Luzerne County Community College Receives $378,200 Family Literacy Grant to Support Two-Generational Learning

Luzerne County Community College has been selected to receive a $378,200 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Division of Adult Education, to support its Family Literacy Program for the 2025?2026 program year. This award, pending final approval, is part of a three-year grant cycle that will serve a contracted enrollment of 61 families across Luzerne County.*

The Family Literacy Program at LCCC is a two-generational educational model that empowers both parents and children by offering integrated services that support academic, personal, and family success. The program is free to participants and funded by the PA Department of Education.

"This program is transformative," said John Yudichak, LCCC President, at Luzerne County Community College. "It not only helps parents earn a high school equivalency diploma or improve their English language skills, but also strengthens their ability to support their children's education--starting as early as birth."

Participants in LCCC's Family Literacy Program engage in four key components:

Adult Education: High School Equivalency (GED), basic literacy, and English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction tailored for parents.

Parent Education: Classes that help parents support their child's learning and school success.

Parent and Child Together (PACT) Activities: Shared learning experiences to reinforce family bonds and model educational behaviors.

Early Childhood Education: Quality learning opportunities for children from birth through third grade in partnership with programs like Head Start and local public schools.

"Family Literacy works best when parents and children learn together," said Kim Gavlick, ALTA Program Director. "We are creating a culture of education at home--where children see learning as a lifelong journey, and parents have the tools and confidence to lead the way."

The Family Literacy Program is currently offered at multiple convenient locations throughout Luzerne County. Families interested in enrolling or learning more are encouraged to call 800-377-5222, ext. 7325 to schedule an orientation.

This grant supports Luzerne County Community College's continued commitment to educational access and community empowerment through evidence-based, impactful programming.