Once completed, participants may take a test, and upon passing, receive a Digital Literacy Certificate.  This resource is offered free and an instructor section is available if you would like to implement it in a classroom setting.  To learn more, click here. 

Create Awareness About the 2010 Census
 
The Census, which is conducted every 10 years, is a count of everyone living in the U.S.  the data is used to determine Congressional seats and the annual distribution of more than $400 billion in federal funding to state and local governments.  It also determines plans for a variety of government services including schools, public transportation, roads and community improvements, public health services and senior centers. 

Florida's response rate for the 2000 Census was 63 percent, lower than the national average of 67 percent.  This means that accurate funding was not received because 37 percent of the population was not counted.

By mid-March, Census questionnaires will have reached homes across the state.  Many of these homes belong to adult learners,  their participation in the Census is vital to have Florida represented accurately.  Creating awareness on the he importance of completing the Census should be a priority.

 

Read more about Census Lesson Plans and Activities

 

President Releases 2011 Proposed Budget - Includes Establishment of Workforce Innovation Fund

 

In early February the President delivered the Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 Budget proposal to Congress, which included $612.3 million to fund adult basic and literacy education state grants.  This represents an increase of $30 million over the 2009 appropriation.  The FY 2010 appropriation of $628.2 million included a one-time increase to compensate states for errors in calculating formulated grant awards between fiscal years 2003 and 2008.  Because of this one year adjustment, a number of states, including Florida, are slated for a decreased allocation from FY2010 funding levels.

Read more

Register Now for the Florida Literacy Conference

Don't wait!  Take advantage of pre-registration prices.  Conference registration deadline is April 20, 2010.  Register now. 

Vote Now for Portraits of Literacy

 

The Portraits of Literacy photo contest semi-finals are upon us.  FLC received more than 150 photos from photographers throughout Florida and around the world.  Click here to view semi-finalist submissions and vote for up to five of your favorites before April 9.  Finalist photos will be displayed at the Florida Literacy Conference, May 5-7.  Conference participants will vote for the winning photo, which will be announced during the State Literacy Awards banquet May 6. 

 

New County Health Rankings Give Snapshot of Health in All 50 States

Diet, exercise and health care provider options are just a few of the critical components that determine how healthy counties rank in the U.S.

 

A new report by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin's  Population Healthy Institute ranks every county in all 50 states using key factors including smoking, obesity, binge drinking, access to primary care providers, education levels air pollution and unemployment rates. 

 

In Florida for instance, Collier County ranked first in the state for health outcomes which determines how healthy people live and how long they live; however, the County ranked 11th in the state for health factors.  The health factors rating is established by health behaviors, clinical care, and socioeconomic and physical environmental factors. 

 

Read more

 

Preparing Adult English Language Learners for the Workforce

 

As the number of immigrants entering the workforce increases, English for the workplace is becoming a primary topic for adult English as a Second Language (ESL) classes.  Further driving this focus is the emphasis on and need for higher-level credentials and technology knowledge, trends that will continue to increase over the next decade.  Whether teaching ESL class, an ESL work-based class or an on-site workplace ESL class, teachers are being asked to teach more than the four skills - reading, writing, speaking and listening.  Programs have to incorporate new skills being emphasized in a technology-based world including collaboration, or working in teams; self-evaluation; and upper-level cognitive skills such as resourcefulness, problem solving and decision making based on analysis of multiple sources. 

 

Read more

 

Seeking Promising Practices

Do you haev a great new program that is working well for you?  Have you developed a community partnership that you would be willing to share with others?  If so, we want to hear about it!

 

• Receive a Distinguished Literacy Program recognition plague
• Be recognized on Promising Practices in the Literacy Education section of the FLC website
• Be featured in Literacy News, FLC's statewide newsletter

Staying Healthy Serves as Basis for New Video Module on Reading Medicine Labels
 
Healthy Roads Media recently developed a new video module based on the Medicines chapter in FLC's Staying Healthy curriculum.

Established in 2002 with a grant from the National Library of Medicine, Healthy Roads Media provides free multi-media healthy education materials in a number of languages and a variety of formats.  You can watch the educational video on medicine labels here. 

Donate Gadgets for Literacy!
 
Have an unwanted cell phone, calculator, mp3 player or other gadgets lying around collecting dust?  If so, recycle them and support the Florida Literacy Coalition at the same time!  Bring the devices with you to the Florida Literacy Conference or click here to mail them into the recycle center free of charge. 

A special thanks to Debra Hargrove and the Florida TechNet team for making this fundraiser possible.