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| An
online certificate trains professionals
to help break the cycle of low literacy.
Photo
courtesy of National Center for Family
Literacy |
Research, professional development and policy
are the three main goals of the Goodling Institute
for Research in Family Literacy at Penn State's
College of Education. With a new online Certificate
in Family Literacy available through the Penn
State World Campus, the institute is fulfilling
that second goal.
"The field has been mandated to upgrade
qualifications of family literacy staff members"
in programs funded by the Even Start legislation,
Dr. Eunice Askov, co-director for Research at
the Goodling Institute, said.
Offered in cooperation with the National Center
for Family Literacy in Louisville, Ky., the
certificate trains professionals to assist families
facing multiple barriers to break the intergenerational
cycle of low literacy and achieve economic stability,
Donna Bell of the National Center for Family
Literacy said.
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Leadership, community awareness and
communication are not always taught to children
in schools. That's why Penn State Cooperative Extension
in the Susquehanna Region offers a program for local
youth that focuses on these skills in "Building
Leaders for the Susquehanna Valley."
Each year, 12 schools from five nearby counties
enroll four to five high school juniors in the program.
Through an application process, the schools identify
students with demonstrated leadership potential,
but who are not already holding leadership positions
in their schools.
"Not the homecoming
queen or the class president," explained Joseph
Kowalski, superintendent of Milton Area School District.
"But with some nurturing, they're turned into
leaders for the following year."
During the school year, the students discuss a different
topic each month. For example, said program director
Janet Allis, for Earth Day in April, the students
go to the Shamokin-Mt. Carmel area to see the long-term
effects of coal mining on the environment and the
work that a group of citizens and organizations
is doing to improve the situation. Graduation is
in May.
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Rural communities need after-school programs
just as much as urban areas, says Dr. Walter Curfman,
project director for Bedford County’s new
21st Century Community Learning Center, a result
of a federal Department of Education grant proposal
submitted by Bedford County Cooperative Extension
and five surrounding county school districts.
“Kids may go home to empty houses after
school, and it’s possible they could make
the wrong choices without someone to help them
decide what to do or eat,” he said. “Kids
need that kind of help; it’s important for
them to remain active participants in academic
and enrichment activities.”
The center serves about 200 children in grades
five through eight from 3 to 6 p.m. Included is
a homework period, with help from teachers; 4-H
enrichment programming, such as hatching baby
chicks; and activities such as music, arts or
drama.
The project has been considered unique because
of the high level of collaboration among Cooperative
Extension, the schools and local community organizations
that provide guidance. For example, the Bedford
County Arts Council helps with arts projects.
And in the summer, to help keep the children together
and in touch, the Vocational Technical Center
holds a career camp.
Another bonus: The program provides rides home.
“A lot of kids are benefiting,” reports
Dwayne Hay, who leads the 4-H component. “They’re
feeling better about themselves.”
For more information, see http://www.bedfordcountyafterschool.org.
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