited high school diploma, compared to a GED," said Melissa Maddox, Ashworth Educational Services Manager. A recent poll of current Ashworth students showed that students and employers alike place significantly more value on a high school diploma compared to a GED.

About Job Corps

Job Corps is a no-cost education and career technical training program administered by the U.S. Department of Labor that helps young people ages 16 through 24 improve the quality of their lives through career technical and academic training. For eligible youth at least 16 years of age, Job Corps provides all-around skills needed to succeed in a career and in life.

About Ashworth College

Ashworth College, a leader in online education, offers students worldwide more than 100 online degrees, online certificate programs, online career training and online high school diplomas that are affordable and fit the busy schedules of working adults. Ashworth also offers specialized programs to corporate partners, active duty military personnel, military spouses, and homeschoolers.

Headquartered in Norcross, GA, Ashworth is accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). The Accrediting Commission of the DETC is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency. Ashworth High School is further accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI). For more information, visit http://www.ashworthcollege.edu.

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Dr. F. Milton Miller

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Gary Keisling

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SOURCE Ashworth College