National Coalition for Literacy

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:…

By Jackie Taylor

Vote! Key Legislators and Midterm Elections

Several key legislators who support adult education are up for re-election. See Midterm Elections: what are they? What is at stake?. On page 10, Art Ellison, NH State Director and NCL Executive Board Member, discusses what adult education advocates should know for the coming election. He also lists key House and Senate Members running for re-election.

If you haven’t yet, see Project Vote Smart’s “Vote Easy” website. Vote Smart is a non profit, non-partisan organization helps you sort…

National Center for Family Literacy (NCFL) Conference Call for Proposals

NCFL is now accepting proposals for concurrent sessions for the 20th annual National Conference on Family Literacy. Submit your proposal today! The deadline for proposals is November 5, 2010.

The 2011 National Conference on Family Literacy will be held in Louisville, Kentucky, April 3-5. Preconference sessions will be held April 1-2. This is the most comprehensive conference serving family literacy professionals and practitioners who are working to improve literacy skills and lives of parents and children.

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NCFL Launches Wonderopolis™

Wonderopolis is a resource…

By Heidi Silver-Pacuilla

Hello All,

First and foremost, get out and vote! Make sure your teachers, staff, and students exercise their democratic responsibilities, too. Make it a learning opportunity with Vote Smart’s VoteEasy website where you can find out who is running and what they stand for. Also see The Change Agent’s voting issue.

In the month since the Leadership Awards, we’ve been busy with planning the next event. Plan to join us from 8:30 – 2:00 pm on December 1 for the Public Policy…

By Marsha Tait

NCL held its second 2010 public policy advocacy symposium in Little Rock, AR this month. More than 85 participants were introduced to the NCL Advocacy Toolkit, blog, and Twitter. Speakers included AR State Director of Adult Education Jim Smith, State Senator Shane Broadway, Dr. Charles Allen, and legislative aides from US Representative Vic Snyder’s and Governor Mike Bebe’s offices. Local panelists Patricia Bates, Ray Pool, and Randall Whitmore discussed the collaborative W.A.G.E. project, a state-wide effort to credential workers’ skills.

Following a role play about “how…

A Public Policy Forum on Women’s Education and Economic Opportunity: The Role of Literacy will be held in Washington, DC, Wednesday, December 1, from 9:00am – 2:00pm jointly sponsored by the National Coalition for Literacy and the Institute on Women’s Policy Research.  There is no cost and lunch is provided. Continental breakfast will be provided starting at 8:30am.  Plan to stay for informal networking till 3:00pm.

This Forum will bring together advocacy organizations, policymakers from Congress and federal agencies, and researchers to share what we know, what we still need to know, and what…

NCL held its annual meeting on September 16, 2010. Members shared updates on National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week, the House Adult Literacy Caucus, public policy, and the National Institute for Literacy. Additionally, NCL held its annual elections and participated in several presentations from NCL Literacy Leadership Awards recipients and from Dollar General:

Elections in DC!

Welcome to new Board Members Jeff Carter of ProLiteracy and Marty Finsterbusch of VALUE. They were elected to the Board for 2 and 3…

—Update and background on preserving NIFL resources

Update: With the closing of the National Institute for Literacy (NIFL) September 30, the Literacy Information and Communication System (LINCS) is moving to the Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE).

A new LINCS website—live October 1—will offer an array of new, final publications from NIFL; the LINCS Resource Collections (online subject-oriented collections of high-quality instructional resources); archives of all NIFL webcasts; and a continuation of popular resources such as the news items and discussion lists.

Background: In May 2009, the National Coalition for Literacy conducted a NIFL…

COABE September Update

COABE continues to grow and is now over 5000 members strong. Download this page-at-a-glance to see COABE’s latest activities:

• Beyond Borders Partnership of Hope Initiative
• Online Repository
• Pearson Longman Partnership
• NIFL Endowment
• Conference Mini Grants and Practitioner Scholarships
• Save the Date for the 2011 COABE Conference

To join or renew membership with COABE, see this flyer for rates and how much you can save through any of COABE’s group membership plans.

GED Profiles of Success—Nearly 100,000 Total Upload Views-to-Date!

See the [ Read More → ]

By Heidi Silver-Pacuilla

Hello all, I am honored and excited to take on the role of President of the National Coalition for Literacy. Thank you for your vote of confidence. I look forward to a year of learning from all of the members, policymakers, and advocates.

