Adult Literacy Program

WLC combines research-based reading instruction with functional literacy approaches. The research-based instructional approach is designed to help students who are struggling readers and those with dyslexia. The functional literacy content helps students immediately apply their growing reading and writing skills. Students attend two, two-hour classes per week and work with a volunteer tutor.

Our Program
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The Challenge
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How To Enroll

Our Program

The WLC program helps adults who struggle with reading, comprehension, spelling and writing. We start by teaching phonics for reading and spelling. In addition, we explicitly teach vocabulary, comprehension strategies, grammar and writing.

Students attend two classes each week. Each class is two hours long. If a student needs more help, the student will get a short-term tutor to help with specific skills.

  

Who We Serve

The WLC program is for native English speakers. This is not an ESL program. There are ESL classes in the city for people who speak English fairly well, but need more help with vocabulary and grammar. If you need an ESL program, please call the Adult Literacy Hotline: 202-727-2431.

This is a program for people 18 years old and older. If you need a program for people under the age of 18, please call the Adult Literacy Hotline: 202-727-2431.

Our method of teaching is not the best method for every student. If this is not the best program for a potential student, we will try to find a better program for that student.

The Challenge

Adult literacy in the United States is an acute and persistent problem. This is especially true for the District of Columbia. As of 2007, a study by the State Education Office (OSSE) found that DC’s overall functional illiteracy rate was 36 percent. In some neighborhoods east of the Anacostia River the number of struggling readers is even higher.

Low-literacy is a multi-generational phenomenon. Parents who read poorly tend to raise children who read poorly. It is a pillar of poverty. The DC Chamber of Commerce estimates that between 2000 and 2005, the city lost up to $535 million in tax revenue because businesses had to recruit job applicants from outside the city. The area of Washington with the highest rate of functional illiteracy, Ward 8, has also suffered the most from the poor economy. In 2011, Ward 8 had a 35 percent poverty rate and a 25.2 percent unemployment rate.

How To Enroll

If you want to enroll as a student or help a student enroll, please call 202-387-9029. An employee will ask you some questions to determine whether our approach is suitable for your needs or the needs of the student you are recommending. If it is not, the employee will recommend a better program. If it seems as though the WLC is a suitable program, one of our staff members will take your information and schedule an in-person appointment. At the intake appointment, you will take several reading assessments to find which class will be the best fit.