Literacy Council of Norristown, Inc.
Improving lives through literacy
Learn how to support this organization
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
The Literacy Council of Norristown's (LCN) adult education programs provide adults who are underserved, undereducated, underemployed, and low income with opportunities to connect to better jobs, higher education and career training, and deeper civic and social engagement. LCN supports adult learners with the reading, speaking, writing, math, English, financial, digital, and work skills they need to access broader social, employment, and educational opportunities. LCN's free, accessible, high-quality programs are built on a foundation of practical instruction and are based in teaching work and life skills in conjunction with academic instruction.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Adult Education Tutoring Program
Literacy Council of Norristown (LCN) provides free, accessible, high quality adult education in Montgomery County, PA. LCN serves over 500 adult learners annually with the reading, writing, math, English language, digital, and work skills they need to access broader social, employment, and educational opportunities. Tutor training is offered for adults who would like to teach and coach in our programs.
Adult education programs
Literacy Council of Norristown (LCN) provides free, accessible, high quality adult education in Montgomery County, PA. LCN serves over 500 adult learners annually with the reading, writing, math, English language, digital, and work skills they need to access broader social, employment, and educational opportunities.
Workplace Literacy Programs
Since 1998, LCN offers a Workplace Literacy Project at employer sites emphasizing workplace skills. Work-site services are available for those businesses who wish to improve the ability of their workers to read, write, listen and speak to improve workplace performance.
Family and Community Literacy Programs
To meet the needs of the greater Norristown-Montgomery County community, LCN has developed partnerships and networks to further programming and distribution of diverse literacy materials and instruction to children and families. This family literacy collaborative recognizes the broader goal of building family literacy programming for all in the greater Norristown - Montgomery County community. These partnerships are building bridges for the future between organizations that work across human services, health services, literacy and education, social services, workforce development, financial services, and more.
Where we work
Awards
Celebrate Literacy Award 2023
Keystone State Literacy Association
External reviews
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Evaluation documents
Download evaluation reportsProgress as determined by results of post tests administered
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults, Ethnic and racial groups, Economically disadvantaged people, Immigrants and migrants
Related Program
Adult Education Tutoring Program
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Total represents % of students post tested increasing at least one Educational Functioning Level. 2020-1 data reflects progress during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Number of clients participating in educational programs
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of clients who become literate because of literacy education programs by the nonprofit
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Adult Education Tutoring Program
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of program participants who receive a secondary school diploma or GED
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of books distributed
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Family and Community Literacy Programs
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
We provide free books and learning materials to adult learners and to children and families in our community.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
In 2024 LCN is proud to celebrate its 40th anniversary of serving the community with free, accessible, high-quality education. The demand for LCNs programs continues to grow and the impact of our work in our community continues to build. LCNs adult education programs provide adults who are underserved, undereducated, underemployed, and low income with opportunities to connect to better jobs, higher education and career training, and deeper civic and social engagement.
In 2024 LCN will provide education for over 500 adult learners in Norristown and Montgomery County. 70% of LCN learners will advance at least 1 Education Functioning Level in a year, putting them on the path to accomplishing their education goals and over 60% of our learners will persist on their learning journey. Our goals include supporting 35 students in Adult Basic Education, educating 75 students in our GED programs with 15 attaining their High School Equivalency, providing ESL instruction for more than 350 learners, connecting more than 200 adults to the internet, computer classes, and free computers, and distributing more than 15,000 free books and learning materials to children and families in the community.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
LCN provides the following programs to improve literacy in our community:
Adult Basic Education: LCN was founded with this core program, providing adult learners with basic reading, writing and math skills. Learners are matched with LCN-trained tutors and learning pairs work up to 3 hours per week together on a learning journey overseen by LCN. Tutors attend 12-hours of training provided by LCN.
GED/High School Equivalency (GED/HSE): Adult learners enroll in a combination of one-on-one tutoring and targeted classroom instruction to tailor their learning journey for success. LCN supports learners with instruction, learning materials, and covers the exam fees for learners. Instruction and testing is available in both English and Spanish.
English for Speakers of Other Languages Classes: LCNs ESL classes enable students to improve their basic skills of reading, writing, listening, and speaking English. Additional resources include connections to legal, housing, food, health, work, and higher education, as well as other resources.
Digital Navigator Program: LCNs new technology programs offer all community residents access to technical support and assistance, support connecting to the internet, computer classes, and access to free computers.
Community Programs: LCN works with community members, including businesses, libraries, schools, and nonprofits to bring literacy instruction directly to learners in the community.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
LCN has been providing literacy education programs to members of the community since 1984. We operate in an area where most of our students live or work. Our geographic location together with our flexible service schedules affords a greater opportunity for those in need to take advantage of our services.
LCN uses standards-based assessment tools for its adult education programs and certified instructors for all classes. Volunteer tutors receive 12 hours of free comprehensive instruction provided by LCN trained staff. Support for tutors and instructors is available as well as professional development opportunities.
LCN also partners with numerous other organizations and businesses to provide referrals and wrap-around supports for learners and their families.
In the past year over 60% of students advanced at least one Educational Functioning Level (EFL) and over 65% persisted on their learning journey.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Since 1984, LCN has served thousands of students and 2023 was a transformational year for LCN. 521 individual adults learned with LCN in 2023: 456 students studied English, 77 learners studied in our GED program, 30 adults studied basic education, and 55 adults learned in LCN's new digital literacy program. Many students take advantage of studying in multiple programs to reach their learning goals.
2023 highlights included serving over 500 adults, 15 GED students earning their High School Equivalency, more than 100 volunteers teaching in our programs, providing over 15,000 free hours of instruction, distributing over 15,000 free books and learning materials to children and families, winning the Celebrate Literacy award from the Keystone State Literacy Association -Brandywine Valley Forge Chapter, launching the popular Family Literacy Workshop series at Montco-Norristown Library, launching the Dolly Parton Imagination Library in Norristown, opening three new adult education locations in Montgomery County in partnership with libraries and schools, and launching the Norristown Community Literacy Partners collective impact to align, enhance, and expand efforts to support children's and families' foundational literacy skills.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback, We ask the people who gave us feedback how well they think we responded
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Literacy Council of Norristown, Inc.
Board of directorsas of 03/01/2024
Cliff Hirst
Montgomery County-Norristown Public Library
Term: 2023 - 2024
Srinivas Kappagantula
Arevon
Kevin McGrath
HRMM&L (law firm)
Vijay Saini
Deloitte
Cliff Hirst
Norristown Public Library
Rob Sheppard
Temple University
Lauren Walizer
US Dept. of Health and Human Services
Monica D'Antonio
Montgomery County Community College
Rashaad Bates
Norristown City Council
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
Equity strategies
Last updated: 02/23/2023GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.