With the announcement of the Adult Literacy Caucus, we have an incredible opportunity to move the cause of adult literacy to a more central policy conversation where it belongs—deeply entwined with the conversations on the economy, jobs and a competitive workforce, poverty, gender equity, health and wellness, civic involvement, parenting and early childhood, dropout…

By Jackie Taylor

Appropriations

The Senate Appropriations Committee (Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies) markup for FY11 (S. 3686, Senate Report 111-243) is now available and reflects the President’s budget request for adult education. The full House committee markup is not yet available and contacts on the Hill have indicated that we may not see an appropriations bill until after December or January.

WIA Reauthorization

A Senate bipartisan team is finalizing a draft WIA reauthorization bill and anticipates that it will…

By Peter Waite

Hello NCL Members,

This will be my last update as President of NCL.

With the elections yet to be held I cannot officially announce our new President, but assuming a reelection as a Board Member, Heidi Silver-Pacuilla of AIR will assume the Presidency after the September meeting.  We are delighted and lucky to have such a talented and energetic President for the Coalition during this critically important period.

During the last year we have made significant internal and external improvements for the Coalition and these include:

• Revisions to the by-laws which will help streamline our

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Heidi Silver-Pacuilla on How to Make Adult Learners More Successful

Heidi Silver-Pacuilla of the American Institutes for Research discusses some barriers to increased economic opportunity and ways to overcome them. The interview was conducted in the AIM studio on May 13, 2010 and is now posted to the YouTube channel, Policy Innovations. Watch it below or grab it for your advocacy work from here.

ProLiteracy Partners with NCFL to Create Web-based National Literacy Directory

ProLiteracy has partnered with the National Center for Family Literacy (NCFL) to create the National Literacy Directory, a new web-based…

By Marsha Tait and Jackie Taylor

National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week—Thank You Congressman Polis!

June and early July have been deceptively busy in the public policy arena!

For the second consecutive year, Congressman Jared Polis has led the U.S. House of Representatives in passing bipartisan legislation (H Res. 1472) supporting the designation of the week of September 13, 2010 as National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week. The resolution, authored by Congressman Jared…

By Marsha Tait

In June, NCL was pleased to award three advocacy “mini-grants” to attendees at the NCL/Dollar General Advocacy Symposium that took place in Columbus, Ohio, April 21.

Awardees were: The Ohio Literacy Network, for their Collaborative Advocacy Project Proposal; the Ohio Association for Adult and Continuing Education for their Statewide Advocacy Symposium for Adult Basic and Literacy Education proposal; and Parma Adult Education Services for their Coalition for Advocacy for the Life‐long Learner (C.A.L.L.) proposal.  All three…

During the last several months we have had significant activity for the Coalition.

Internally, we have finalized our new structure and Barb Van Horn and Heidi Silver-Pacuilla have agreed to chair the Internal and External Committees respectively. They will be developing the new operating rules for the committees.  We will also be restructuring the Public Policy Committee and developing new protocols for that committee as well.   We hope to complete all of these activities by Sept.  15^th.

We continue to work actively on our public policy agenda and I have recently written to Cheryl Keenan to request additional meetings concerning…

By Jackie Taylor

Please join NCL members and friends to celebrate and honor the 2010 Literacy Leadership Awards recipients. The NCL Literacy Leadership Award recognizes individuals and organizations that have made extraordinary contributions to improving literacy in the United States.

This year, we are pleased to honor the following individuals and organizations:

• Senator Thomas Harkin (IA)
• Representative John Yarmuth (KY)
• English Under the Arches led by Betsy McKay, Director of Bilingual Leadership Development for McDonald’s USA LLC
• Kentucky Education Television (KET)
• Archie Willard, long time student advocate and leader

Additionally, we are proud to have Congressman Jared Polis…

Join Members of the National Coalition for Literacy for an online discussion of reauthorizing the Workforce Investment Act, July 19 – August 6, 2010. Using the NCL Priorities for WIA Reauthorization as a springboard for discussion, comment on the priorities that are important to you and why, discuss the issues with guest bloggers, add your own priorities for WIA reauthorization, and vote on issues most important to you. During National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week, NCL will share your comments and questions with legislative staffs over WIA reauthorization.

To participate: Visit the [ Read More → ]

By Jackie Taylor

Many of you are keeping a watchful eye on the horizon for National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week 2010. Here’s some background and a status update:

Background:

Last year, the House made a one-time dedication for Adult Education and Family Literacy Week. This was a highly successful effort in raising awareness nationwide of the importance of adult education and family literacy in 2009.

