Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) today announced that $2.2 million in funding has been awarded to five organizations to support adult English language learners across the Commonwealth.
“All learners in this Commonwealth, no matter where they live or where they come from, have unique needs, backgrounds, strengths, and challenges,” said Acting Secretary of Education Dr. Khalid N. Mumin. “This funding will provide critical services to adult learners that will enable them to be engaged, active participants in our workforce—and, more importantly, in their communities.”
Awardees are as follows:
- Beyond Literacy, Philadelphia County, $265,244
- District 1199C Training & Upgrading Fund, Philadelphia County, $448,796
- Lancaster-Lebanon IU 13, Lancaster and Lebanon counties, $999,000
- Lehigh Carbon Community College, Lehigh County, $290,000
- Northampton Community College, Northampton and Monroe counties, $213,002
The Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education (IELCE) grant, funded federally under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), enables organizations to provide integrated English literacy and civics education activities to adult English language learners, including professionals with degrees or credentials in their native countries. These grants help adult learners achieve competency in the English language and acquire advanced skills needed to function effectively as parents, workers, and citizens in the United States.
Integrated English literacy and civics education services must include instruction in literacy and English language acquisition and instruction on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship and civic participation and may include workforce training. The programs must also be designed to prepare adult English language learners for, and place them in, unsubsidized employment in in-demand industries and occupations that lead to economic self-sufficiency and integrate with the local workforce development system.
To help every Pennsylvania student chart their own course, Governor Josh Shapiro’s inaugural budget proposal builds on his commitment to creating prosperous pathways for all learners across the Commonwealth. The Governor’s proposed 2023-24 budget includes $1 billion for our schools, $60 million to support postsecondary education, and a $3.8 million increase for Adult and Family Literacy. This budget is the first step toward a comprehensive solution to support learners and invest in targeted solutions that meet students’ needs at every level.
PDE’s Division of Adult Education administers federal and state adult basic and family literacy funds. Adult basic and family literacy education programs funded by the Division of Adult Education provide a full range of services that support Pennsylvanians in developing basic skills that are necessary to participate fully in the education of their children, find and keep family-sustaining employment, or obtain a high school equivalency credential.
For more information on the Pennsylvania Department of Education, please visit PDE's website or follow PDE on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, or Pinterest.
MEDIA CONTACT: Taj Magruder, tmagruder@pa.gov
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