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About Us

The Project GREAT Adult Education and Family Literacy Regional Centers of Excellence are Texas LEARNS' answer to the professional development needs of adult education and family literacy practitioners in Texas. Eight (8) Project GREAT Centers are funded as federal State Leadership activities by the Texas Education Agency and Texas LEARNS, one in each of eight service regions in the state. The centers are managed by the regional grantees, in collaboration with the state office of Adult Education (Texas LEARNS), Texas Education Agency (TEA), and the region's adult education directors. The purpose of this program is to provide the operation of professional development programs to improve the quality of instruction provided pursuant to local activities required under Title II, Workforce Investment Act.

The East Region grant was initially awarded to Education Service Center, Region VI in Huntsville in 2004. The East Region Project GREAT serves 44 counties in East Texas. This area encompasses 31,000 square miles and includes 9 Adult Education Co-ops, 13 Even Start Programs, and 6 Workforce Development Boards. An estimated 525 professionals are offered training and professional growth opportunities through this project.

The major objectives for the East Region Project GREAT are:

  1. Coordinate regional training activities for adult education and family literacy.
  2. Meet the local and professional development needs for technical assistance, technology assistance, and scientific research-based instruction.
  3. Collaborate with the local workforce development system to meet the adult education professional development needs of workforce staff.
  4. Collaborate with Texas LEARNS and the Center for Initiatives in Education at Texas State University to manage the regional implementation of the Texas Adult Education Credential Model.
  5. Implement in conjunction with Texas LEARNS and other GREAT centers, a model for the development of master teachers.
  6. Facilitate and coordinate the regional implementation of statewide initiatives.