About Literacy Advance of Houston

Low literacy is a common thread connecting many social issues such as poverty, unemployment, homelessness, and crime. Consider that 43% of people with the lowest literacy skills live in poverty; 17% receive food stamps, and 70% are unemployed or working only part time (National Institute for Literacy). Large numbers of adults accessing community social services and most of those in the penal system are illiterate. Limited literacy robs our state and nation of good workers because a modern information-based economy requires high levels of communication.

Low literacy is a solvable problem, and this is why Literacy Advance exists. The mission of Literacy Advance of Houston is to teach adults to read, write, and communicate in English so they can achieve their full potential as parents, workers, citizens, and community members.

Learners who have taken Literacy Advance classes have gone on to pursue higher education, obtain better jobs, and earn U.S. citizenship. Literacy Advance offers literacy services at over 20 schools, community centers, churches, corporations, and small businesses throughout Greater Houston, within 4 primary programs:

• Adult Basic Education (ABE)
• English as a Second Language (ESL)
• Family Literacy, and
• While You’re Waiting (ESL classes for learners on the wait-list)

Volunteers are the heart of Literacy Advance and we offer extensive Tutor Training & Enrichment programs to train and equip volunteers and give them the resources they need to be effective tutors and have a successful volunteer experience.

Literacy Advance programs are targeted to help adults seeking to improve basic reading and writing skills to help them overcome challenges in employment, health care access, education, housing, and transportation.

Literacy Advance of Houston is an accredited affiliate of ProLiteracy America and received the prestigious TAPE Gold Award in Texas Community Partnership from the Texas Association of Partners in Education.