The Literacy Alliance Inc.

The Literacy Alliance's goal is to reduce adult illiteracy. We work to decrease the number adults without high school diplomas and increase functional literacy skills and prepare them to successfully pass the GED/HSE credential exam to earn their high school equivalency.

The Literacy Alliance also teaches English language learners (ELL) to improve their ability to function in their jobs and communities.

In September 2021, The Literacy Alliance acquired Project READS from the Allen County Education Partnership. Project READS works with students in grades K-3 to bring them to grade-level reading benchmarks.

We offer learning centers in Fort Wayne, New Haven, Decatur and Bluffton.

Instructors and adult students design individual learning plans to meet the student's specific needs, based on pre-assessments and ongoing assessments. Classes meet three times/week and students generally have homework between classes. Computer based education is included in some classes. Teachers and volunteer tutors assist students during independent study class time.

Job skills certifications also are offered to our students, helping better prepare them for a new career at the same time they are earning their high school credential.

We provide weekly tutoring throughout the school year to students in grades K-3 by volunteers who work one on one with students who have been identified as reading below grade level.

With 34 years of experience in helping adults prepare for high school equivalency tests and also in teaching adults to read and perform basic math, the Literacy Alliance has the expertise to help adults learn. Our credentialed staff understand the adult learner and the learning styles. In addition, we partner with several local organizations, many of which refer adults for our classes and/or offer space in their facility for our classes.

The outcomes TLA expects to achieve are academic gains. Success targets are as follows: 16 (40%) ESOL students will make an academic gain; 122 (90%) pre-HSE students will make an academic gain, and 4 (3%) will graduate into an HSE class; 128 (64%) HSE students will make an National Reporting System (NRS) gain, and 46 (23%) will obtain the HSE diploma.

Regular reviews of outcomes and impact reveal important information about student success. TLA tracks student progress through weekly review of outcome data. The Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) measures academic gains. When gains are meeting or exceeding targets, agency staff discuss what instruction and tactics are working. Such findings help improve service delivery when targets are not being met.

By tracking student outputs as well as outcomes, staff have learned that students come to TLA to obtain a high school credential. The students seek success through attainment of what will get them better employment and self-sufficiency. In 2018 we began offering HSE students an opportunity to earn a job certification in either business or manufacturing sectors along with their HSE credential to increase their employability and upward mobility. Last year, 37 students earned a nationally recognized certification. The agency has a career advisor on staff to instruct students on employability skills and career exploration as a part of regular HSE classes.

Staff have learned that many adult learners need structure to accomplish their goals. In response, staff developed a three-step intake process designed to foster individual responsibility and prepare students for class before they are placed in a class. Improved persistence and completion have resulted as a result of this change to the orientation process. Also, student outcomes have exceeded the prior year’s.