Literacy – Spanning the US :: Ypsilanti MI :: Citrus Co FL :: Washington Co MO :: Rockwall Co TX

Literacy: Spanning the U.S.     

@WashtenawLit

@YpsiLibrary

Changing Lives One Word At A Time

Washtenaw Voice: 1.14.2019 by Catherine Engstrom-Hadley

According to the National Adult Literacy Survey, an estimated one in six adults in Washtenaw County do not have the skills to keep a job, read a map or prescription bottles, or fill out a job application. For over 50 years, Washtenaw Literacy, a local organization, has fought to help citizens learn and improve on basic skills.

The organization offers free tutoring for basic reading, writing, math and English as a second language.

Washtenaw Literacy was founded by group of professors from the University of Michigan, who later partnered with the Ypsilanti Public library. The group offers free tutoring for anyone who needs it.

Unemployment for low-skilled adults is higher than any other group, at 7.7 percent in 2017, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  READ MORE >>

@citruslibraries

Local Students Graduate From Library System’s Online Program

Chronicle: 1.15.2019 by Claire Phillips Laxton

It’s never too late to get your high school diploma or a GED (Graduate Equivalency Degree.) Both are offered to future qualified adult graduates, age 19 or older, through the Citrus County Libraries.

In 2016, the Citrus County Library Systems began a Career Online High School (COHS) program, where if qualified, students can earn a high school diploma and also get a career certificate.

Graduates complete the program anywhere from four months, if they have other high school credits, to 18 months. Candidates must also have a library card in good standing.

In addition, they get a certified coach to help them reach their goal and graduate.

It’s an adult program: Participants must be 19 and have attended some high school, even as a freshman. Thus far, the program has seen graduates from 19 to 63 years old.  READ MORE >>

Four Rivers Family YMCA

Washington Library

There Y Literacy and Washington Public Library Offer Free Citizenship Classes

eMissourian: 1.16.2019

Last year when then-Lt. Gov. Mike Parson was sworn in June 1 as Missouri’s 57th governor, following the resignation of Gov. Eric Greitens, Melanie Schmitt was quick to text a few of the students in the free monthly citizenship classes she teaches at Washington Public Library.

She wanted to be sure they were aware of the sudden change in case they were specifically asked about the Missouri governor during the interview portion of their naturalization test.

For more than a year now, Schmitt has been helping immigrants study and prepare for their citizenship tests. It’s a volunteer service that grew out of her work as a literacy tutor with Four Rivers Area YMCA.

Becoming an American citizen isn’t easy. There’s a lot of information to know and understand, such as:

>What is the supreme law of the land?

>How many amendments does the Constitution have?

>What are the first three words of the Constitution?

Those are just some of the 100 questions immigrants could be asked in the civics portion of their naturalization test. An applicant is asked up to 10 questions out of a possible 100 and has to answer six correctly during an oral interview in order to pass, said Schmitt.

And that is just the beginning.

Applicants also must prove their understanding of the English language through speaking, reading and writing tests.  READ MORE >>

Rockwall Co Library

Reading for Adults Literacy Center Celebrates 100th New Citizen

Blue Ribbon News: 1.16.2019

The Reading for Adults Literacy Center, a part of the Rockwall County Library,  will celebrate almost twenty years of the RFA program and honor eleven students who have recently passed their test to become a United States Citizen. The reception will be Saturday, January 26th, 2019 at 10 a.m., in the Community Room of the Rockwall County Library, 1215 E. Yellowjacket Lane, Rockwall.

Special recognition will be given to the 100th new citizenship, achieved with the RFA’s Citizenship classes. Each new citizen will be recognized and awarded a certificate and US flag. Local Girls Scouts will be present plus a choir composed of existing RFA students and tutors.

More than 70 tutors have been trained and contributed thousands of volunteer hours to assist the 300-400 ESL, GED and Citizenship students annually.  The current enrollment for all classes is 357 adult students according to Carol Cease, Director of the RFA program.  READ MORE >>