SCALE at UNC-CH

Our Mission: The mission of SCALE is to mobilize and support college students and campus-based programs to address the literacy needs of this country. Through a dynamic partnership between campus and community, SCALE develops leaders who are agents of social change. About Us: At SCALE, we believe that literacy is more than just reading and writing. Our definition involves critical thinking and action. Increasing literacy skills helps learners achieve their goals and empowers them to be more effective advocates for both themselves and their communities. As a result, literacy is a tool for personal and social transformation and a vehicle for social justice. We promote a participatory, learner-centered approach to literacy in which power in the program and in the classroom is shared with learners, volunteers, and community members. Shared decision making – about lesson content, choice of reading materials, or program evaluation – makes our outreach more relevant to individual and community literacy needs. Further, to be effective, we address, and invite you to consider, the larger societal contexts of education. How do culture, class, and other “isms” influence our opportunities? Which policies create greater opportunity, and how can we be a voice for those policies? Throughout this site, we aim to provide information and inspiration to college students, program administrators and learners themselves so that together we can address the underlying barriers to literacy. Our Programs: SCALE supports campus-based literacy programs locally, statewide, and nationally. We work with all types of program models, including: America Reads Adult Basic Education Youth Literacy and Mentoring English for Speakers of Other Languages Family Literacy GED Preparation Workplace Literacy Advocacy and Activism. The college students serving in these programs include volunteer/paid tutors or coordinators, AmeriCorps members, VISTA members, and service-learning students. Our Services: SCALE provides a full range of technical assistance and support to campus-based literacy programs. Our services include: The Read. Write. Act. National Conference On-site trainings for members or affiliates A Resource Lending Library of print and video materials Discussion lists focused on child literacy, adult literacy, and program management A website rich with online trainings, sample tutor training agendas, SCALE publications, and a searchable database of information and recommended articles and books