To further ensure that the prospective student is in the right program, all LBS agencies are funded to provide information about other local literacy agencies and to make referrals to a more appropriate provider when they cannot meet the student’s needs and requirements. Larger colleges may offer large group information sessions in addition to one-on-one interviews to determine program suitability and eligibility. Once that determination is made, the student will participate in an intake process. Although you might not directly participate in this component of the program, it is important for you to know about your students’ initial experiences in the LBS program and at the college.

In addition to formally registering the student, the intake process identifies supports s/he might need. One of the most pressing needs of many learners is financial. Training support dollars are provided by the Ministry to assist low income learners who otherwise might not be able to participate in the program. These dollars are meant to help learners with child care and transportation. Administrative support staff work hard to ensure that these support dollars are distributed fairly and without interruption to students.

TASK: Take part in an information session yourself. This is a quick and easy way to find out about the LBS program. Find out how often the information sessions are held and when to expect the largest intakes. Interview the intake staff to get a more complete picture of what their job involves and what the challenges are for new students.

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