LCC
nets hefty grants for adult education
Laredo Community College will be able to extend the services and benefits of its adult education programs with new and increased state funding totaling $873,284.
The three Texas Education Agency grants awarded to LCC include:
1. 1. A $669,284 grant to support the college’s regular adult education programs for all eligible students;
2. 2. A $100,000 grant to subsidize the incarcerated/institutionalized adult education program which serves individuals in the Webb County Jail, Webb County Day Reporting Center and the Corrections Corporation of America; and
3. 3. A $104,000 grant to support English literacy and civics education classes for persons seeking to improve their language skills and/or prepare for their U.S. citizenship test.
LCC Adult Education Director Carmen Seibert-Martinez explained that this year’s TEA funding is the final cycle of a three-year grant awarded initially to LCC on a competitive basis in 2001. The grant supports adult education instruction provided by various educational institutions and non-profit/private organizations. The last two years of funding were continuation grants.
Martinez noted that this year LCC received an increase of $93,000 for its regular adult education programs based primarily on increased contact hours generated by the LCC Adult Education program last year.
“With the increased funding, Laredo Community College can expect to add more classes and sites for adult education instruction,” said Martinez.
In addition to adult education classes offered on campus, LCC delivers instruction to various locations within its service delivery area, including Webb, Jim Hogg and Zapata counties. LCC also delivers adult education through LCC TV Instructional Channel 55 on Time Warner Cable.
The LCC Adult Education program is comprised of four basic components of instruction. This includes GED test preparation classes; English as a second language (ESL) instruction; adult basic education for adults to improve their reading, writing and computation; and English literacy and civics education which covers citizenship rights and responsibilities, naturalization procedures, U.S. history and government, among other topics.
LCC is a training provider for the Texas Workforce Center. Individuals who qualify for TWC services may be eligible to participate in GED or ESL classes from LCC.
For more information about the LCC Adult Education program, call 721-5436. Office hours are Mondays through Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 12 noon.
Office of Marketing and Public Information
West End Washington St.
Laredo, TX 78040-4395
956- 721-5140
Fax 956-721-5443