2016 Florida Literacy Conference

May 4 - 6, Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront

Early Bird Registration
With over 70 workshops and 13 Conference tracks, there will be something for everyone at the 32nd Annual Florida Literacy Conference! Don�t miss it!

Registering is as simple as filling out this online form.

Member, Early Bird - By March 5 $225
Non-Member, Early Bird - March 5 $250

Click Here For More Information.
Call for Presenters � Deadline Extended: January 21, 2016
Don�t miss this opportunity to share your ideas and promising practices with your fellow adult education, literacy, and family literacy practitioners from across the state. Submit a proposal for your conference session today! Click here to submit your proposal.

Keynote Speaker � John Corcoran
Mr. Corcoran is a retired real estate developer and the author of
The Teacher Who Couldn�t Read. Although he graduated from college and taught school for 17 years, Mr. Corcoran did not learn how to read until he was nearly 50 years old.

Today Mr. Corcoran is a nationally known and respected speaker and lecturer who has given presentations in 48 states and been featured on 20/20, The Oprah Winfrey Show and USA Today. A former advisory board member of the National Institute for Literacy, he is the founder of the John Corcoran Foundation which trains tutors and helps students learn to read.

2016 Florida Literacy Awards

Do you know someone doing great things in literacy?

Recognize the noteworthy accomplishments and achievements of individuals and organizations supporting adult and family literacy throughout Florida. Nominations are now being accepted. The deadline for nominations is February 19th, 2016. See the flyer for more information on prizes and Nomination Procedures.

Individual Award categories:
Outstanding Literacy Volunteer
Mary J. Brogan Leadership
Flight for Freedom (Includes 2 airline tickets)

Organizational Award Categories:
Excellence in Education (Includes $2,500 grant)
Outstanding Business Partner

Click here to submit your nomination.
 
Deadline: February 19, 2016
 

2016 Grant Opportunity - Florida Health Literacy Initiative
 

FLC is pleased to announce that 2016 marks the 8th year that the Florida Heath Literacy Initiative has made grants available to incorporate health literacy instruction into adult ESOL and family literacy programs. This is made possible through the generous support of the Florida Blue Foundation.

This initiative will provide a minimum of 14 grants of up to $5,000 to local adult and family literacy programs. Applicants must be nonprofit or government-based agencies. The grants supply health education materials and resources designed to improve the health literacy of the adult learners and their families in a community-tailored manner.

Working with local literacy programs, the Florida Health Literacy Initiative has already reached over 14,000 students in 51 communities. Through the use of evidence-based strategies and project based learning, students are improving their health literacy, eating better, exercising and developing skills to communicate with doctors, take medicines correctly, navigate the health system and better care for the health of their families.

Application Deadline: March 7th, 2016
  For more information and to apply, please visit FLC�s Request for Proposals page.

For project-based learning ideas from previous grant recipients, please click here.

 

LINCS - Tutor Ready: Resources for Tutoring Adults in Reading

LINCS has released the beta version of Tutor Ready, a self-paced online professional development resource. Tutor Ready explains and demonstrates research based tutoring strategies focused on the four components of reading �Alphabetics, Fluency, Vocabulary,and Comprehension. It offers practical, strategies and tips for assessing and tutoring adult learners. Its unique structure, which relies on a questions and answers format, sets it apart from other online resources and makes it a flexible tool for programs to use.

Last Call for Submissions to the 12th Annual Florida Adult Learner Essay Book

Students from throughout Florida are invited to submit original short stories, poems, or autobiographical narratives to be included in a published book that will debut at the 2016 Florida Literacy Conference.

Each student author and their programs will receive a copy of the book. Teachers and tutors have found this to be a great way to build confidence while helping learners improve their reading, writing, and critical thinking skills.

For more information please visit our essay book Call for Entries page. Check out FLC�s writing resources and the PDF of last year�s book Hear Me.
 

Deadline: January 25th, 2016

 

2016 Spending Bill Increases Funds for Adult Education and Literacy

On December 18th President Obama signed the 2016 omnibus spending bill, funding the government through September 2016. The legislation provides funding increases in workforce development, adult education and apprenticeships. The bill increased funding for adult basic education state grants under Title II of WIOA by approximately $13 million ($582million) over FY 2015 appropriations ($569 million). It includes language that updates the definition of eligible career pathways for students receiving federal financial aid under the �ability-to-benefit� (AtB) provisions in the Higher Education Act and restores eligibility for the maximum Pell grant for AtB students to $5,915. The bill also provides $90 million in new funding for apprenticeship programs under the National Apprenticeship Act.

 

Free Flu Shots from Walgreens

Walgreens and the Department of Health and Human Services have created a partnership to help underinsured individuals obtain an annual flu vaccine. Your organization can set up a mini clinic at your location or make vouchers available for learners to use at Walgreens. Contact Catherine Hearing at HearingC@floridaliteracy.org or 407-246-7110 ext. 209 for more information and resources including Let's Talk About the Flu curriculum from Wisconsin Literacy.

 

Free Tax Preparation for Families - VITA

Many adult learners, especially those from other countries, may not be familiar with US income taxes. The good news is that free tax preparation through Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is available for families making less than $53,000 in 2015, as well as persons with disabilities, veterans, the elderly, and limited English skills. Visit the VITA website for more information and to find a location near you.

Learn about the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)�some people qualify for a cash benefit even if they do not owe any income taxes. Visit the EITC website for more information.