LITERACY COUNCIL OF LANC-LEB LVA

SINCE 1985, THE LITERACY COUNCIL OF LANCASTER-LEBANON HAS PROVIDED FREE ADULT EDUCATION SERVICES TO MORE THAN 18,000 ADULTS IN LANCASTER AND LEBANON COUNTIES. THROUGH OUR LITERACY AND LEARNING SUCCESS CENTERS, LEARNERS BUILD ESSENTIAL SKILLS IN READING, WRITING, MATH, AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE, PREPARE FOR THE GED OR HISET HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY EXAMS, AND STRENGTHEN DIGITAL LITERACY AND COMPUTER SKILLS. WE ALSO OFFER CAREER PATHWAYS ADVISING, WORKPLACE EDUCATION PROGRAMS, AND SPECIALIZED MENTORING FOR INTERNATIONALLY TRAINED MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS SEEKING TO RE-ENTER THEIR CAREERS. INSTRUCTION IS DELIVERED THROUGH ONE-TO-ONE TUTORING, SMALL GROUPS, AND LARGER CLASSES-BOTH IN-PERSON AND ONLINE. BEFORE PLACEMENT, EACH LEARNER COMPLETES AN INDIVIDUALIZED ASSESSMENT THAT INCLUDES ACADEMIC TESTING, GOAL SETTING, AND BARRIER IDENTIFICATION. BASED ON RESULTS, STUDENTS RECEIVE A PERSONALIZED LEARNING PLAN AND ARE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE IN AT LEAST SIX INSTRUCTIONAL HOURS WEEKLY, WITH OPTIONS FOR MORE INTENSIVE STUDY. PROGRESS IS MEASURED EVERY 50 HOURS OF INSTRUCTION. IN THE 2024-2025 PROGRAM YEAR, 558 ADULTS WERE SERVED. OF THESE, 387 RECEIVED MORE THAN 12 HOURS OF INSTRUCTION. AMONG STUDENTS ELIGIBLE FOR PRE- AND POST-TESTING, 67% ADVANCED AT LEAST ONE EDUCATIONAL FUNCTIONING LEVEL-EQUIVALENT TO ONE TO TWO YEARS OF SCHOOLING. FIVE STUDENTS PASSED AT LEAST ONE GED SUBTEST, TWO EARNED A HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY DIPLOMA, SEVEN TRANSITIONED TO POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION, AND FOUR BECAME U.S. CITIZENS. ADDITIONALLY, 85% OF LEARNERS WITH EMPLOYMENT GOALS ACHIEVED AN EMPLOYMENT OUTCOME. OUR SUCCESS CENTERS ARE VITAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS, HELPING ADULTS GAIN THE SKILLS NEEDED FOR LIFE-SUSTAINING JOBS.

THE LITERACY COUNCIL RELIES ON TRAINED VOLUNTEER TUTORS TO DELIVER ONE-TO- ONE AND SMALL GROUP INSTRUCTION. IN 2024-2025, WE TRAINED 48 NEW TUTORS AND SUPPORTED 65 ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS WHO CONTRIBUTED 6,275 INSTRUCTIONAL HOURS. VOLUNTEERS COMPLETE AN APPLICATION, INTERVIEW, BACKGROUND CHECKS, AND PRE- SERVICE TRAINING BEFORE BEING MATCHED WITH LEARNERS. OUR RESEARCH-BASED TRAINING MODEL INCLUDES ON-DEMAND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND MONTHLY IN- SERVICE SESSIONS. TOPICS IN 2024-2025 INCLUDED LESSON PLANNING, ASSESSMENT, DIGITAL TOOLS, AND LEARNER-CENTERED INSTRUCTION. TUTORS ALSO RECEIVE INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT AS NEEDED AND HAVE ACCESS TO STATEWIDE TRAINING RESOURCES THROUGH THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.