Our Story
Reading Education for Adult Development (READ) of Chattanooga, Inc. is Tennessee’s oldest Adult Education agency, having 47 years experience.
READ is an economic development and education organization funded by the TN Department of Labor and Workforce Development and is also a social services agency, funded in part by the United Way of Greater Chattanooga. The 3rd part is community-based funding through gifts and grants from individuals, corporations and foundations.
United Way funds READ to provide programs, offering and services to meet the following priority area: “A greater proportion of adolescents and adults with challenges will be better prepared for and placed into employment.”
Through funding from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Adult Education, READ provides programs and services to meet the state’s goal to increase the: # of educational gains, # of adults getting their GED, # of adults entering secondary education, # of adults obtaining a job, and the # of adults keeping a job.
READ is governed by an 18 person volunteer board (15 Members; 3 Ex-Officio Members). The board has By-Laws to guide the management of READ. The Executive Director reports directly to and meets monthly with the Executive Committee of the board (Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, and Secretary). Members of the board represent private corporations, public education, social services, financial institutions, manufacturing, human resources, graphic design, legal, not-for-profit and faith-based organizations.