Did you know that September was National Literacy Month? According to the National Center for Family Literacy, more than 30 million Americans have reading skills below basic literacy levels. Literacy issues do not just affect children and young adults. To improve literacy in America, we must consider all readers.
Consider these Texas facts:
o 3.8 million people in Texas need literacy services
o One in three Texas adults cannot read this sentence
o 15% of Fannin County residents are functionally illiterate
o 50% of chronically unemployed are illiterate
The Fannin Literacy Council’s H.O.P.E. (Helping Our People Excel) Program in Bonham and Honey Grove are provided to assist Fannin County residents ages 17 and up in improving their literacy skills. The mission of the Fannin Literacy Council is to promote life-long learning. The Council works on this mission by offering classes for the GED (General Education Development) and ABE (Adult Basic Education). These classes are FREE for any Fannin County resident.
The H.O.P.E. Program provides one-on-one tutoring, along with computer and paper-based instruction, to improve reading levels, sharpen math skills, or study for a G.E.D. Diploma or a college entrance exam.
The H.O.P.E. Program schedule for Bonham (806 W. 16th St.) is:
GED and ABE: Mondays 9 am – 12 pm and 6 – 9 pm
Tuesdays and Thursdays 6 – 9 pm
The H.O.P.E. Program schedule for Honey Grove (201 W. Market St.) is:
GED and ABE: Mondays 9 am – 12 pm
Tuesdays 6 – 9 pm
English as a Second Language (ESL) classes are now provided by Grayson College at the Bonham Housing Authority on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights from 5 – 9 pm.
To learn more about the Fannin Literacy Council, visit www.fanninliteracycouncil.org or contact Lou Ann Taylor, Social Services Coordinator for the Bonham Housing Authority, at 903-583-1264 to enroll in classes.