Mailing Address:
Arkansas Literacy Councils
3905 Cooperative Way, Suite D
Little Rock, AR 72209

Phone:
501-907-2490
800-264-7323

Fax:
501-907-2492

Email:
info@arkansasliteracy.org

Arkansas Literacy Councils, Inc., (ALC) was founded in 1971 as a nonprofit corporation to support local, nonprofit literacy councils that recruit and train volunteers to help adults improve their basic reading and writing skills.

Purpose:
Arkansas Literacy Councils, Inc. (ALC) is the state organization that works to support over 50 literacy councils that recruit and train volunteer tutors to help adults improve their basic reading, writing, and math skills. All services are free.

Definition of Literacy:
The National Literacy Act (Public Law 102-73, July 25, 1991) defines literacy as an individual’s ability to read, write, and speak English, and compute and solve problems at levels of proficiency necessary to function on the job and in society, to achieve one’s goals, and develop one’s knowledge and potential.

Statistics:
For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006:

• A total of 6,319 students received tutoring by volunteers – 4,001 in basic literacy and 2,318 in English as a Second Language
• Basic literacy students made 11,457 achievements and goals; ESL students made 4,159 achievements and goals
• Over 4,515 Arkansans were mobilized to become volunteer adult literacy tutors
• A total of 215,903 hours were given by these tutors as instruction; a value of $3,894,890 (according to Independent Sector, a national nonprofit association which calculates the value of a volunteer hour at $18.04)
• An additional 47,701 hours were given by these volunteers and others on pre- and post-lesson preparation - worth $860,526
• Other volunteers served their literacy councils by assisting/conducting tutor training, serving as board members, helping with special projects, etc.) for a total 66,738 hours - worth $1,203,594.

Literacy Councils and ALC are saving the state of Arkansas nearly $6,000,000 in services that it doesn't have to pay to hire teachers to tutor adults.

How many adults "can't read?"
This is a common question with no clear answers because of the extent to which adults consider themselves literate. Many think they're doing well until something happens that forces them to make a major job or other life change – and they then realize their skills are inadequate. Others have a learning disability that has kept them from acquiring the skills they need. Very few adults are total non-readers, but the 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy estimates that 1 of 7 Americans age 18 and over do not have the literacy skills they need.

According to the 2000 United States Census, Arkansas has 1,993,031 residents age 18 and over. Of this number, 491,000, or almost 25 percent, do not have a high school diploma. Of the 491,000 Arkansans, 170,420 have less than an eighth-grade education. If a person does not have a high school diploma, it doesn't mean they do not have literacy skills. But, countless statistics show that if a person doesn't have a diploma, their ability to earn good salaries and get job promotions is greatly impacted.

How can I be a volunteer tutor?
Call the ALC office to locate a literacy council near you. All volunteers, regardless of their educational background – or career – must take a tutor training workshop offered by the council. These workshops vary in length depending on the council. You will then be placed with a student.

Literacy councils serve adults up to an eighth-grade reading level. Trained volunteer tutors provide free one-on-one tutoring at the student's own pace and convenience. Curriculum is designed to meet the student's needs and goals.

Tutors are asked to devote at least one hour a week to their students. The meeting times and places can vary, but is not allowed in individual homes. The literacy council will provide ongoing support to tutors as they work with students.

Once students reach their goals, they are encouraged to continue their education by enrolling in their local adult education center, where certified instructors teach in a classroom-style learning environment at all reading levels through the GED/high school diploma.

I want to help a literacy council, but tutoring is not for me. That's ok. Many literacy councils need volunteers for other duties, such as fundraisers or help with office work. You may also want to consider being a member of your council's board of directors.

What about English as a Second Language (ESL) tutoring?
Do I need to know the student's native language to help? Many literacy councils are working to meet the needs of a fast-growing immigration population where many want to learn English. If your council is offering ESL services, and you would like to help someone learn English, you will need to take an ESL tutor training workshop. You do not need to know the student's native language to be an ESL tutor. The curriculum is based on English with instruction beginning as basic as learning the alphabet.

I know someone who needs help. Where do they go?
Please call ALC between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The phone number in Little Rock is 907-2490. The phone number outside Little Rock is 800-264-7323 – a free call. We will make a referral to the literacy council closest to the prospective student. A staff person from that program will call the prospective student for a time to meet. At that meeting, students are asked about their goals and their education experiences. They will also be assessed to see what materials and instruction are needed to help them achieve their literacy goals.

It's not a shame when people don't have the literacy skills they need.
It's a shame they're not doing anything about it.

For more information, contact your local literacy council or
ALC at info@arkansasliteracy.org
Arkansas Literacy Hotline 1-800-264-READ (7323)