New Initiative: Adult Literacy Professional Development Center

The State Education Office (SEO) of the Government of the District of Columbia has announced that D.C. LEARNs has been selected to lead the development, design, and management of an Adult Literacy Professional Development Center for adult literacy, GED preparation, workplace literacy, family literacy, and adult English language learning programs in the District of Columbia. The award was made through a competitive grant process completed in September, and the final details on the grant agreement are expected to be completed by the end of the year.

The search is underway for a manager for the project.

Major organizational partners in the project include the Adult Literacy Resource Center (ALRC) at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library and the EFF Center for Training and Technical Assistance Center at the Center for Literacy Studies (CLS), University of Tennessee. Two D.C. LEARNs members, in addition to the ALRC, have agreed in principle to be designated training sites: The Carlos Rosario Public Charter School and Covenant House Washington (Mississippi Avenue, SE location). Local practitioners from agencies such as the Spanish Education Development (SED) Center, Literacy Volunteers of the National Capital Area (LVA-NCA), the Even Start Multicultural Family Literacy Program at Mary’s Center, and others, have agreed to develop workshops and other professional development activities associated with the Center.

A complete press release is available. [PDF]