1. Introduction
Who We Are
The Literacy Project is an adult
basic education program. We offer
free classes to adults (over 16).
What We Teach
1. Reading, Writing, and Math
2. G.E.D. Preparation
3. Science
4. Creative Writing
5. History and Current Events
6. Computers and the
Internet
7. Health and
Parenting
8.
COMMUNICATION AND LEADERSHIP
Who
Can Attend
In order to attend our classes, you must
be 16 or older,
be
out of school, and
have
some ability to speak and understand English.
You also must agree to:
follow the Attendance
Policy,
and
accept the Student Rights and Responsibilities.
Where We Are Located
We have Five learning centers, in
Franklin and Hampshire Counties.
2.
What to Expect
Getting
Started
If
you are just starting out with us, here is what you can expect:
1.
We' ll talk to you about
your goals and past experience with school.
2.
We' ll assess your strengths
and what you will need to work on.
3.
We' ll assign you to a class.
4.
You' ll work in small groups
(no more than 10 people) and one-on-one, with our staff teachers, volunteers,
and peer tutors.
5.
You' ll work at your own
pace.
6.
We' ll review your progress with you regularly.
7.
There will be many opportunities to get involved
in projects and activities beyond your own studies.
Our
goal is to make it as easy as possible for you to learn.
Joining
the Class
We
work hard to make a comfortable classroom.
We sit in circles or around tables.
We encourage everyone to work together and help each other.
We set the rules and make decisions as a group.
We believe that everyone has things to teach as well as things to learn
- including the teachers.
Making
Progress
We
do not give grades, so you will not get a report card from us.
There are many ways to see your progress.
For example, you may:
1)
understand more of what you read,
2)
read and write more often,
3)
feel more confident about doing math,
4)
speak up for yourself more, and
5)
improve your scores on GED practice tests.
If
you have questions about your progress, talk to your teacher.
Reaching
Your Goals
You
may want to know how long it will take to reach your goals.
The answer depends on you and your goals.
Everyone works at a different pace, and we all learn differently. The best way to reach your goals quickly is to come to class
regularly and work hard!
3.
Student Rights and
Responsibilities
Rights
I
have the right to:
1.
learn at my own pace.
2.
not feel put down.
3.
be treated with respect
.
4.
feel safe.
5.
set my own goals
.
6.
ask questions.
7.
evaluate my instructors.
If
you feel that any of your rights have been denied, please speak to a staff
member.
Responsibilities
1.
I agree to follow the attendance policy.
2.
I will show respect for myself, and for other
people and their property.
3.
I will use the classroom resources for learning.
4.
I will try my best to learn and help others
learn.
5.
I will come to school free of alcohol and
drugs.
6.
I will not use violence or threats or carry
weapons in the classroom.
4.
Policies
Attendance
Policy
The Literacy Project receives
money from the Department of Education and other organizations to offer free
classes at six sites in Franklin and Hampshire counties.
To keep this funding, we are required to keep our classes full.
Minimum Requirement:
Students must attend at least
70% of their scheduled class time.
Being Absent:
Let us know in advance if you are going to
be absent. Call us.
If you miss more than 2
weeks of class, we will contact you to see whether you want to continue to
attend classes.
If
you miss one month of classes, you will receive a letter from us requesting
that you contact us.
If you miss more than a month of classes, and
we don't hear from you, you will be removed from our class list.
We understand that people
may have illness, and personal or family issues to deal with at times.
We will work with you to be flexible about your attendance.
However, we are required by our funders to keep our classes full.
Non-Discrimination
Policy
We will not discriminate against
a student based on:
1.
race,
2.
color,
3.
religion,
4.
national origin,
5.
sex or gender identity,
6.
sexual orientation,
7.
marital status,
8.
age,
9.
disability,
10.
status as a veteran, or
11.
union membership.
If you feel that you have
been discriminated against, contact the Executive Director, Hollyn Green.
Grievance
Policy
A grievance is a problem or
conflict you have with The Literacy Project. As a student, you have a right to have your concerns listened
to. We will try to resolve the
problem by talking it out. If you can' t resolve the problem directly with
the staff person involved, you can meet with another staff person in the organization.
Here' s how a grievance process
works:
2.
If you are 16 or 17 and your parents or guardians
request attendance records or progress information, we will provide them with
the information. We will try
our best to inform you before we give out this information.
3.
We may share information about your progress
with other members of The Literacy Project staff, so that we can best help
you to meet your goals.
-
4.
We are mandated reporters for the Department
of Social Services (DSS). This
means that if there is reason to believe that a child (under 18 years old)
is at risk of being harmed, we are required to report it to DSS.
5.
If we have reason to believe that you may be
at risk of seriously harming yourself or others, we will contact appropriate
services outside of our program.
ADA
Policy
We comply
with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
We will provide reasonable accommodations and equal opportunities to
people with disabilities.
Smoke-Free
Policy
The Literacy
Project wants to protect everyone from second-hand smoke.
Smoking is not allowed in any building of The Literacy Project.
If you are a smoker and want to quit, we can help.
Call our Health Education Coordinator, Lynne Paju, at 413-774-3934,
extension 14.
Safety in the Classroom
-
The Literacy Project' s goal is to build a safe community of learners. We
prohibit violence of any kind in our classes and offices.
1. The Bottom Line -
You will be asked to leave the classroom if you threaten or harm another
person, carry a weapon, or come to class under the influence of alcohol or
drugs. If you are asked to leave for one of these reasons, you must meet with
the teacher before returning to class.
2. Groundrules -
To help make a safe classroom, each class sets their own groundrules,
and posts them at the site. The rules will be different for each class, but
these are always included:
