Volunteer Literacy Program
Not every adult who needs help with reading, writing, math or English can thrive in a classroom. Some need one-to-one extra help. Others have trouble fitting regular classes into their work schedules. Others are on lengthy waiting lists to get into college classes to learn English.
Thousands of these adults get the help they need each year from trained volunteer tutors at community and technical colleges, multi-service community agencies and independent literacy councils.
Volunteer Literacy Programs (VLP) provide trained volunteers both to augment the learning of students who are receiving classroom instruction, and to provide individual and small group instruction to adult learners. VLP programs abide by the Indicators of Program Quality.
The purpose of the Volunteer Literacy Principles, developed by and for Volunteer Adult Literacy Programs in Washington State, is to promote quality standards for volunteer adult literacy programs. The principles were last revised February 9, 2005.
For further information, contact Susan Kidd at skidd@sbctc.edu.
The Literacy Network Of Washington Adult Literacy Hotline and Directory provides information on tutoring, classes, and lab-based instruction in communities across the state for:
- English as a Second Language (ESL)
- Citizenship
- Basic reading, writing, or math
- GED or high school completion
- Workplace literacy
- Family literacy
The toll-free hotline (1-888-444-5744) is staffed by English, Spanish, and Russian speakers who are trained to locate an adult literacy program that best meets a caller’s needs.
The Web site directory (www.LiteracyNOW.info) provides users a searchable database of over 200 adult literacy program sites located throughout Washington. Users can choose to do a basic search, using their city, zip code, or county to find an appropriate program, or an advanced search, adding selection criteria to identify just those programs in their area that, for example, offer childcare, or van transportation, or weekend classes.
To learn more about the Adult Literacy Hotline and Directory, please visit www.LiteracyNOW.info or contact Lee Jewett, Literacy Now Coordinator at the Literacy Network Of Washington at 253-383-3951 or ljewett@tacomacommunityhouse.org.