Program Description
The Literacy and Basic Skills (LBS) Program is an upgrading program that helps adults improve their reading/writing, math and computer skills, while seeking to develop Essential Skills that adults require for work, further school/training and life.

Focus: The LBS Program focuses on developing foundational skills that prepare learners to transition to next steps related to their individual goals. The program prepares learners to move on to employment, apprenticeship, secondary school credit, postsecondary education, or independence. Learners also work with the program on creating individualized learner plans. Learning is organized around the following six competencies: Find and use information; communicate ideas and information; understand and use numbers; use digital technology; manage learning; engage with others.

The LBS Program encompasses four cultural streams: Native/First Nations; Francophone; Deaf/Deaf Blind and Anglophone. Program emphasis is often on learners who are on social assistance, unemployed, between the ages of 45-65, who have been out of training or education for 6 years or more, who have a history of interrupted education and who fit in one of the four cultural streams.

• Who are at least 19 years old
• Who are Ontario residents
• Whose literacy skills fall upon Levels 1 and 2 of the International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS); Academic Upgrading falls upon IALS Level 3
• Who, if English is not their mother tongue, have a facility in speaking and listening (a CLB Level 6 is recommended), but require help developing their reading, writing, math, computer and Essential Skills

• School boards
• Colleges – Academic Upgrading offered at the colleges includes LBS and Academic and Career Entrance (ACE) programming. [Please consult the Academic and Career Entrance (ACE) Program information sheet for more details]. Some community-based agencies also deliver ACE curriculum in partnership with local colleges.
• Community-based organizations