Soon people who are just shy of the credits needed for a high school diploma will be able to graduate through the Second Opportunity High School.

Registration for the program, offered by Bowling Green Independent Schools, starts at 5 p.m. Wednesday and classes will begin that same day. Classes will meet from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. every Monday and Wednesday through December at Bowling Green High School.

“This is an excellent way for adults who did not receive their diploma while they were younger to go back to school and earn that diploma,” said Jon Lawson, director of pupil personnel for Bowling Green Independent Schools.

Using Novel Stars, an Internet-based program, participants can earn math, English, science and social studies credits. The program is often used in high schools to help students who have failed a grade get the credits they need to graduate.

The class will be inside one of the high school’s computer labs.

Lawson said the class schedule allows participants to maintain their jobs and work toward their diplomas. He said how hard a student works outside class will determine the number of credits they can earn in a semester.

If participants have Internet access, they can work through their course subjects and complete the lessons outside the classroom.

“It just allows them to earn credits at a faster rate,” Lawson said.

The school system offered the program to working adults since fall 2000. Lawson said the appeal for the program is that they actually earn a diploma from Bowling Green Independent Schools, not a GED. The average class size is about 10 students and two teachers at the classes will provide assistance to participants as they work through the online lessons, he said.

About 23 adults have received their diplomas through the Second Opportunity High School, Lawson said.

The first step, Lawson said, is determining what credits a student needs for a diploma. Once that’s done, participants will be able to take two classes at a time.

In the past, Lawson said they’ve seen a mix of participants, ranging from those who’ve needed 12 credits or more to those who’ve only needed one or two.

Lawson said they’ve also had adults show up who need their high school diploma for specific jobs, and those participants tend to do well in the program, too.

“The biggest key is sticking with the program,” Lawson said. “Once they start to gain credits, they start to see the light at the end of the tunnel, and those are the ones that usually will complete the program and get their diploma.”

— To register, participants need to bring a $50 registration fee and their high school transcripts to Bowling Green High School at 5 p.m. Wednesday. For more information, call 746-2200.