Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) today awarded more than $1 million to five school entities to train and support volunteer adult literacy education instructors, or tutors, who instruct students in adult education and literacy programs.
“Learning is a lifelong pursuit, and this grant funding will help more adults continue their learning in literacy programs run by qualified tutors,” said Secretary of Education Dr. Khalid N. Mumin. “By ensuring that adults across the Commonwealth can access high-quality educational programming, we are helping them live meaningful, productive lives and pursue infinite possibilities of success.”
The awardees are as follows:
- Pennsylvania State University, $133,106, Centre and Lycoming counties
- Lehigh Carbon Community College, $84,348, Lehigh County
- Intermediate Unit 1, $58,000, Washington County
- Literacy Council of Lancaster Lebanon, $150,000, Lancaster and Lebanon counties
- Literacy Pittsburgh, $659,046, Allegheny and Beaver counties
The grant program aims to broaden the scope of educational activities available to undereducated adults in the Commonwealth and their families, and to provide programs geared toward individuals who primarily speak languages other than English or have previously been unserved. Goals include: increased and improved services to adult learners and their families through the coordination of funding streams and programs across state agencies; and expanded adult and family literacy education programs so that adults and their families will function more effectively in their personal lives and as citizens and be better prepared for workforce training and employment.
Eligible grantees include school districts, intermediate units, area career and technical centers/vocational-technical schools, community colleges, literacy councils, local libraries; community-based organizations, and any other educational entity recognized by the Secretary of Education for providing appropriate and effective adult or family literacy education programs.
Governor Josh Shapiro is committed to ensuring Pennsylvania students have the resources they need to learn and grow from early childhood through adulthood. His 2023-24 budget secured more than $10 billion for K-12 public education funding, and his 2024-25 budget proposal requests a nearly $1.1 billion increase in basic education funding—the largest in Pennsylvania history. The proposal also includes $70 million for public libraries and library systems across Pennsylvania, $975 million for community colleges and PASSHE universities, and a $1 million increase for Adult and Family Literacy.
For more information on the Pennsylvania Department of Education, please visit the website or follow PDE on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, or Pinterest.
MEDIA CONTACT: Casey Smith, casesmith@pa.gov
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