The word came out today from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Adult and Community Learning Services: we did it! We earned a 5-year competitive grant for more than $650,000 each year, to support our free adult basic education classes. We are thrilled!

This funding is a vote of confidence for the work we do every day: creating opportunities for adults to transform their lives and their futures by accessing education and training. With this strong foundation of funding, The Literacy Project will continue to be an effective, reliable and affordable option for adults who are ready to return to school.

The Literacy Project is one of approximately 75 programs in Massachusetts to receive funding through this grant. According to the DESE, these are historic levels of funding, with over $250 million allocated to adult education providers across the state over the next five years. Statewide, this funding will provide classes for 5,000 adult basic education students and more than 16,000 adult English learners each year.

Judith Roberts, Executive Director, gives credit to the students and teachers of The Literacy Project: “This is YOUR success! I am continually inspired by the determination of our students to invest in their futures, by their exceptionally dedicated teachers!”