 you host today, and the top high school diploma from Yolo County Library. And with me to talk a little more about this very innovative program is Scott Love. He is the Yolo County Library Regional Manager. Welcome Scott. Thank you. And Susanna Khazada, the Luna, who is a graduate of the Career Online High School program. That is right. Thank you very much. Welcome. And thank you very much for being here. Thank you for having me. Tell us about this very nice program. So I think Scott, I'm going to start with you. Can you tell me how was this program creative, conceived, and when, about how long ago? The program was conceived by the California State Library. I'm thinking about six or seven years ago. They piloted it at Los Angeles Public Library, San Francisco Public Library Sacramento. Yes. Public Library piloted the program and it was a huge success. They had people waiting to get into the program to try to get their diploma and they opened it up about almost exactly four years ago to other libraries to apply. I just started here about four and a half years ago and I just saw it and immediately thought this is something we needed to do for the community. Yes, indeed. So can you tell me a little more about how you've organized, implemented the program and who is eligible? Don't go into great details, but just about, you know, and whether there is a fee associated and things like that. Things that people want to know. So the State Library was great because they kind of helped us handle all the logistics of getting started and we merely just had to talk to the State Library about how many spots we wanted for students and the State Library paid all the fees up to half of the students we wanted. So there were other fees involved too. We wanted 20 students so they paid for 10 and then we had to raise funding for the other 10. Thankfully the Yolo County Office of Ed covered most of the costs for those other 10 students. So for the students there's no cost. Oh that's wonderful. It's completely free and the nice part is it is a full-on diploma. They get a career certificate also. There's an numerous careers. There's a child care, business management, a security certificate. There's eight different ones. I can't remember them all. So when you say a certificate means what they are, what they are qualified and accredited if you're looking for? Yeah, like an accredited certificate for doing that and that's part of the program. The nice thing is also is that students get to transfer any credits they may have if they've already gone to high school. So some students can enter the program literally needing one or two classes plus the career classes. It sounds wonderful, especially if you've been a dropout. Right. And the credits from Yolo County High School or anywhere in the country? Anywhere in the country. Anywhere in the world really, although it's very very expensive for international students who try to transfer credits over. So the ones that we've had including Susanna have found that that's not really an option and so they take the entire program. They have 18 months to do it. So she had to do the entire high school in 18 months. Yes. And you're there. I'll come back to you. Let me just continue with Scott and ask him so tell me what does the application involve for the applicant? Do they fill out a form? It's a very simple process to be eligible. They only had to be 19 years old and a county resident. That's essentially the whole eligibility. There's an assessment thing they do with the state library but really that's just it and it's gauging how serious. It's a formality. How serious they are really because that is it. It costs the library a little over $1,000 per student to go into the program. $800. $1,000. $1,000. $1,000 for every student. And actually we pay it and the state half pays that. Yes. Essentially. So they have to give you an assurance that they're going to end. They're going to graduate. And what about language programs? Because I would imagine that some students are not terribly fluent in English. Right. It is a full high school diploma. So to get a high school diploma in the United States it has to be in English. Yes. Or GEDs don't. But the full diploma gives them the ability to go on to a four-year college or any type of college much better than a GED does. So there is nothing for language. Do you assess the language proficiency or you just trust them that they'll be able to do the work? What they do is they have to take a quick class to start. As they finish that class in time then we'll call them in and interview them. So we do a little bit of an assessment but we've accepted almost everyone into the program. And then staff and well they're provided a counselor from the high school online that they can speak with and help them along. Yes. And we also have a very caring staff member Joan Tuss who will work hand-in-hand with them if she needs to. Sounds like a wonderful program. Cezana you have graduated from this program and you also have career certificates. Yeah. Well I want to if it's not too much to ask I want from start to finish you to tell me your experience. How did you think of this program? How did you you know decide to apply and was it hard? You know all of that. My pleasure. Yes. I remember I went to the library that day and I was looking forward for some classes for something. Yes. I was focused on the GED remember and then he asked me why you don't go to the high school instead of the GED and I say okay but at the beginning I was like I'm not sure but he encouraged me he did and he talked to me about this program and then I got excited and so I guess your high school I guess your schooling was not in the United States. No. No. Where was it? Actually actually I have my high school in Mexico. Okay. Yes. But for me it was a lot of trouble to get the whole papers as Scott was saying before. Yes. Yes. So then I say you know what I'm looking forward to encourage myself to improve my English. Yes. And so this program it was perfect for me because I was totally in English. Yes. And plus having a career of a child development and it was what you chose. Child development. Yes. And I'm so delighted to do it. That's fantastic. And child development is this something in a school or where do you do this child development? Tell me a little more. Everything was online. Everything. No but afterwards when are you planning to teach? Yes. I am. I am. Well I have different plans but one of them is that. So right now after I finish my high school I start doing helping teachers and kindergarten and first grade. One in West Sacramento and one here in Davis. That's how I'm starting. And I'm sure you can do a lot of very good. Yeah. I was a reader for kindergarteners here in Davis for a little while and I can see the whole spectrum of development of each child and some really need some help. Yes. So tell me more. Were you discouraged at first? Well just a little bit about my high school. It was a lot of challenge for me because the lack of my English and a lot of insecurities of myself that is it was the first thing. But I have all the support from them, from my tutor, from the school which is a smart horizon. Yes. Well your English is excellent as a matter of fact but it's different when you have to write it and to do all the other things. Yes. So I have people helping me encourage me. My kids they were very patient and caring. So how many children do you have? I have two boys. Two boys. How old are they? They're already 17 and all there is 20. Good. So they helped you. They helped me with English. Yes. So that's great. Yeah. And I'm sure they're very proud of you now. Yes. They were. So overall was it a good experience? It was the best experience for me. Yes. Because I did this right after my divorce and that helps me a lot to keep my mind in something very positive and take my life back in control. That's great. It was the best thing that happened to me and I'm so happy. Do you see ways maybe one or two ways that you've already talked to Scott about how this program can be improved from your point of view? Honestly, the program, the way I see it and it works perfect for me. It was just perfect. The only thing that I noticed it was a little bit, how can I say? It can maybe be improved. Taking notes for people who their first language is not really English. So your notes, your notes. That's what it makes me to say, you know, to take so long. Oh, but you did it so quickly. I did. I did. But it was some, what would you prefer? Yes. What would you prefer that you don't take as many notes? So no, for me it was perfect. But I mean for other people. Oh, I see. For other people who their English is not at the same level my English is. You know what I mean? Yes. I think that was just perfect. Yes. But I noticed that one of the requirements, one of the, one of the homeworks is also an essay. So that you should get used to taking notes and to writing. Yes. But this is good feedback. Thank you. It is. So I am, and again congratulations. Thank you very much. It's wonderful. I can see how happy you are. Yes, I am. I have children and I know that when they were very little, you know, I wanted to get my life back, my intellectual life. Scott, can you tell me a little bit, by the way, before I forget, if you want more information, you can contact, the website is yolo library. Yolo County Library. YoloCountyLibrary.com. YoloCountyLibrary.org. Forgive me. YoloCountyLibrary.org and it will probably display on the program. And Scott, what type of, what is the range or the spectrum of type of people who would want to come to this program from your experience? Well, you know, there are other programs that, you know, the adult education runs and stuff to help people get GEDs or even diplomas. This is a real niche because people that are busy with their, with their life, with their children with jobs, they do this at their own pace, essentially online. Yes. Yes. And I mean, we even had one student do the whole program in five months. She wasn't working at the time and just did it powered through the whole thing really quickly. So that's a big advantage that, you know, not having to go into a classroom on a regular schedule and being able to do it at kind of your own pace. What was the rest of your question? Well, what type of people take advantage of this? It's really as people that, for whatever reason, had life events happen to them when they were in high school and they weren't able to complete. We just helped a young lady the other day who's actually homeless right now and living out of her car to finish up her, she finished her and graduated just the other day. So it's, you know, like I said, most people that have had things that happened in their life that precluded them from finishing their diploma. You can, by the way, to the audience, you can find more information in the Davis Enterprise. There was a very nice article done by Jeff Hudson and also I'm sure Scott too would be available to answer any other questions if students come into the Davis Library, for example. We're happy to, yes. Good. I'm afraid our time is up. 15 minutes go very fast when something is very interesting. So I'd like to thank you both, Scott Love and Susanna Kizada the Luna. Thank you so much for coming here with me and for all you do for our community. It's really wonderful. And thank you all for watching. You may want to see this program again and if you do, you can go to our website, dctv.davismedia.org and maybe while you're there, check out some of our other programs. We have interesting topics and outstanding guests. So from all of us here, Davis Media, thank you for watching and see you next time.