Vita Education Services offers free instruction in the Bucks County community and at the Bucks County Correctional Facilities to prepare adults to function more effectively in their roles as family members, employees and citizens. Our programs are designed to improve skills in basic reading, writing, math, GED preparation and English as a Second Language (ESL). This helps individuals to enhance their ability to deal with real life situations, meet personal goals, and become self sufficient.
Individuals over the age of 17 can qualify for services. Our educational programs are targeted to reach core goals of:
- earning a GED
- benefiting from post-secondary education or occupational training programs
- obtaining and retaining employment
- improving English proficiency
- helping children succeed in school
…to raise children who have strong literacy skills.
…to be good employees.
…to keep themselves and their families healthy.
…to be active in their communities.
…to advocate for themselves and avoid human rights abuse.
…to avoid crime.
Source: www.proliteracy.org
CLIMBING THE STAIRS TO SUCCESS
We want our students to be successful in reaching their goals. Students’ successes are measured by the completion of core goals or advancements from one educational level to the next. Vita’s programs are designed to help individuals move sequentially through Vita’s step system of educational levels in either literacy or ESL. There are six educational levels for native speakers and six educational levels for English as a Second Language learners. Programming is based on these levels, which are shown below. Students’ educational levels are determined in the beginning and at the end of each semester.
There are a variety of programming options: individual and small group tutoring, independent and computer-assisted learning and class instruction.
LITERACY PROGRAMS FOR NATIVE SPEAKERS STAIRS TO SUCCESS
| High Adult Secondary – class instruction, independent learning | |||||
| Low Adult Secondary – class instruction, independent learning | |||||
| High Intermediate ABE – class instruction, independent learning | |||||
| Low Intermediate ABE – small group instruction | |||||
| Beginning ABE – small group instruction | |||||
| Beginning Literacy – One-on-One tutoring and computer assisted instruction | |||||
ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE (ESL) PROGRAMS STAIRS TO SUCCESS
| Advanced ESL – small group instruction, computer assisted instruction | |||||
| High Intermediate ESL – small group instruction, class instruction, computer assisted instruction | |||||
| Low Intermediate ESL – small group instruction, class instruction, computer assisted instruction | |||||
| High Beginning ESL – small group instruction, class instruction | |||||
| Low Beginning ESL – small group instruction, class instruction | |||||
| Beginning Literacy ESL – small group instruction | |||||
Frequently asked questions about Vita’s programs:
How do individuals qualify for Vita basic literacy, GED and ESL programs?
Adults interested in our basic literacy, GED and ESL programs in the community need to attend an Orientation and Registration session. These orientation sessions are held in fall, winter, and summer. The orientation sessions introduce our programs, the steps needed to enter a program and what constitutes success. Program selection is based on the goals and interests of each student, their educational needs and their ability to fulfill program requirements.
What are the requirements of the Vita basic literacy, GED and ESL programs?
Students are selected on the basis of their core goals and the ability to make a commitment to 4-5 hours of instruction per week for a minimum of two months. Students need to have transportation and child care arrangements taken care of in order to come regularly for instruction.
How are students placed in these programs?
All students are given an assessment to measure educational levels; this determines the most appropriate placement.
How do individuals qualify for Vita Family Literacy?
Vita Family Literacy is an intensive English as a Second program. Parents interested in participating in this program can check eligibility requirements on our family literacy page
What makes a successful literacy program?
Vita staff takes seriously our mission to provide the highest quality programming for our students.
Our programming relies on several basic principals:
- Help each adult to identify his/her goals for literacy and life
- Create awareness of the academic needs in reading, writing and math for each student
- Make instruction relevant, useful and fun
- Provide opportunities for learning outside the classroom
