National Coalition for Literacy

By Washington Partners and Jackie Taylor

The House Adult Literacy Caucus and the National Coalition for Literacy held a Congressional briefing May 12, 2011, highlighting 21st Century Approaches to Adult Literacy. Approximately 40 were in attendance, including adult education leaders, advocates, and legislative staffs.

The briefing followed the NCL Quarterly Meeting, where Congressman Bill Goodling made a surprise visit after recovering from a serious medical condition.

Heidi Silver-Pacuilla, President of the National Coalition for Literacy, opened the…

—NCL is Awarded $150,000 Grant to Continue Technology and Advocacy

By Marsha Tait

On Thursday, May 12, The Dollar General Literacy Foundation notified the National Coalition for Literacy (NCL) that we have been awarded a $150,000 grant for the coming program year.  The grant will allow NCL to continue to develop our on-line advocacy toolkit, blog, web site and use of social media to reach, train, and inform adult education advocates.

The grant will also underwrite the costs of the NCL Literacy Leadership Award event in Washington DC on September 14, and…

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Below you’ll find March News from NCL Members: ACE/GED TS, World Education, CLASP, and MPR Associates, Inc.

ACE and Pearson Collaborate to Transform GED Test, Aligned with Common Core State Standards, Based on GED 21st Century Initiative
Enhanced GED Testing Program Will Validate Career- and College-Readiness

Washington, DC (March 15, 2011)—The American Council on Education (ACE) and Pearson today announced the creation of a ground-breaking new business that will drive the future direction, design, and delivery of the GED® testing program. Building on the goals of the GED 21st Century Initiative, the two partners will combine…

—Good News!

By Jackie Taylor and Ellen Fern

Congressman Roe and Congressman Hinojosa have released a Dear Colleague letter inviting House Members to join the House Adult Literacy Caucus. They have also provided us an updated list of Caucus Members. The paperwork that needed to be refiled and processed with the House Administration Committee for the new Congress is now complete, and the Co-Chairs have committed to growing the bipartisan caucus by significant numbers.

Action:

1. Please review the updated list below.
2. If your Congressional Representative is not on the list, then contact the legislative assistant who

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By Heidi Silver-Pacuilla

With the passage of a new membership structure, the Coalition completes the updating work begun two years ago at our strategic planning retreat. Thanks in very large measure to John Segota, now Vice President, we have worked to update and upgrade our processes and procedures and open our membership structure to be more inclusive, flexible, and forward-looking.

In December 2010, the Board voted to pass the new operating procedures. These procedures now govern how we coordinate committee work, consider policy matters, tally and report votes, and move forward on issues when…

Save the Date!

May 12, 2011 will be a day to explore innovative approaches to adult literacy solutions!

Mark your calendars to attend the NCL Quarterly Membership Meeting in Washington, DC in the morning and a special Hill briefing in the afternoon, co-sponsored by the National Coalition for Literacy and the House Adult Literacy Caucus.

Confirmed speakers:

Jennifer K. Foster, Senior Director for Adult Education and Family Literacy/State Director for GED Testing, presenting on the Shifting Gears work in Illinois

• Shifting Gears, funded by the Joyce Foundation, is

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By Jackie Taylor

The National Coalition for Literacy recently launched a social media campaign to grow the grassroots advocacy base for adult education and family literacy. On February 14, the Coalition began by launching a redesign of its main website, folding the Advocacy Clearinghouse and Toolkit and its blog under one umbrella web presence.

The website provides resources for the general public to quickly access in understanding why adult education is important and how to take action. It also provides a policy one-stop for legislative staff in locating critical public policy updates,…

By Marsha Tait

The National Coalition for Literacy is pleased to announce that it will hold two public policy advocacy symposia this spring with generous support from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. The first event will be held in Nashville, TN on March 15, 2011 in partnership with the TN Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Adult Education, and the TN Association of Adult and Community Education.  Newly appointed Commissioner of the TN Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Karla Davis, will speak.  The event will take place at the Sheraton Nashville Downtown Hotel. We are pleased to…

By Heidi Silver-Pacuilla

Dear All,

I want to start by saying how disheartened I am about the tragedy in Tucson, my former home base. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Congresswoman Giffords, her family and staff, and all those touched by the tragedy. Congresswoman Giffords is a dedicated supporter of adult and family literacy, visiting southern Arizona programs often and speaking out about the power of literacy for informed citizenship.

I had the honor of participating in the digital stories project at Pima College Adult Ed to which Giffords contributed, ( [ Read More → ]

By Jackie Taylor

Today’s economic climate demands bold, innovative strategies to advance effective policies for adult education and literacy. Adult education advocates have historically relied on email as a mainstay communication vehicle for sending and receiving advocacy alerts and galvanizing action. However, research shows nationally that email open rates have declined 63% from 2004–2008. With the rise of social media, cell phones and Internet access, some would even argue that there is not a digital divide.

