1) Is there a fee to attend the JPPSS Westbank Family Literacy Program?
No. All services provided by the JPPSS Westbank Family Literacy Center such as adult education/English language
acquisition and early childhood assessments, instruction, educational activities, family activities, school lunch, etc., are
FREE of charge to active families.
2) What services does the JPPSS Westbank Family Literacy Center provide?
The JPPSS Westbank Family Literacy Center is a comprehensive, integrated family literacy program. Because the
services are integrated, each family must participate in each of the following components:
1) Adult Education (ABE, ASE, GED) or English language acquisition (ESL)
2) Parenting Education
3) Parent and Child Interactive Literacy Activities (ILA/PACT)
4) Early Childhood Education
Each of the components are just as important as the other; therefore, families must maintain their school schedules in
order to remain active within the program.
Additionally, each family will receive a minimum of one (1) home-based instructional visit per quarter. These
home-based visits provide families the connection between the home and the school as the primary learning
environments.
3) Do I have to live within a certain parish or city to attend the JPPSS Westbank Family Literacy Program?
No. Any family who meets the enrollment qualifications who lives within the Greater New Orleans Area may attend the
JPPSS Westbank Even Start Family Literacy Center.
4) I want to attend the program, but I do not have transportation. Does the JPPSS Westbank Family Literacy Program
provide transportation to and from the center?
The JPPSS Westbank Family Literacy Center offers its participants bus tokens for use with the Jefferson Parish Transit
System. The family literacy center is located on the Barataira/Westbank bus line. Other methods of transportation are
encouraged among our families such as car pooling, to help reduce this barrier to attend school.
5) Are family literacy classes held during the day or at night?
The JPPSS Westbank Family Literacy Center currently offers daytime classes, Monday through Thursday, from 8:30 am
until 3:00 pm and on Friday mornings from 8:30 am until 11:30 am.
6) What will my school schedule be when I enroll?
Each family will, during their orientation, make a school schedule which provides enough classroom instruction during
the week in each component. Typically, students attend the program a minimum of three (3) days a week, from 9:00 am
until 2:00 pm. When discussing your family's schedule, flexibility in terms of work schedules and other family events
are considered.
7) Does my child or children have to come to school with me?
Yes. Because the center operates as a family literacy program, the main goal of the program is not just to obtain your
GED or learn English. Rather, the goal of the program is to assist you in your educational achievement as well as work
closely with you and your children to better prepare them to enter school. Children between the ages of six (6) weeks
and four (4) years of age, not enrolled within Head Start or the JPPSS Pre-K Program are required to attend school
each day that you are scheduled for class.
For those parents with school aged children (five years through seven years of age), children will not attend the center;
however, these parents are encouraged to assist those parents with young children during their school day.
8) What are the age requirements to attend the JPPSS Westbank Family Literacy Program?
Adult participants must be at least sixteen (16) years of age to attend the program. Additionally, all sixteen (16) year-old
participants must provide a recent "Waiver Request for Exiting School" (Official School Drop Slip - Download Here)
as well as have their parent/gaurdian attend their family orientation. Following the orientation, the parent/gaurdian
must a sign a parental consent form to officially enroll in the JPPSS Westbank Family Literacy Program. Students
seventeen (17) years of age must also provide a recent "Waiver Request for Exiting School" (Official School Drop Slip)
to officially enroll within the program.
As stated above, adults must have at least one child between the ages of six weeks and seven years of age to attend the
program.
9) What documents are required for enrollment within the JPPSS Westbank Family Literacy Program?
All adult participants aged eighteen (18) years and older must provide a copy of their Social Security Card; however, if
the adult(s) do not have a Social Security Card, another form of governmental identification is acceptable (such as a
passport, VISA, etc.).
As stated above, adult participants ages sixteen (16) and seventeen (17) years of age must also provide a recently
completed "Waiver Request for Exiting School" (Official School Drop Slip) as well as a copy of their birth certificate.
In addition to the required adult documentation, a copy of each child/children's birth certificate, Social Security Card
and up-to-date immunization (shot) record(s) must be provided before a family is considered officially enrolled within
program.
10) What are the general requirements for enrollment within the JPPSS Westbank Family Literacy Program?
There are only two requirements to enter the program:
1) You must be an adult (aged 16 years or older) who is in need of academic upgrade such as obtaining your General
Education Development (GED) Diploma, English language skills, gaining employability skills, obtaining post-secondary
educational skills, etc; and,
2) Have a child or children between the ages six (6) weeks to seven (7) years.
11) What can I expect during the family orientation and testing?
Once you have received a scheduled date and time for your family orientation and testing, a Family Literacy Specialist
will go over our program's Parenting Handbook, in detail. The program handbook describes the expectations, overview
and basic rules/guidelines of the JPPSS Westbank Family Literacy Program.
Furthermore, family orientation is a time for the parent and Family Literacy Specialist to discuss any further
questions/concerns about the program, tour the facility, complete all necessary registration paperwork, set their school
schedule, meet the family literacy instructional team and prepare the family for their entry into the program.
12) How long does it take to complete the program?
Typically, families are enrolled within our program anywhere from four to eight (4-8) months; however, some families
have been enrolled within our program over two years. The completion of the program depends upon the individual
family and their needs. Remember, the main goal of the JPPSS Westbank Family Literacy Program is not just to obtain a
GED or learn English; rather, our main program goal is to help parents become more comfortable in their role as their
child/children's first and primary teacher as well as to make sure that both parent and child/children are successful in
their academic studies.
| JPPSS Westbank Family Literacy Center's Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) |
| Would you like to make a donation to our program? If so, please consider making a donation to our program partner, the Literacy Alliance of Greater New Orleans. All proceeds received will be used to support the JPPSS Westbank Family Literacy Program and its families, such as providing for GED testing fees, family field trips, family literacy instruction and professional development opportunities. Please make a check or money order payable to "The Literacy Alliance of Greater New Orleans" --be sure to note "EVEN START DONATION" on the memo line. Mail the check to: The Literacy Alliance of Greater New Orleans Attn: Rachel Nicolosi, Executive Director 6363 St. Charles Avenue, Campus Box 63 New Orleans, Louisiana 70118 Your support is greatly appreciated! |
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