ALC Fact Sheet

Arkansas   Literacy   Councils   (ALC)   is   the   statewide   non-­‐profit   that   provides  

structure   and   support   to   47   county-­‐level   literacy   councils   that   serve   adults   in   65  
Arkansas   counties.   These   councils   recruit   and   train   volunteer   tutors   who   help  
adults  improve  their  basic  reading,  writing,  and  math  skills.    All  services  are  free.    
 
Arkansas is in need of free adult literacy services.   According   to   the   2003   National   Assessment   of   Adult  
Literacy,  14%  of  Arkansans  18  and  over  lack  basic  literacy  skills.    The  2000  U.S.  Census  estimated  that,  of  the  nearly  2  
million  Arkansans  18  and  over,  about  492,000-­‐-­‐almost  25  percent-­‐-­‐do  not  have  a  high  school  diploma  or  GED.    Of  this  
number   162,464   have   less   than   an   eighth-­‐grade   education.     Adults   with   low   literacy   skills   often   cannot   effectively  
negotiate  the  health  care  system,  read  food  or  prescription  drug  labels,  fill  out  a  simple  job  application,  or  manage  their  
finances.    It  is  difficult  for  such  persons  to  both  achieve  and  retain  employment,  and  it  is  difficult  for  them  to  be  engaged  
members  of  the  community.    
 
ALC Provides a Solution.    Fortunately,  when  Arkansans  who  need  it  seek  or  accept  help,  local  literacy  councils  are  
there  to  provide  instruction,  instructional  materials  and  support.    A  critical  part  of  the  programs’  success  is  one-­‐on-­‐one  
instruction  in  a  private  setting  provided  by  well-­‐trained  volunteer  literacy  tutors  at  no  charge.    
 
ALC Produces Outcomes!  For  the  fiscal  year  ending  June  30,  2010:  
 12,887  adult  students  received  free  educational  instruction.  (8,699  in  Basic  Literacy;  4,188  in  English  as  a  
Second  Language  (ESL).)  
 1,354  Arkansas  adults  learned  to  read  or  learned  to  read  better.  
 1,238  Arkansas  adults  learned  to  write  or  learned  to  write  better.  
 857  Arkansas  adults  learned  to  speak  English  or  learned  to  speak  English  better.  
 6,126  achievements  and  5,833  measurable  educational  advancements  made  by  Basic  Literacy  students.  
 3,838  achievements  and  7,013  measurable  educational  advancements  made  by  ESL  students.  
 867  adults  are  currently  on  literacy  council  wait  lists.    
 6,547  Arkansans  served  as  volunteer  tutors.    These  tutors  provided  124,494  hours  of  instruction,  a  value  
of  $2,595,699  according  to  Independent  Sector,  a  national  nonprofit  that  calculates  the  value  of  a  
volunteer  hour.  Volunteers  donated  an  additional  36,982  hours  on  pre-­‐  and  post-­‐lesson  preparation,  
valued  at  $771,074.  Other  volunteers  (3,402)  supported  literacy  councils  by  serving  as  board  members  
or  helping  with  special  projects.    They  donated  52,367  hours,  which  were  valued  at  $1,091,851.    
 Arkansas  Literacy  Council  Volunteers  are  Contributing  Over  $4  million  in  Services  to  Arkansas’s  Adult  
Education  each  year.  
 

Arkansans of all ages

and backgrounds
need help with
literacy.

42% of students are

between the ages of
25 and 44.

525 West Capitol Avenue Little Rock, AR 72201 • 501-907-2490 • www.arkansasliteracy.org

Arkansas  Literacy  Councils  was  named  Arkansas  Business  Publishing  Group  Nonprofit  Organization  of  the  Year  in  2005.  
  
A few success stories about literacy councils and their students...  
I  tutor  a  young  single  parent  who  is  trying  to  improve  her  literacy  skills  in  order  to  go  on  to  higher  education,  to  get  a  
good  job,  and  to  ultimately  create  a  better  future  for  her  family.  Since  coming  to  the  literacy  council  Nicole  has  begun  to  
read   at   a   much   higher   level   and   is   now   able   to   comprehend   what   she   has   read.   I   am   so   pleased   to   say   that   she   has   also  
become   a   more   confident   person   overall,   and   is   more   self-­‐assured,   thoughtful   and   selective   of   her   word   usage   in  
conversation.  I  think  Nicole  is  certainly  acquiring  the  skills  she  needs  to  achieve  her  goal  of  continued  education  and  a  
better  job.      ~  Literacy  Council  of  Jefferson  County.  
 
