Our mission...

To enable individuals who are functioning at basic levels of literacy to further develop their knowledge and potential and to attain higher levels of literacy while achieving their goals.

Who we serve & What we offer...

The Second Start program will help you reach goals that are important to you. You must:

•  Be 16 years or older and not currently enrolled in high school
•  Speak English well enough to communicate with a service provider and verbally express literacy goals
•  Read below the eighth-grade level

In our West Oakland facility, Second Start offers:

•  Skills assessment
•  One-on-one tutoring
•  Classes in reading, writing, math, and spelling
•  Computer learning with Internet access
•  Families for Literacy programs
•  Referrals to other educational programs and institutions
•  Leadership opportunities
•  Second Start Library
•  Newsletters and notification of special events
•  Free, confidential help

History of Second Start...

In 1984, the Oakland Public Library began to provide one-on-one tutoring to help Oakland adults meet their literacy goals. Since that time, close to 5,000 learners have improved their reading and writing. Students study with tutors, attend small classes, or work in our computer center.

Facts about adult literacy...

• In Oakland, an estimated one in four English-speaking adults (approximately 80,000 people) can neither write clearly nor fully understand what they read.

• Children whose parents function at the lowest levels of literacy are twice as likely as their peers to function at low literacy levels.
  
  
• An estimated 50% of all Americans cannot fill out a job application.

• Nearly 75% of America’s unemployed have trouble reading and writing, a fact that seriously threatens the quality of the applicant pool available to business.

• Job safety, job performance, and product quality are seriously affected when employees lack basic reading and writing skills.

• Those who are functionally illiterate (reading at or below the 4th grade level don't have the skills necessary to participate in the processes that affect their lives.

"My daughter who is five years old, just started kindergarten where she is learning ABCs. I am 23 years and I am learning ABCs right along with her."  — Second Start learner

Copyright © 2004 Second Start Adult Literacy, Oakland Public Library
All Rights Reserved