Adult Literacy
Programs throughout the Commonwealth provide access to basic education and literacy instruction. In Virginia, there are over 1 million adults aged 18 years and older who do not have a high school diploma or its equivalent. Three instructional programs are designed to work with the most basic literacy needs of many of these adults.ABE (Adult Basic Education)
A program designed to help adults who are performing below the ninth grade level in reading, writing, mathematics, and other basic skills.Adult Secondary Programs – Adult Secondary programs include the Adult High School Diploma Program, External Diploma Program (EDP), and General Achievement Diploma (GAD).
CBLO (Community Based Literacy Organizations)
A program structured to support the work of private, not-for-profit literacy organizations that offer tutoring and other one-on-one or small group instructional approaches delivered primarily by volunteers.English Literacy/Civics Program
A program that demonstrates effective practices in providing and increasing access to English literacy programs linked to civics education.One Stop Workforce Center Participation
In March, 2008 the Superintendent of Public Instruction signed the State Memorandum of Instruction and Understandings: Comprehensive One Stop Workforce Centers (MOU), which, along with the Business Model for Phase I – Development and Implementation Plan for Virginia’s Comprehensive One Stop Centers, outlines the vision and implementation plans for Virginia’s comprehensive one stop workforce center system. This system is now being implemented in six sites throughout the Commonwealth that are identified in the Business Model. However, other sites not identified in the Business Model are pursuing implementation as well.
State-approved adult education and literacy programs that receive federal funding from the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, Title II of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, are mandated partners in the one stop system. Under the terms of the MOU, the Department of Education is instructed to provide guidance about participation in the one stop system to local school divisions with approved adult education and literacy programs.
Participation in the one stop system provides adult education and literacy programs and the communities they serve with several potential benefits, including meeting the competitive workforce needs of the businesses in the area, higher quality and streamlined service delivery for under-educated citizens, more referrals to the adult education and literacy program, and greater cooperation and collaboration among the mandated partners.
Refer to the guidance document as you negotiate your adult education program’s participation in the local one stop workforce center.
Operational Guidance
Operational Guidance Manual for Virginia Adult Education and Literacy Programs (PDF)
Site Visit Materials
Grants & Funding
For information on the grant application process, see Grants & Funding
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