PROGRAM OBJECTIVES:
To enhance the national effort to reach the National Education Goal -- that all Americans will be literate by the year 2000 - - through the coordination of efforts for literacy across Federal agencies, and through support for the creation and dissemination of information to improve literacy practice, policy, and technical assistance to literacy providers. In advancing this broad purpose, NIL is authorized to pursue many different specific activities. They include: funding research and development, creating a database of current information on policy and practice, providing technical assistance, funding fellowships, and supporting a national literacy hot line. An over-arching principle is that NIL will carry out its activities through collaborating with and building on existing public and private efforts.

ELIGIBLE FUNCTIONAL CATEGORIES:
1. EDUCATION;
- Resource Development and Support - General and Special Interest Organizations;
- Libraries and Technical Information Services;

WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM THIS PROGRAM:
- Individual/Family;
- Specialized group (e.g. health professionals, students, veterans);
- Private non-profit institution/organization;
- Other public institution/organization;
- Student/Trainee;

WHO CAN APPLY:
- State (includes District of Columbia, public institutions of higher education and hospitals);
- Local (includes State-designated Indian Tribes, excludes institutions of higher education and hospitals);
- Public non-profit institution/organization (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals);
- Private non-profit institution/organization (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals);