We are grateful to the Nora Roberts Foundation for supporting our adult tutoring programs with a 2024 grant. The Foundation’s contributions to our work over the years have helped hundreds of Anne Arundel County adults pursue their educational goals!
Our first 2025 tutor training session will happen on February 15 at Woods Church in Severna Park!
We’re always looking for new, dedicated tutors and especially need help in northern Anne Arundel County (Glen Burnie and Brooklyn Park). In addition, there are always students from Annapolis and the Severn area on our waiting list. Please consider referring neighbors or friends you think could be committed AACLC tutors.
ESL tutoring candidates will be particularly helpful. We’re also training basic literacy, math, and high school diploma preparation tutors.
Interested trainees should contact Jane at director@aaclc.org. Space is limited.
Adult Literacy Resources and Activities January 2025
AACLC’s English Conversation Group in Eastport
tentatively scheduled for Friday, January 31, 5 pm – 7 pm
Seeds 4 Success office
The group is most suited to Spanish speakers, and space is limited to 15 people. The evening features a welcoming atmosphere, enjoyable conversation, games, and light refreshments. Literacy Council tutors or students should email Wendy if they plan to attend. [click to continue…]
We achieved so much in 2024 and are ready for another year of student success. Please see these posts for a brief recap of our fiscal year to date and highlights of all we accomplished in 2024.
Another AACLC student has succeeded in a career goal! William’s story is included in this post.
You may also want to review a report on new data about adult literacy, numeracy, and problem-solving skills in the U.S. The numbers are not encouraging — our work is more important than ever. A post about the report can be found here.
Thank you for your kindness and generosity throughout our annual membership campaign. We very much appreciate your support.
Happy New Year,
Jane
New Data Reveals More U.S. Adults Have Skills at the Lowest Levels
The 2022/23 Survey of Adult Skills, also known as the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC), gauged the literacy, numeracy, and adaptive problem-solving skills of adults ages 16 to 65 worldwide. Survey results have just been published, affirming what we already know — the need for adult education in our communities is great.
Data for the United States showed that adults with the lowest proficiencies in literacy numbered 58.9 million (28%) in 2022/23, up from 48 million (19%) in 2017.
In numeracy, 34%, or 72 million U.S. adults, showed skills at the lowest levels, up from 29%, or 59 million in 2017.
In the 2022/23 survey cycle, adaptive problem-solving skills were evaluated for the first time. This is the ability to think through and navigate a situation or challenge when a solution is not immediately obvious. Results showed that 68 million American adults adaptively solve problems at the lowest levels.
Solutions like the Literacy Council’s literacy, math, high diploma preparation, and English language learning programs are more important than ever. Thank you for volunteering and supporting our efforts. We aim to reach and serve even more students this year and beyond.
Read more about the latest Survey of Adult Skills and see how NBC News covered and graphed U.S. and international survey results.
NPR’s Marketplace spoke with Professor Daphne Greenberg, Director of the Adult Literacy Research Center at Georgia State University, about the PIAAC findings and the economic consequences of low literacy in the U.S.
Congratulations to William Jerez, an AACLC ESL student who was recently promoted from Senior Apprentice to Technician at Chesapeake Electric, a full-service electric company in Annapolis. Prior to his promotion, he was also recognized as “Apprentice of the Year.”
William began working at the company nearly two years ago. Since then, he has been in an apprenticeship program learning skills he will need as an electrician such as installing electrical devices, upgrading electrical systems, and troubleshooting problems.
“This promotion is important to me because it shows how much effort I am putting into the trade. I wanted to be a technician and start doing projects by myself. By applying myself in the apprenticeship program, I improved quickly, becoming a technician in under two years. My next goal is to get my journeyman’s license in the State of Maryland,” said William.
Along with his full-time job and apprenticeship training, William is committed to improving his English writing and speaking skills so he can communicate better. He has been working with AACLC tutor Leanne Boyer for a little over a year to achieve his goals.
“William is a go-getter,” says his tutor. “He works incredibly hard to improve his knowledge and skills in English and in other areas of his life.”
Among the student accomplishments we celebrated in 2024 was Luis Huezo’s earning a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), Class A, from the Maryland Department of Transportation. Luis is pictured here with his tutor, Philip Tawes.
What a Year! January – December 2024 Recap in Brief
Student Success Stories
- Luis Achieves a Major Goal (his CDL)
From the Tutoring Field
Literacy Council Activities
- Eastport English Conversation Group Launched
- Tutoring at Jennifer Road Detention Center and Ordnance Road Correctional Center Continues
- Collaboration Group for ESL Tutors Started
The Rotary Club of Annapolis has awarded the Literacy Council a 2024 Crab Feast Grant. The funds we received will purchase materials for Annapolis adults in each of our programs.
This year’s crab feast raised $30,000, and sixteen nonprofit and charitable organizations were selected to receive grant funding. Thank you, Rotary Club of Annapolis!