We   had   one   particular   young   man   this   year,   David,   who   studied   hard   and   was   extremely   dedicated   to   reaching   his   goal.  
David  is  somewhat  socially  disconnected  and  suffers  from  Aspergers  Disorder.    Although  very  bright,  he  was  unable  to  
concentrate  in  a  classroom  setting.    The  Literacy  Council  of  Grant  County  was  able  to  meet  David’s  needs  through  one-­‐
on-­‐one  tutoring.    His  hard  work  and  dedication  paid  off,  for  he  received  his  GED  in  August.  He  has  already  enrolled  in  
college  and  will  begin  this  fall.  He  just  needed  some  personal  attention  and  education.    I  am  honored  to  be  just  a  small  
part  of  giving  David  the  little  extra  help  he  needed  to  be  successful.    ~  Literacy  Council  of  Grant  County.  
 
Recently,  one  of  my  most  dedicated  students,  Erika,  reaped  the  benefits  of  her  improved  handle  on  English.  She  recently  
left   her   job   as   a   dishwasher   and   became   a   cashier,   a   job   that   she   explains   she   was   able   to   get   because   she   can   now  
communicate  in  English.      ~  Literacy  Council  of  Bowie-­‐Miller  Counties.  
 
Toby   has   had   a   troubled   life   and   was   even   in   jail   for   a   short   time.     The   last   grade   he   completed   was   the   6th   grade.   Toby  
has   since   straightened   out   his   life,   gotten   married   and   has   a   good   job,   but   he   cannot   advance   in   that   career   until   he  
learns  to  read  at  a  higher  grade-­‐level.  When  we  first  began,  Toby  struggled  and  stumbled  with  almost  every  word.  But  as  
we  neared  the  end  of  the  workbook,  right  before  Christmas,  he  read  two  paragraphs  with  ease.  Toby  didn't  even  realize  
how   much   he   had   accomplished   until   he   looked   up   and   saw   the   huge   smile   on   my   face.   Toby’s   next   goals   are   to   get   his  
GED,  and  become  a  detective  or  work  with  troubled  kids  who  need  a  little  extra  help  like  he  did.  We  will  continue  to  
work  toward  his  GED  and  we  will  get  there.        ~  Literacy  Council  of  Arkansas  County,  Stuttgart.  
 
One   of   my   ESL   students,   Maria,   is   so   proud   of   the   fact   that   she   can   now   better   communicate   with   her   daughter’s  
schoolteachers.  She  is  now  not  ashamed  to  say,  “I  don’t  understand;  please  explain  to  me.”  And  she  understands  the  
important  information  that  the  teachers  relay  about  her  daughter's  school  and  homework.  She  uses  the  dictionary  to  
find  the  words  she  needs,  and  she  communicates  better  with  people  around  her.     ~  St.  Francis  County  Literacy  Council,  
Forrest  City.  
 
 
Want to be a tutor? Know someone who needs help?
How   can   I   be   a   volunteer   tutor?     We   would   love   to   have   you!     Contact   us   to   locate   a   literacy   council   near   you.     All  
volunteers,   regardless   of   their   educational   background   or   career,   must   complete   tutor   training   by   the   local   council.    
Tutors   are   asked   to   devote   at   least   one   hour   a   week   to   their   students,   and   the   literacy   council   will   provide   ongoing  
support  to  tutors  as  they  work  with  students.  If  tutoring  is  not  for  you,  many  literacy  councils  need  volunteers  for  other  
tasks,   such   as   fundraisers   or   help   with   office   work.     You   may   also   want   to   consider   being   a   member   of   your   council's  
board  of  directors.  
 
I  know  someone  who  needs  help.    Where  do  they  go?    Please  contact  us.    The  phone  number  is  free  outside  of  Little  
Rock   at   800-­‐264-­‐7323.     You   can   also   email   us   at   info@arkansasliteracy.org.     We   will   make   a   referral   to   the   literacy  
council   closest   to   the   prospective   student.   A   staff   person   will   call   the   prospective   student   for   a   time   to   meet.     At   that  
meeting,  the  student  will  be  asked  about  goals  and  educational  experiences,  and  assessed  to  determine  the  instruction  
and   tools   necessary   to   help   achieve   literacy   goals.     Very   few   adults   are   complete   non-­‐readers,   but   the   2003   National  
Assessment  of  Adult  Literacy  estimates  that  14%  of  Arkansans  18  and  over  lack  basic  prose  literacy  skills.  

525 West Capitol Avenue Little Rock, AR 72201 • 501-907-2490 • www.arkansasliteracy.org

Arkansas  Literacy  Councils  was  named  Arkansas  Business  Publishing  Group  Nonprofit  Organization  of  the  Year  in  2005.