Adult Basic Education (ABE)

From non-readers to the 5th grade reading level, ABE enrolls the majority of our student body. Small student groups are taught by certified teachers or trained volunteer tutors. Classes convene for a minimum of two mornings, afternoons or evenings per week in three hour sessions. Students also explore health literacy, financial literacy, and engage in a variety of employment preparation activities. The Pre-GED program is the next step in our students’ educational continuum.

Pre-General Educational Development (Pre-GED)

Adult students are placed in Pre-GED based on their reading level, between 5th - 8th grade. Building on the skills learned in ABE, the curriculum instructs students in reading, writing, math, social studies, science, financial and health literacy, and employment preparation. Students engage in class work a minimum of two mornings, afternoons or evenings per week for three hours.

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)

Students are taught speaking, listening, writing, reading, and grammatical structures in the English language. Each teacher-led, student-centered class works together four mornings or afternoons per week in three hour sessions. Students from across the world attend classes that are taught exclusively in English.

Family Literacy

For more than a decade, family literacy has been strengthening low-income families, particularly those led by single mothers, through the power of reading and writing. Parents attend classes while their children participate in Head Start programs. Each teacher-led class, with tutor assistance, focuses upon the acquisition of the English language, parenting concerns, and skills necessary for daily living. A portion of class instruction is conducted in a computer lab. Parents and children also learn together in child-centered activities and Parent and Child Activity Time (PACT).

Program Components

To complement our core programs, Literacy Partners has developed three initiatives to help students develop the knowledge and skills needed to access information, gain employment and achieve economic self sufficiency. These contextualized offerings include:

Financial Literacy

The Dow Jones Financial Literacy Program: Economics for Life is instrumental in helping students make wise decisions in today’s complex and difficult economic environment. This program provides thousands of students across all Literacy Partners programs with the critical skills needed to increase economic self-sufficiency in their daily lives and empowers them to make sound decisions for themselves and their family members. Instruction includes, among other topics: banking, acquiring credit, understanding your paycheck, lending and a wide array of financial literacy skills needed to plan for a sound financial future.

The Campaign for Financial Literacy, being held city-wide to raise awareness about the critical importance of financial literacy. The McGraw-Hill Companies and its partners, including the New York Public Library, target the general public with an emphasis on supporting teachers - kindergarten through high school. McGraw-Hill Companies underwrites the operation of the Henry Street Settlement Adult Basic Literacy Program.

Health Literacy

Health literacy teaches adults to read labels, to take medications safely, to be aware of potentially hazardous household items, and to help understand relevant health issues and the health care system.

Employment Preparation

Employment preparation focuses on employment and job readiness skills, such as introducing computer training, job search strategies, interviewing proficiency, dressing for success, and job retention and skill development.

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