The Literacy Assistance Center

What The Literacy Assistance Center does

The Literacy Assistance Center (LAC) is a New York City-based nonprofit organization founded in 1983 that strengthens the adult education system serving the city's most educationally and economically marginalized adults and out-of-school youth. Its primary services include teacher training, instructional coaching, curriculum development support, data management and analysis, and leadership support delivered to community-based organizations, public libraries (Brooklyn Public Library, Queens Public Library), community colleges, public school systems, and union-based training funds. LAC operates the NYC Support and Technical Assistance Center (NYC STAC), a NYSED-funded channel providing technical assistance to 19-42 Adult Literacy Education-funded programs across New York City, and serves as the lead statewide trainer for the ASISTS data management system through partnerships with the Regional Adult Education Networks. The organization runs structured certificate programs (TESLA, TEALL, FELT), cohorts (Strengths-Based Adult Education, Teaching Adult Literacy with Intention and Strategy), the 10-month Literacy & Justice Leadership Institute, and an annual ESOL conference co-hosted with The New School.

LAC's underlying technology centers on the ASISTS data management system (operated on behalf of NYSED-AEPP for statewide adult education reporting) and the NYC STAC technical assistance infrastructure, supplemented by Google Workspace-based collaboration, Zoom for synchronous PD delivery, and Memria for the Listen Up for Literacy & Justice audio storytelling collection. Its 2018 "Investing in Quality" report established the field's first cost model ($7,400 per 400-hour seat) and a 14-Building-Blocks framework. Revenue derives almost entirely from programmatic government grants (NYC Council, NYC Department of Youth & Community Development, NYSED-AEPP, Office of the Mayor), modest conference and workshop fees, donations via Network for Good, and contracted professional development services (notably the ETS HiSET partnership covering 16+ states and U.S. territories). Most services are delivered free of charge to NYC-based practitioners, with go-to-market executed through community-led, event-driven, and partner-channel motions via NYC STAC, ASISTS training, the Adult Literacy Professional Network (ALPN) email list, and coalitions such as NYCCAL.

Name

The Literacy Assistance Center

Legal name

Literacy Assistance Center

Website

https://lacnyc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Literacy Assistance Center (LAC) is a NYC-based nonprofit founded in 1983 that strengthens adult education by providing teacher training, instructional coaching, curriculum development, and data management services to community-based literacy programs, libraries, community colleges, and public school systems, funded primarily by New York City and State government grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adult Education Professional Development Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Foundational Reading & Writing Literacy (EDAAAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Specialized Learning Support (Dyslexia/LD Coaching, Assistive Strategies) (EDAJALAJ)

Keywords

• Adult literacy services
• Teacher training
• Professional development
• Adult ESOL instruction
• Education technical assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Public Funding: Primary revenue stream. Funded by New York City Department of Youth & Community Development (DYCD), New York City Council, New York State Education Department Adult Education Programs and Policy (NYSED-AEPP), and the Office of the Mayor. The NYC Adult Literacy Pilot Project scaled from $2.5M (19 programs) to nearly $8M (42 programs) by FY2025 and is rebadged "Adult Literacy Forward" for FY2026.
2. Donations: Charitable donations accepted via the Network for Good donate-now flow on lacnyc.org; supports LAC's general mission and free programming.
3. Conference and Workshop Fees: Modest registration fees for annual conferences such as MEETING CHALLENGES, EXPLORING SOLUTIONS IN THE ADULT ESOL CLASSROOM (e.g., $25 standard, $15 students/alumni, $30 at the door); some workshops free to NYC-based adult education practitioners.
4. Data Services (ASISTS Training and Support): Statewide ASISTS data management training and technical assistance for adult education programs funded by NYSED-AEPP; LAC serves as lead statewide trainer in partnership with RAENs.
5. Professional Development and Contracted Services: Contracted PD and technical assistance engagements, e.g., the LAC and ETS HiSET partnership providing webinars, workshops, on-site services, and coaching in states that have adopted the HiSET exam.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Literacy Assistance Center is a nonprofit organization that delivers professional development, technical assistance, and data services to the adult education field in New York City. Its core offerings include teacher training and certificate programs (TESLA, TEALL, FELT, Foundations of Adult Education), the Literacy & Justice Leadership Institute, public PD workshops and cohorts, operation of the NYC Support and Technical Assistance Center (NYC STAC) on behalf of NYSED-AEPP, statewide ASISTS data management training, advocacy and coalition work via NYCCAL, and curated instructional resources and reports such as the Investing in Quality cost model.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Literacy & Justice Initiative (LJI): A project of the LAC to advance adult literacy education as part of a broader vision for racial, social, and economic justice, engaging adult literacy programs and students in movements for social justice emerging from their communities.
• NYC STAC (NYC Support and Technical Assistance Center)
• Adult Literacy Forward

