MoveUp: Beginning July 1, 2005, the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Bureau of Adult Basic and Literacy Education, in collaboration with the Department of Public Welfare, began a new initiative called Move Up. Move Up is designed to provide intensive adult education services to 3,000 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) clients statewide, of those 3,000 clients 1,500 will be in Philadelphia.

Move Up Philadelphia, coordinated by the Mayor’s Commission on Literacy, provides intensive instruction in reading and math, GED preparation, and job training skills. Additionally, Move Up Philadelphia offers English as a Second Language classes. Move Up students attend classes for 24 hours per week, Monday through Friday. Classes are free and offered at various sites throughout Philadelphia. Through participation in Move Up, individuals will gain the tools necessary to be better prepared for today’s workforce.

To qualify for Move Up, participants need to meet the following criteria:

    * Be 18 years of age or older
    * Be a TANF cash-assistance recipient in Pennsylvania
    * Need a high school diploma or equivalent, OR have a high school diploma or equivalent but score below an 8th grade level on a standardized assessment
    * Have completed a 4-week job search assigned by the Philadelphia County Assistance Office.

For more information contact Alyson Showell  at ShowellA@freelibrary.org or 215-686-5252