Seneca Highland Intermediate Unit 9 will receive $448,000 in state and federal grants to be used for adult education, the Pennsylvania Department of Education announced on Monday.

The IU9 was one of 32 organizations in the state to receive funding “to increase and improve services for adult learners and their families,” a release from the department stated.

Under the Adult Basic Education Grant Program, partnerships are established between the federal and state governments and local agencies to provide adult education and literacy programs. The grant program is associated with the Pennsylvania Adult and Family Literacy Education Act and the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.

The program focuses on helping adults get skills needed for economic self-sufficiency, for contributing to the educational development of their children, for attaining a secondary school diploma and transitioning to postsecondary education or training and for helping immigrants and other English language learners improve reading, writing, speaking and comprehension skills, as well as improved understanding of math, American government and citizenship responsibilities.

Education Secretary Pedro Rivera said, “Learning should be a lifetime endeavor; and by strengthening the collaboration between federal, state and local entities, we can ensure more Pennsylvanians of all ages have access to education and training program that can help them find meaningful employment, improve the economic outlook for their families, and help them be better parents and community members.”

Information was not immediately available on Monday from the IU9 on how the grants will be used.

For more information on the grant, visit the Department of Education’s website at www.education.pa.gov.