Newswise — The National Center for Family Literacy (NCFL) announced today that it is accepting applications for 10 grants of up to $25,000 each to help education and community organizations provide support for Latino and other families to earn college degrees.
The grants are made possible with funding from MetLife Foundation, to expand the reach of the Family Literacy – Community College Partnership Initiative to communities and programs across the country. “These grants will broaden the availability and targeted use of a recently developed comprehensive set of tools for local organizations, schools and community colleges,” said Sharon Darling, president & founder of NCFL. “Most importantly, they will help guide adults learning English, first-generation college students and their families toward achieving their goals of obtaining a degree and economic well-being.”
The tools are available for free at www.famlit.org/myfamilygoestocollege. The grants will help community programs create innovative and practical uses of the online resources in order to maximize their success while learning from exemplary local efforts supporting educational transitions.
To learn more and fill out an application, visit www.famlit.org/NCFLgrants. The First Stage applications are due by midnight EDT on Aug. 22. Successful First Stage applicants will be notified during the week of Sep. 12 and invited to submit a full Second Stage application.
Examples of grantee implementation can include:• Community colleges and literacy programs establishing partnerships to improve the transition and success of nontraditional students in postsecondary educational settings;• Community colleges and literacy programs working to align GED instruction with the skills and knowledge needed for college and careers;• Community-based programs or schools beginning or enhancing their work with families to promote investments in education and successful pathways to college; and• Community colleges and literacy programs strengthening existing partnerships and improving upon nontraditional student transitions into postsecondary education.
Grantees may use one or all of the toolkit resources in their proposed project.
“This support will encourage adult learners, parents and families to continue their education and prepare for careers,” said Dennis White, MetLife Foundation president and CEO. “We hope the grants will help communities and students of all ages make lifelong learning a reality.”
The resources include online lessons with activities for Spanish-speaking families to help increase their investment in and pursuit of educational opportunities; a program guide for family and adult literacy programs; a case study on partnerships between family literacy programs and community colleges; a practical guide on how to make those partnerships more effective; and an examination of the impediments to attaining a postsecondary education, including how literacy programs can help with the transition and increase college graduation rates for nontraditional students. About NCFL:The National Center for Family Literacy, founded in 1989, is the worldwide leader in family literacy. More than 1 million families have made positive educational and economic gains as a result of NCFL’s work, which includes training more than 150,000 teachers and thousands of volunteers. For more information, visit www.famlit.org.
About MetLife Foundation:MetLife Foundation is committed to building a secure future for individuals and communities worldwide, through a focus on empowering older adults, preparing young people and building livable communities. In education, it seeks to strengthen public schools through effective teaching and collaborative leadership, and to prepare students for access to and success in higher education, particularly during the crucial first year. The Foundation’s grantmaking is informed by findings from the annual MetLife Survey of the American Teacher. More information is available at www.metlife.org.
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