September 2020 Update:
Our Fall classes are up and running! Most classes are meeting online, and we have computer scholarships available for those who need them. There is still room to join us, so call the site closest to you to enroll now!
Safety is our Top Priority
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the safety of our staff, students and volunteers continues to be our top priority. We are planning for the Fall in consultation with the latest public health advisories.
Students will work with our teachers and volunteers online and over the phone. If they need to meet with us in person (for placement testing or registration, for example), everyone will be required to wear masks and observe social distancing.
Teaching Classes Online
We plan to begin Fall classes working with students online and over the phone. Most classes will meet online during their regularly-scheduled times. Some classes may also have small groups get together in person (observing social distance guidelines and wearing masks). Teachers and volunteer tutors will be available to work with students individually, over the phone or on the computer. We will review this plan each month and resume in-person instruction as soon as it is safe to do so.
Helping Students Succeed
As always, The Literacy Project will work with each student to create a unique learning plan that works for them. We know that not all of our students work well online. For those students, we’ll provide workbooks and paper packets, and teachers will work with students over the phone.
Students who would like to work online but don’t have computer access can apply for a Computer Scholarship. As funds allow, we will distribute laptops to qualifying students to support their studies. These Computer Scholarships are gifts to the students to support lifelong learning, and the computers do not need to be returned to The Literacy Project at any point. We hope that the computer scholarships will help our students as they move on to college and career training.
Registering for Fall Classes
Registration for Fall 2020 classes begins on August 31 and continues until classes are filled. New students join at the beginning of each month. To register for online classes, contact the site you’d normally take in-person classes.
Applying for a Computer Scholarship
Students who are interested in applying for a computer scholarship should talk with the teacher they are assigned to for Fall classes. The teacher will provide information about whether the student is eligible for a scholarship, whether scholarships are available, and how to complete the application process. Scholarships are dependent on generous gifts from the community and may not always be available.
Preparing for the HiSET Test
Testing for the HiSET (which was cancelled in Spring 2020) has resumed, but there are some important changes. Test takers will take the test at home or at one of The Literacy Project’s classrooms, not at the usual testing center. Students who are ready to test should talk to their teacher about registering. Scholarships are available to Literacy Project students to help cover the testing fee.
Volunteers in Online Classrooms
As we reform our classrooms online, volunteers will be part of the plan! Volunteers can work individually with students and help to lead group instruction. If you’re interested in volunteering in this way, we will be happy to hear from you!
Online Learning Works!
We are very eager to see our students in person again, once it is safe to return to the classroom! In the meantime, our teachers have been surprised by how effective online instruction can be. We can read books together, compare answers to math problems, and study vocabulary together. We can play educational games, write together, watch and discuss videos, and talk and think in large and small groups. There are hundreds of educational tools available online, and our teachers are experimenting daily to find what works best. For adults who are ready to move forward with their education, online classes at The Literacy Project are a great option. Join us!