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Michael Vail speaks to Downtown Rotary

PHOTO PROVIDED Tammy Garrison, a member of the Rotary Club of Downtown Lock Haven, thanks Michael Vail of the Institute of Adult Literacy at Penn State while presenting him with the coveted Downtowners’ pen.

LOCK HAVEN — Michael Vail was a recent guest speaker for the Rotary Club of Downtown Lock Haven. Mr. Vail is a Director of Career and Family Pathways Programs with the Institute for the Study of Adult Literacy at Penn State University.

Vail, in explaining his program, described the current Basic Literacy and GED programs. They are offered in digital format. However, he explained, an offering is needed for those who cannot or will not use the digital-based method of learning and testing. Paper format is needed.

The Institute for the Study of Adult Literacy at Penn State has partnered with Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit (CSIU) to offer tutoring for people with basic skills deficiencies. Students must be 17 and older, out of school, and have a career goal or a goal of obtaining a GED.

This Adult Literacy program serves three counties of Clinton, Centre, and Lycoming. They are housed at Penn State campus and Career Link in Williamsport. Since there is no community college within a 9-county area, evening classes are held at Penn College. Recently, classes at Muncy Correctional facility have been added with 50 learners and 35 tutors.

Michael Vail noted that the cost to taxpayers to provide this basic literacy skills education is $1,500 per year per student. Approximately 39 percent of Americans are functional illiterate, these programs are needed and the cost is “a real bargain!”

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To find out more about this program, call Career Link in Williamsport

at 570-601-5465.

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