Products and services

• Professional Development Program (workshops, cohorts, and certificate programs) A core LAC service offering teacher training, instructional coaching, and certificate programs for adult education practitioners, including TESLA, TEALL, FELT, Foundations of Adult Education, the Literacy & Justice Leadership Institute, the Strengths-Based Adult Education Cohort, the Teaching Adult Literacy with Intention and Strategy Cohort, and an ongoing public workshop calendar.
• TESLA Certificate Program (Teaching English as a Second Language to Adults) In-depth training program for teaching English to adult speakers of other languages. Provides 45 hours of classroom-based learning, 120 hours of online learning, and a 36-hour practicum in an adult ESOL classroom, covering TESOL methods, strategies-based instruction, grammar/vocabulary, standards-based curriculum, syllabus and lesson planning, assessment, and a teaching practicum.
• TEALL 2025 (Teaching English to Adults with Limited Literacy) Professional development offering focused on teaching English to adult learners with limited literacy, listed in LAC's Professional Development menu.
• FELT Professional development offering listed in LAC's Professional Development navigation menu.
• Literacy & Justice Leadership Institute A ten-month learning opportunity for experienced and emerging adult education leaders committed to advocating for and developing the field of adult literacy education from the standpoint of human rights, civil rights, and social justice. The 2025-26 cohort includes 14 leaders from 11 community-based adult literacy programs across NYC.
• Strengths-Based Adult Education Cohort 2025 Professional development cohort for adult educators using a strengths-based approach, listed in LAC's Professional Development menu.
• Teaching Adult Literacy with Intention and Strategy Cohort 2026 Professional development cohort for adult educators focusing on intentional and strategic teaching practice, listed in LAC's Professional Development menu.
• Data Services (NYC STAC + ASISTS Training) A core LAC service that operates the NYC Support and Technical Assistance Center (NYC STAC) and provides training and coordination around ASISTS, the NYSED-AEPP data management system for the 19 (now 42) Adult Literacy Education (ALE)-funded programs in New York City.
• NYC Adult Literacy Pilot Project / Adult Literacy Forward Citywide initiative created and funded by the New York City Council and supported by the NYC Department of Youth & Community Development. Coordinated by LAC since 2022, it supports community-based adult literacy programs to invest more per student and strengthen services. Expanded from $2.5M (19 programs) to nearly $8M (42 programs) in FY2025.
• Literacy & Justice Initiative (LJI) Project of LAC that advances adult literacy education as part of a broader vision for racial, social, and economic justice. Key goals include engaging adult literacy programs and students in social justice movements, building solidarity with the wider social justice community, and significantly expanding educational opportunities for the 2.2 million adult New Yorkers in need of literacy justice.
• Meeting Challenges, Exploring Solutions in the Adult ESOL Classroom (MCES) Conference Annual one-day conference for English Language Teaching professionals hosted by The New School in partnership with the Literacy Assistance Center, featuring a plenary by a leading researcher, hands-on workshops supporting classroom practice, and presentations on current challenges facing ESOL teachers.
• Public Workshop Calendar Ongoing public calendar of free professional development workshops for adult literacy educators funded through NYC DYCD and LAC. Topics span pronunciation, graphic novels, GED prep, ESOL apps, LGBTQ+-inclusive classrooms, math instruction, Brooklyn Museum art integration, EL/Civics, curriculum design, video feedback, and financial literacy.
• Google Club Monthly LAC professional development opportunity for adult educators to learn and share Google applications knowledge, including dedicated sessions on Jamboard for teaching strategies, Google Draw basics, and open show-and-tell.

