Literacy Council of Lanc-Leb Lva

“The form 990 is completed by the independent auditor. It is then presented to the board of directors for approval. Upon approval, it is signed by the treasurer of the board of directors and is filed.”

“At the beginning of each fiscal year, board members review the conflict of interest policy,sign the disclosure statement and must provide in writing any possible conflict of interest. When such conflict of interest is relevant to a matter requiring action by the board of directors, the interested director shall bring it to the attention of the board.”

“The executive director receives an annual performance review.”

“The board approves all salaries.”

“All documents are available upon request.”

“In the 36 years of service to the community, over 16,000 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. At the success centers, 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, the learner and a program coordinator create 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 2020-2021, the success centers continued to provide services remotely as the covid-19 pandemic continued. More than 100 computers were distributed to students who did not have a computer at home and stand alone digital literacy services were provided to students who needed to build these skills.”

“The literacy council provides students with the option of one-to-one tutoring. Tutors volunteer their time to work with an adult learner. In 2020-2021, the literacy council trained 57 new volunteer tutors and 109 active tutors providing more than 6,846 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 2020-2021, tutor training topics included how to use assessment to inform instruction, distance learning resources, self care, student engagement during the pandemic, overcoming test anxiety, and wellness. In program year 2020-2021, 431 students were served in the program. 296 students improved their literacy and basic skills. 79 students made an educational functioning gain (the equivalency of one year of schooling). 3 students got a high school equivalency diploma and 8 students entered postseconday education. The literacy council embraces collaboration and actively works in a variety of collaborative settings. The literacy council is a member of the lancaster county refugee & immigrant coalition and works closely with our adult education family literacy partner 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.”

“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.”

“Fundraising expenses 2,185 fundraising expenses -2,185”