Literacy Council of Lanc-Leb Lva

In the 39 years of service to the community, over 17,000 adults have received Literacy and basic education instruction free of charge. Instructional services include one-to-one tutoring, small group instruction, large group instruction, distance learning and computer based individualized programmed instruction. The Literacy and learning success centers are a key workforce development partner where adult learners can build their basic skills, learn computer skills, prepare for postsecondary education and job training. They can also explore careers and plan a career pathway. Prior to placement in an instructional program, each adult learner participates in individualized assessment. The assessment process involves an interview, standardized assessment and informal assessment, including reading profiles, supports and barriers assessment and learning preferences. After assessment is completed, an individualized learning plan that includes goals and instructional methods and content. Students are encouraged to participate in a minimum of six hours of instruction each week and are able to participate in as many hours as they are able. The Literacy Council engages adult learners in follow-up assessment every fifty hours. Students take standardized tests to measure learning gains and goals are evaluated and adjusted. In 2022-2023, the success centers provided face to face and remote learning options to accommodate the needs of our students.

The Literacy Council promotes Literacy by reaching out to the community. The Literacy Council maintains a website, a blog, publishes a newsletter three times a year, and produces an annual report. The Literacy Council also maintains a facebook page, instagram and linkedin account. Staff members actively seek opportunities to speak at service organizations such as rotary clubs, lion's clubs, kiwanis clubs and many others. It is important for the community to understand the significant role that Literacy plays in daily life. In the two counties served by the Literacy Council, there are more than 100,000 people over the age of 18 who lack basic education skills. These adults struggle to find and keep life sustaining work. They struggle to help their children succeed in school. They are unable to fully participate as informed citizens. Our outreach goal is to raise awareness so that the community knows about our services and can refer people to us who need help and encourage support for the organization's work in the form of donations of time, talent and resources. Another way the Literacy Council participated in community outreach is through providing imagination library in the east petersburg borough, south annville township, columbia borough, city of lebanon, pequea valley school district and willow street. Imagination library is a program started by dolly parton and the dollywood foundation that provides a free book each month to a child for the first five years of life. All children who reside in a designated area are eligible for the program.

The Literacy Council provides students with the option of one-to-one tutoring. Tutors volunteer their time to work with an adult learner. In 2022-2023, the Literacy Council trained 25 new volunteer tutors and 103 active tutors providing more than 6,997 hours of instructional service. The first step to becoming a tutor is to apply to the agency. After an application has been reviewed, suitable candidates participate in an interview with the tutor coordinator. The next step is to participate in pre-service training that prepares the tutor for his or her first student. The Literacy Council has transitioned to a research based tutor training model that provides on demand technical assistance and formal monthly in- service training. In 2022-2023, tutor training topics included a tutor kick off training, overcoming test anxiety, best plus testing, tabe testing, preparing students for the citizenship test distance learning resources, and preparing for the high school equivalency test. Tutors also received one on one training as needed. In program year 2022-2023, 639 students were served in the program and 421 had more than 12 hours of instruction. 65% of students who received a pre and post test had an educational functioning level advancement which is equivalent to one year of schooling. Most students experienced this skill improvement in less than 100 hours of instruction. 7 students got a high school equivalency diploma and 15 students entered postsecondary education. The Literacy Council embraces collaboration and actively works in a variety of collaborative settings. The Literacy Council works closely with our adult education family Literacy partners in our community to enable us to align and connect services and produce new programs and innovative strategies to address the education needs of adults in our community.