She has difficulty helping them with their homework because of her limited English proficiency. But this year Maria took the first step to improve her life and the lives of her children. Through a grant provided by Laubach Literacy's National Book Scholarship Fund, Maria and 24 other families are utilizing books and materials that are teaching them how to read. WVC serves a primarily rural district of 10,000 square miles, with a population of fewer than 150,000 people.
Most residents live in small communities or on farms and orchards.
As a public community college, WVC's mission is to teach the essential skills of reading, writing, mathematics, and computer literacy to under-educated adults. WVC has been offering classes in adult basic skills and English as a Second Language for 25 years. In recent years, the demand for this type of instruction has increased dramatically. The Hispanic population in the area tripled between 1980 and 1990, and it continues to grow as the area's agriculture-based economy draws people to the area for work. This year nearly 2,500 of the students WVC serves speak English as a Second Language, which is equivalent to 25 percent of the college's student body.