Lewis & Clark Literacy Council

Our organization wants to see a Lewis & Clark County area population that is fully literate and able to use English for daily living. We want each of our students to achieve proficiency in reading and writing so they can pursue their own goals - improved employment, higher education, reading with their children.

Our core program is an individualized tutoring match. We connect adult learners with community volunteers who will meet with them one-to-one to study the aspects of language, literacy, and basic academics that are most important to them. This allows the adult learner to direct the learner program so that studying will be relevant to their current needs.

We also offer a discussion class for English learners. This group learning environment helps learners gain practice and build confidence in their ability to communicate about a broad range of topics. It also provides a forum for discussion of American customs, government, politics, and holidays.

Finally, we provide reading support to elementary school students at Title 1 elementary schools in the Helena School district. We recognize that low literacy is inter-generational and linked to poverty. By providing extra reading support to students at these schools, we help to break that cycle and boost student achievement.

The Lewis & Clark Literacy Council is completing its 30th year of serving the Helena area. During this time, we have established a strong community of local support, both financial and in-kind. We rely on a strong team of volunteer tutors. Through the generous donation of their time and talent, these volunteer educators allow us to deliver individualized, flexible lessons to our students.

We also receive important support from the Helena School District, in terms of an annual financial contribution, as well as office space in a school district building. This connection with the school district gives us a home in the community, and also helps foster connections that can support our adult learners as they see their own children entering the public school system.

In the 30 years since our founding, the Lewis & Clark Literacy Council has helped hundreds of learners improve their lives through literacy and language skills. From 2012 - 2017, we served 175 students. 33 of these students reported improved employment, 14 became citizens, and 12 earned their driver's license.

In the first semester of our elementary reading program (Spring 2018), 69% of students met or exceeded school-wide standards for annual reading progress.