Quantifiable outcome

• NYC Adult Literacy Pilot Project scaled from 19 programs ($2.5M) to 42 programs (~$8M) serving 10,800+ students by FY2025, with reported increases in educational development, student support services, student engagement, culturally responsive education access, and number of students served.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered major, moderate and minor.

• Educational Testing Service (ETS) - HiSETmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 June 2015LAC partnered with ETS in June 2015 to provide professional development and technical assistance to adult educators in states that adopted the HiSET exam. LAC delivers webinars, workshops, on-site services, instructor coaching, and technology integration support to cultivate a community of effective education professionals preparing students for high school equivalency certificates and college/career readiness.
• The New School (Department of Language Learning & Teaching / English Language Studies)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term institutional partner co-hosting the annual MEETING CHALLENGES, EXPLORING SOLUTIONS IN THE ADULT ESOL CLASSROOM conference (since 2015) and collaborating on ESOL professional development for adult educators.
• JFF / World Education / Safal Partners (DRAW)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince September 2022, LAC staff Cynthia Bell and Nell Eckersley collaborate on the Digital Resilience in the American Workforce (DRAW) initiative, with support from OCTAE, to better prepare adult education practitioners supporting learners struggling with digital technologies. Includes landscape scan and flexible, evidence-based, piloted strategies and materials.
• StoryCorpsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLAC partnered with StoryCorps on The Great Thanksgiving Listen, a national project empowering people to create oral histories via the StoryCorps App. Interviews become part of the StoryCorps Archive at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.
• Grow with Google NYCmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn July-August 2019, LAC delivered Google Applied Digital Skills workshops at the Grow with Google NYC Learning Center at 111 8th Avenue; ran four cohorts (three sessions each) with 42 adult education teachers and program staff. Featured as Grow with Google NYC Small Business of the Week on August 23, 2019.
• Brooklyn Public LibrarymoderateImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLAC provides training, instructional support, and data services to Brooklyn Public Library's Adult Learning Centers (Flatbush Library Learning Center, Central Library Adult Learning Center). BPL students have been honored as NYACCE Students of the Year.
• Queens Public LibrarymoderateImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLAC staff develop curricula for the Queens Public Library TASC Transition Curriculum project and provide training and coaching for QPL adult education programs.
• NYC Coalition for Adult Literacy (NYCCAL)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner advocating for NYC to maintain and baseline adult education funding ($12M+) and provide multi-year contracts. LAC Executive Director Ira Yankwitt has presented NYCCAL testimony at NYC City Council Immigration Committee hearings.
• New York Association for Continuing and Community Education (NYACCE)minorOthersState-wide association for adult education professionals. LAC staff member Nell Eckersley joined the NYACCE Board in April 2017. NYACCE honored LAC-supported adult literacy students as Students of the Year in October 2018.
• ProLiteracyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNational adult literacy organization that publishes the Adult Literacy Education (ALE) journal featuring LAC staff contributions, including Cynthia Bell's blog on Numeracy, Digital Resiliency, and Habits of Mind (August 2023) and Lizelena Iglesias's review of the DART digital literacy ESL curriculum (February 2025).
• EdTech Center at World EducationmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-running collaboration on digital literacy for adult learners. LAC staff co-author pieces on EdTech Center Partners' blog (e.g., "Digital Literacy: Consume, Create, Curate!"), and LAC participates in national digital literacy initiatives including DRAW and LINCS Integrating Technology.
• Library of CongressminorOthersRecognized LAC as a 2014 "Best Practices" organization through the Library of Congress Literacy Awards Program funded by David M. Rubenstein. The award honors outstanding contributions to increasing literacy in the US or abroad.
• New York Counts 2020 / NYC Complete Count CampaignminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLAC participated in the 2020 Census coalition, providing three workshops in fall 2019 and curating resources on Census 2020 for adult ELLs and adult education programs across NYC.
• National Coalition for Literacy (NCL)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerNational policy advocacy coalition. LAC staff publish in NCL forums (e.g., Cynthia Bell's August 2023 blog post on Numeracy, Digital Resiliency, and Habits of Mind), and Cynthia Bell serves as an active board member.
• ProLiteracy - ALE JournalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLAC Executive Director Ira Yankwitt's article "Visions of the Possible" introduced the Forum on Social Justice, Creativity, and Adult Literacy in Volume 5, Issue 3 (October 2023) of ProLiteracy's Adult Literacy Education journal.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Educational Testing Service (ETS): Major educational measurement and assessment organization and LAC's strategic partner since 2015 on HiSET professional development across 16+ states. Comparable as a large incumbent in adult education assessment and PD, with significantly broader scope and resources than LAC.

