Regional Literacy Coordinating Committees

Introduction

Regional Literacy Coordinating Committees (RLCC's) are extremely important in fostering linkages between the local and state levels, establishing lines of communication among literacy providers and support services at the local level and serving as a source and conduit for information at both the local and state levels.  The importance of the Regional Literacy Coordinating Committees cannot be overstated.  By regionalizing, recognition is given to the demographic complexity of the Commonwealth, in that literacy education needs can and do vary according to urban/rural setting, existing literacy services, availability of facilities, geographic distances, available resources, etc.

All Committees are encouraged to develop their own agendas, methods of operation, and overall organizational structure within the general guidelines outlined herein.  Although membership, representation and funding are monitored by the Virginia Literacy Initiative, it is important to emphasize that, even within these areas, the Committees have significant flexibility.  Currently there are 18 Regional Literacy Coordinating Committees in the Commonwealth of Virginia, each representing a specific geographic area.

Mission & Goals:

The Mission of the Regional Literacy Coordinating Committees is to assist in the creation of a more literate region, empowering individuals therein to achieve their full potential and to participate effectively as members of families, communities and the workforce, thereby enhancing both their quality of life and their access to opportunity.  The Goals of the Committees are as follows:

  1. To facilitate the development, implementation and maintenance of the Virginia Adult Learning System in each locality within a given region.
  2. To facilitate communication among public and private literacy service providers and support organizations within the region.
  3. To facilitate and encourage a sharing of resources among public and private literacy service providers and support organizations within the region.
  4. To promote the value of literacy improvement within a given region via the collection and dissemination of information relative to literacy services therein.
  5. To advise the Virginia Literacy Initiative regarding specific needs in literacy education for a given region.

Committee Representation:

Membership on each Regional Literacy Coordinating Committee consists of at least one representative from each of the following agencies/groups located in that region: