Literacy Assistance Center

Michael J. Hirschhorn
32 Broadway, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10004
Phone (212) 803-3329
michaelh@lacnyc.org
www.lacnyc.org

Year Incorporated

1983

Vision and/or Mission

The mission of the Literacy Assistance Center is to support and promote the expansion of quality literacy services in New York.

History

Several factors led to the formation of the Literacy Assistance Center:

Growing national recognition of the urgent need for basic education services for adults.

Census figures from 1980 indicating that close to half a million New York City residents had limited English skills and 1.1 million had less than an eight grade education.

A 1981 Mayoral Youth Literacy Task Force which estimated that at least 60,000 youth ages 14-21 - over two thirds of them out of school - were unable to read above a fifth grade level.

1983 data indicating that only 22,000 adults were enrolled in literacy programs, with thousands more on waiting lists or turned away.

A 1983 review by the New York State Education Department that documented a critical need to strengthen capacity and quality of literacy services.

A 1983 city/state task force which recommended an independent agency to take on citywide support functions.

Founding Leaders

The founders of the LAC were the then-director of the Mayor's Office of Education and the then-director of the Fund for the City of New York. Their roles were to serve as co-chairs of the initial Board of Directors.

Early Successes

Began with $2 million budget, with funding provided almost exclusively by the city and state.

A broad planning process tapped the input of many constituents.

A centralized referral process was developed.

Staff development, technical assistance and information services were launched.

Early Challenges

The service needs were greater than capacity.

The organization had no private funding.

The organization was unknown.

Turning Point

A significant step was when the Literacy Assistance Center began to aggressively seek private funding in the mid 1990s, increasing foundation revenue from 5 percent to 30 percent of budget.

Current Size

No members per se; however, the organization provides training and support to the nearly 300 literacy programs associated with the New York City Adult Literacy Initiative (NYCALI). NYCALI includes most of the literacy provider agencies in the city.

Staff of 28.

$3 million budget.

Offices in a floor and a half of an office tower in lower Manhattan.

Recent Accomplishments

Offers hundreds of professional development opportunities annually to literacy service providers.

Operates a literacy hotline which receives more than 25,000 calls annually.

Through ALIES 2000 (Adult Literacy Information and Evaluation System), collects and analyzes data on more than 50,000 adult literacy students in New York City.

Operates a Computer Learning Center where literacy practitioners can explore different methods of integrating technology into instruction.

Publishes a monthly newsletter, The Literacy Update; an annual journal, The Literacy Harvest; and research reports.

Maintains a clearinghouse of instructional materials.

Next Steps - Managerial

Further diversify private funding.

Maintain strong ties to the Mayor's Office and the New York State Education Department.

Establish an endowment fund.

Next Steps - Programmatic

Find ways to assess the valid, ultimate impact of professional development on students in classrooms.

Launch ALIES statewide.

Implement a training series for program managers.

Advice to Other Coalitions

Seek a balance of public and private funding from the start.

Last Updated

May 2001