We must also look at the sheer volume of messages going in to Congress each day as a…

By Marsha Tait and Jackie Taylor.

Symposia

The National Coalition for Literacy is pleased to announce that it will hold two public policy advocacy symposia this spring with generous support from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. The first event will be held in Nashville, TN on March 15, 2011 in partnership with the TN Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Adult Education, and the TN Association of Adult and Community Education.  The event will take place at the Sheraton Nashville Downtown Hotel. We are pleased to be offering this…

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By Heidi Silver-Pacuilla with Elizabeth Lower-Basch of Center for Law and Social Policy, Kevin Miller of the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, Mev Miller of WE LEARN, Gloria Mwase of Jobs for the Future, Margaret Patterson of GED Testing Service, and Heide Spruck Wrigley of Literacywork, International

—What is the role of literacy and education on women’s economic contribution?

December 2010 was a banner month for advocates and scholars interested in this question.

The National Coalition for Literacy (NCL) and the Institute for Women’s Policy…

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The National Coalition for Literacy has been undergoing changes since 2009 as a result of strategic planning. The Coalition wishes to keep you abreast of these changes as we progress. Here are some questions and answers you might find helpful, including more about who we are and how we operate.

FAQs

Who is the National Coalition for Literacy?

The National Coalition for Literacy is a national adult education leadership organization comprised of over 20 organizations committed to fostering collaboration and advocacy among leading national organizations…

New Research Publications from the Goodling Institute

The Goodling Institute for Research in Family Literacy has published two new research briefs. The first examines how the identities of African American men shape participation in adult basic education & literacy programs. The second offers a critical analysis of how a widely used adult literacy curriculum in Turkey portrays men’s and women’s roles and identities.

• African American Men, Identity, and Participation in Adult Basic and Literacy Programs By Brendaly Drayton and Esther Prins
• Reproducing Gender Inequality: A Critical Discourse Analysis of a Turkish Adult Literacy Textbook By Ramazan Gungor and Esther

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By Heidi Silver-Pacuilla

Welcome to Washington Partners, joining our team as NCL policy consultants. After a search for a policy consultant which generated many fine and qualified applicants, the search team agreed that the Coalition would be best served by this firm with its depth and breadth of experience in education policy and reputation for high quality service.

Washington Partners is a full service firm, offering government and public relations services, policy research and analysis, grassroots organizing and advocacy, as well as strategic advice and planning. We are looking forward to learning from their…

By Heidi Silver-Pacuilla

Hello All, we are heading into the end of December, so I’ll start with happy holidays and a wish for a safe, healthy, and more equitable and peaceful 2011.

This has been a busy month for the Coalition.

The elections brought surprises, recounts, and an upset in the newly formed House Adult Literacy Caucus. Follow the fall out of the elections here. We are also monitoring Congress closely to stay on top of shifting funding arrangements that may greatly impact our programs.…

—A Public Policy Update on Adult Education and Literacy, Part III

By Jackie Taylor With Heidi Silver-Pacuilla and John Segota

The DREAM Act was passed last week in the House and the Senate is expected to vote on it, with amendments, before the 111th Congress ends. The Migration Policy Institute has just released revised total and state-level estimates of the unauthorized youth and young adults who might be eligible for conditional legal status. Grassroots groups, like the National Council of LaRaza, the [ Read More → ]

Good day or evening!

The National Coalition for Literacy is seeking a contracted Public Policy Consultant to assist NCL in advancing its public policy advocacy work. We would like the consultant to begin work in January 2011. With so many important issues facing adult education and literacy this next Congress, it’s important to have the best candidate possible for this contracted position. Please share this announcement with your networks.

Here is a pdf version to circulate; full description is also below.

Thanks,

Jackie Taylor
Public Policy Committee Chair
jackie@jataylor.net

Public Policy Consultant

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COABE Update

COABE call for conference proposals is closed. Thank you to everyone who submitted a proposal; COABE will be in touch with you soon.

VALUEUSA to Host Social Justice Inquiry Area

Voice for Adult Learners United to Educate (VALUEUSA) will be hosting the social justice inquiry area, now renamed as Social Change. This inquiry area addresses the question: How do we balance the increasing emphasis on workforce development with the varying educational and social needs and goals of adult students? VALUEUSA is a charitable organization working to improve our nation’s education…

By Heidi Silver-Pacuilla

The final version of the National Ed Technology Plan (NETP) was released November 9, 2010.

This spring, during the call for input, the National Coalition for Literacy coordinated an adult education response to the draft. That document attempted to articulate the role that technology could play in adult education for teaching, learning, and program infrastructure. The document was subsequently adopted by NCL as a policy position.

The final version of the NETP preserves the main categories presented in the draft version:…