This year, Congressman Jared Polis is once again taking the lead in dedicating this high honor for adult education and family literacy in 2010.

Status-to-date:

May…

After the North Carolina Grassroots Advocacy Symposium held in fall 2009, advocates find strategic and innovative ways to move adult literacy advocacy initiatives forward.

Earlier this year, two organizations from North Carolina were awarded $5,000.00 Advocacy Grants from the National Coalition for Literacy: Reading Connections and Wake Technical Community College. The purpose of the grants is to support initiatives designed to build the capacity for adult literacy advocacy in the field and increase the impact of the Dollar General Presentation Series. To be eligible for…

News from the National Council of State Directors of Adult Education

The National Council of State Directors staff has been working intensively with Senate HELP Committee staff over the past two weeks on specific issues related to a new WIA reauthorization bill. Similar discussions are beginning to take place with House Education and Labor Committee staff. This is the most promising news that the state directors have had on WIA reauthorization in the past four years. For further information contact Art Ellison, Policy Committee Chair, National Council of State Directors of Adult Education at aellison@ed.state.nh.us.

AALPD and…

By Marsha Tait

On May 14, NCL was notified that our grant application for the 2010-11 program year was approved! The new grant will allow us to continue the highly successful regional advocacy symposia; to continue to develop and update the NCL Advocacy Toolkit and Blog; to hold the September Literacy Leadership award celebration in Washington, DC; and to host two more webinars on topics of high interest to adult education stakeholders.

In addition, the new grant will allow NCL to purchase and implement

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By Marsha Tait and Jackie Taylor

Many irons in the fire, but will Congress get it all done before November? Updates this month include appropriations, WIA, ESEA, and TANF reauthorization, immigration reform, House resolution for dedicating Adult Education and Family Literacy Week 2010, advocacy for Even Start and for including adult education in the National Education Technology Plan.

Appropriations:

Despite the fact that adult education serves approximately two and a half million of the ninety-three million adults in need each year, adult education has been nearly flat funded for almost a decade,

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Do you know someone who has made a significant difference in the field of adult literacy, surmounted barriers, and been an inspiration for others to do so?? If so, consider nominating him or her to the National Coalition for Literacy for a 2010 award. These awards receive national coverage and are used to raise the visibility of adult literacy issues among Congressional representatives and staff, media, and educational partners. Mark your calendar for the September 15th award reception in Washington, DC.

Submit the nominee’s name, business…

This has been a very busy few months for the National Coalition for Literacy. Initially, it was historic with the first ever quarterly meeting canceled in February due to the never-ending Washington snows. Fortunately, that has not stopped the activities of our committees, public policy work, or national advocacy trainings.    

Our Dollar General grant has produced several new technology features as well our fall North Carolina workshop. An excellent follow up session in North Carolina was conducted by Marsha Tait and Jackie Taylor in April and our Ohio Partnerships and…

By Marsha L. Tait and Jackie Taylor, Public Policy Committee Co-Chairs

It’s been a busy spring for the National Coalition for Literacy! Congress was on recess for two weeks but resumed session April 12. Following is a report of NCL’s latest public policy activities.

Appropriations

The House and Senate appropriations sub-committees have been accepting outside witness testimonies; the National Coalition for Literacy submitted testimony to both. Copies of the NCL testimonies are now online. Additionally, Senators were to submit their appropriations requests for FY11 to Appropriations Chair Inouye…

The National Coalition for Literacy joined the Commission on Adult Basic Education (COABE) and ProLiteracy to host the Public Policy Strand at the first ever joint COABE/ProLiteracy Conference. NCL has hosted this strand in partnership with COABE at their conference for several years, and was pleased to continue providing this opportunity at the jointly held conference in 2010. Strand offerings included two half-day preconferences, ten public policy workshops, and a first-ever public policy debate:

 PreConferences:

• Federal Legislative Update
• Pathways and Advocacy: Building the Grassroots Base

Debate:

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New Resources:

• Working Together: A Guide to Business and Adult Education Partnerships
• Recommendations on Performance Accountability in the Workforce Education and Training System
• 2009 – 2010 Waiting List Data from the National Council of State Directors of Adult Education      
• Changing the Odds: Informing Policy with Research on How Adult Learners Succeed

Announcements:

• US Conference on Adult Basic Education and Literacy
  • Tell ProLiteracy what you thought about the conference by completing this short follow up evaluation.
  • View select photos from the conference.
  • Download

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