News

Taco Bell signs on as first partner of career training program

September 17, 2013

Taco Bell and Kinexus have signed on as the first two partners in Cengage Learning/Smart Horizon Career Online Education's Clinton Global Initiative Commitment to Action to "reengage employees in the educational system," according to a news release. The CGI Commitment includes a scholarship agreement to offer fully accredited high school diplomas and career certificates to employees in the retail, hospitality and foodservice industries via the Career Online High School.

ed2go, a provider of turnkey online training and part of Cengage Learning, and SHCOE, an AdvancED/SACS accredited online school district, partnered in 2012 to provide career-based online education opportunities for the millions of adults in the U.S. without high school diplomas. Their partnership led to the establishment of Career Online High School, which offers students the opportunity to earn an accredited 18-credit high school diploma and credentialed career certificate.

As part of its partnership agreement, Taco Bell will offer the opportunity to its employees, enabling them to earn high school diplomas and career certificates. Being a high school graduate is a requirement for promotion to management within Taco Bell.

Mark Wahlberg partnership continues

Meanwhile, more than 25 years after dropping out of high school, Actor Mark Wahlberg earned his diploma this week, and celebrated with members of the Taco Bell Foundation for Teens and Taco Bell teams. Wahlberg has been an ambassador for the foundation for the past few years.

Wahlberg earned his high school diploma through an online program based in his home state of Massachusetts.

"Mark Wahlberg reminds us all that it is never too late to go back to school and earn your diploma," said Taco Bell President Brian Niccol, who also serves as chairman of the Taco Bell Foundation for Teens. "He is an inspiration to the Taco Bell leadership team to commit ourselves to doing everything we can to empower youth to do the same — starting with our own Team Members. We look forward to a successful pilot and hope that, in the future, we can further expand this program so that even more Team Members can use these educational and life skills not only at Taco Bell, but also wherever they choose to work."

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