Our Literacy Academy Network

Learning Together Family Literacy Academy

Volunteer USA inspires and empowers families through learning and second chances. Research shows illiterate parents are twice as likely to raise illiterate children, but it is a cycle we strive to break. As a result, we work hard to strengthen a network of Family Literacy Academies which focus on both the parent and the child. It’s a network of the highest performing educational centers in the Southern United States. Our programs are not located in the suburbs but in places where there is a immense need to provide parents a second chance at learning and a better life for their children.

Our Family Literacy Academies center on helping moms who are migrant farm workers or earn minimum-wage in the inner city and our resources serve the entire family. We know that without childcare and a nutritious meal, these moms won’t be able to attend classes where they can earn their high school diploma. So we provide it all – offering courses in English, reading and writing as well as preschool classes for their youngest kids and homework help for their school-aged children. At our Deaf Family Literacy Academy, we provide American Sign Language (pdf.362.58 kb) and English literacy instruction (pdf.5.25 mb) to families with deaf children or parents. The ability for these parents to learn how to communicate in a world of silence is vital if we are to ensure these children with special needs are able to learn and lead a productive life.

The result of our work? Ninety percent of parents improve at least one grade level each year in our academies, and almost half of them improve by two grade levels. Most importantly, while their kids come into our programs very deficient in literacy skills, we are most proud to report that by the time they enroll in kindergarten they are on grade level with their peers.

So that’s it..we take challenges and turn them into opportunities. By providing access to quality education, nutritious food and childcare –families in even the very poorest parts of the southern United States get a chance at building better lives for generations to come. Learn more about our Family Literacy Academies. (pdf 315 kb)