Any employer may, with the cooperation and approval of the board of education of the local or regional school district in which such employer’s business is located, offer accredited high school courses or, with the cooperation and approval of the State Board of Education, offer vocational training courses, such courses to be offered on the business premises for the benefit of any employee (1) who does not have and who wishes to obtain a high school diploma or (2) who wishes to improve his or her employment status, provided that no such course or any portion thereof shall be at the expense of the State Board of Education or any local or regional board of education.