National Coalition for Literacy

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 Jackie Taylor

President’s Budget Proposal

On Monday, February 14, the President released his budget proposal for fiscal year 2012. “Within a constrained fiscal environment and a five-year freeze on discretionary spending, the budget proposes a $7.5 billion, 10.7% increase in overall discretionary spending for programs in the Department of Education ($2 billion (+4.3 percent) excluding Pell grants),” according to the Committee on Education Funding. While there are also many program reductions and eliminations in the budget, the Adult Education State Grants are funded at…

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

By Jackie Taylor

For those of us who work in adult education and literacy, it’s no surprise that many of our programs have waiting lists of adults who want to improve their basic skills or learn English. In a recent Washington Post article, community colleges now also face similar demands: Adults want new skills but…

NCL held its second public policy advocacy symposium this month in Dublin, OH in connection with the state-wide Partnerships in Transition conference. The symposium was planned by NCL in collaboration with the Ohio Association for Adult and Continuing Education, the Ohio Literacy Network and the ABLE Resource Center Network. Speakers included Jackson Routh from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, Dr. Peter Waite, president of NCL, Aketa Marie Simmons, Press Secretary and Education Staff for Congresswoman Fudge, Ed Roberts, Congressional Aide to Senator Brown, representatives of local partnerships and collaborations in OH, and adult student Dawana Martin.

The National Coalition for Literacy requests immediate action now on Appropriations for Adult Education and Family Literacy:

Action: Please call, email, or fax your two Senators with this message:

“Please increase funding for adult education to at least $750 million to provide services to potential students placed on waiting list for services.”

Talk about the need and demand for services in your area. Share the 2009-2010 NCSDAE Adult Student Waiting List Survey and discuss the waiting list numbers in your program or

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In this session, you will learn about Shifting Gears a multi-state, state policy initiative geared toward increasing the number of low-skilled adults achieving postsecondary credentials. We will also explore the barriers and opportunities in your state to the development of career pathways to college and career success for low-working adults.

Thursday, March 18, 3:00 – 4:00 pm

Boulevard A (2nd Floor)

Presenters:

• Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield, Senior Policy Analyst, Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP
• Jennifer K. Foster, Senior Director for Adult Education and Family Literacy/State Director for GED Testing, Illinois Community College Board

Handouts:

• Shifting Gears

…