Direct peers

• ProLiteracy: National nonprofit adult literacy organization that operates the Adult Literacy Education (ALE) journal featuring LAC staff contributions. ProLiteracy serves as the most directly comparable national-scale peer: both organizations provide PD, resources, and advocacy for adult literacy practitioners and programs serving marginalized adult learners.
• Literacy New York: New York State adult literacy network that organizes volunteer-based tutoring programs and provides PD to literacy practitioners across the state. Directly comparable to LAC as a NY-focused adult literacy intermediary, though more volunteer-tutor-led rather than CBO-professional-development-led.
• Jobs for the Future (JFF): National nonprofit focused on workforce and education transformation that partners with LAC on the DRAW initiative. Comparable as a national adult education and workforce intermediary that builds capacity for adult-serving programs through technical assistance and policy advocacy.
• Make the Road New York: NYC-based nonprofit serving immigrant and working-class communities through adult education, workforce, and legal services. Directly comparable as a CBO offering adult ESOL/ABE in NYC; LAC's Director of Strategic Initiatives (Sierra Stoneman-Bell) previously led adult education and workforce programs there.
• Coalition on Adult Basic Education (COABE): National professional association for adult basic education practitioners. Directly comparable to LAC's professional association role at the national level, providing conferences, advocacy, and resources for adult literacy educators across the U.S.
• World Education: National adult education and workforce development nonprofit that operates the EdTech Center @ World Education and collaborates with LAC on the Digital Resilience in the American Workforce (DRAW) initiative. Directly comparable as a multi-state adult education PD and technical assistance provider with overlapping digital literacy curriculum focus.
• National Coalition for Literacy (NCL): National policy advocacy coalition for adult literacy and education, of which LAC's Cynthia Bell is an active board member. Directly comparable as an adult literacy advocacy organization; LAC contributes content via NCL's blog platform.
• New York Association for Continuing and Community Education (NYACCE): Statewide professional association for adult and continuing education practitioners in New York, on whose board LAC staff have served. Directly comparable as a peer association operating in the same field, sharing members and student recognition programs.

Others

• The New School: NYC-based university and LAC's long-term co-host for the annual MEETING CHALLENGES, EXPLORING SOLUTIONS IN THE ADULT ESOL CLASSROOM conference. Comparable as an academic partner in adult ESOL teacher preparation; not a competitor but a key collaboration partner in NYC's adult education ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thelacnyc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/TheLACNYC
• Facebookfacebook.com/thelacnyc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Literacy Assistance Center