Permian Basin Adult Literacy Center

Program Overview

PBALC was organized in 1984 with a one-year grant from the Texas Education Agency. Since 1985, we have been an independent organization funded by grants, donations, and the fundraising efforts of our board of directors. When we were founded, we primarily provided one-to-one tutoring services – an adult with limited literacy was paired with a volunteer tutor, and the two worked together to improve the student's reading skills. The program was run by a staff of two in office space donated by Midland College, until a capital campaign in 2000 helped us build our own facility, the "Literacy House" at 1709 West Wall Street (facing K Street with a blue door).

As the Permian Basin has grown and changed, PBALC has adapted our programming to meet the increasingly diverse literacy needs of the community. Our largest program service has shifted from basic literacy (reading, and writing l skills) to English language literacy (vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar, and conversation skills). Our method of delivering services has also transitioned, from primarily one-to-one tutoring to a blend of small class instruction, discussion groups, and educational software usage.

Cost Info