LUMPKIN COUNTY IS A
CERTIFIED LITERATE COMMUNITY IN GEORGIA

The Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education (GDTAE) operates a statewide program in which communities make application to become recognized as a Certified Literate Community. The focus is on improving adult literacy throughout the designated community.

The Coalition began working in 2003 toward this recognition. The effort involved all aspects of the community and consisted of surveys of parents of school-aged children as well as of organizations and agencies with literacy-related programs. Businesses and industries were surveyed also to determine their need for literacy related and ESL (English as a Second Language) programs. Board member, Suzy Gruenhagen coordinated the huge task of data collection and organization.

The application was accepted by the state and a site visit of GDTAE board members occurred in the fall of 2005. Those site visitors recommended approval of the community as a Certified Literate Community (CLC). The recommendation was heard and accepted by the full state board at its meeting in January 2006.

The designation places responsibility on the Literacy Coalition’s member organizations/agencies to assure that within 10 years the community has improved its literacy level according to a formula established by the state.

CLC program strives to harnesses the power of the community, while addressing the issues of scarce funding and the need to recruit adult learners in greater numbers. CLCP enables communities to improve their literacy rates, while fostering a collaborative approach, and mobilizing available community resources to fight illiteracy.