Programs & Services
LAC services are for teachers, tutors, counselors, job developers, program managers, executive directors, students, researchers, funders, and policymakers focusing on adult, family, and youth literacy in New York.
NYC Regional Adult Education Network
ASISTS® Adult Student Information Systems and Technical Support
Professional Development
Family Literacy Resource Center
Health Literacy Initiative
Strengthening the Literacy Community
Professional Development Center
Online Resources
Publications
NYC Regional Adult Education Network
The LAC is pleased to serve as the NYS Education Department’s regional adult education network for NYC. In addition to providing professional development services free of charge to adult and family literacy practitioners throughout the city, we also work with other SED-funded technical assistance centers to support K-12 school improvement throughout the city.
ASISTS®
ASISTS®, the Adult Student Information Systems and Technical Support system, collects and analyzes data on more than 120,000 adult literacy students in New York State. Programs use ASISTS® for reporting, fundraising, program development, and research. ASISTS® staff train program staff to use the ASISTS® software and the data it generates as well as providing technical assistance by phone or email.
Professional Development
The LAC provides training and technical assistance in instruction, curriculum development, and effective program management to practitioners in basic education for adults and out-of-school youth, English for Speakers of Other Languages, and family literacy programs. Themes include health literacy, citizenship and civics education, GED, integrating technology into instruction, intake and assessment,and adult literacy policy. We provide a Pre-Service Institute for new literacy instructors and tutors.
Family Literacy Resource Center
Our family literacy initiative debuted in 2003 with research into provision of family literacy services in NYC, resulting in an online directory of family literacy programs. In addition to focusing on family literacy in our professional development efforts, we are also conducting research on exemplary practices in family literacy.
Health Literacy Initiative
In partnership with the NYC Mayor’s Office, the LAC has launched the Health Literacy Initiative, which fosters partnerships between health providers and literacy programs in order to help low-income New Yorkers manage and improve their health and that of their families.
Strengthening the Literacy Community
Adult and family literacy programs are often undersupported and underappreciated. The LAC provides financial assistance to our local literacy partners through regranting projects including the Bookbinders’ Guild Library Development Awards. We also recognize the accomplishments of our colleagues in the field by sponsoring an annual Literacy Recognition Award Ceremony.
Professional Development Center
The Dan Rabideau Clearinghouse offers a wide array of materials including books, journals, audio- and videotapes, and software. In addition to professional development materials, we also offer curricula and other materials for use with basic education, ESOL, family, and youth literacy students.
Our Computer Learning Center is a multimedia Internet-connected computer lab where literacy practitioners can explore strategies for integrating technology into instruction. Workshops on using computers in literacy instruction are regularly held in this lab.
Online Resources
This website is a cutting-edge repository of resources for adult, youth, and family literacy programs including our publications, online components of professional development workshops, curriculum and lesson planning materials, and links to other literacy-related websites.
Publications
The LAC publishes a newsletter, Literacy Update, five times a year, as well as an annual journal, Literacy Harvest, devoted to key adult literacy issues. Directories and professional development curricula round out our offerings.