National Coalition for Literacy

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…

Article by Jackie Taylor

From July 19 – August 6, the National Coalition for Literacy held a guest blog discussion on Reauthorizing the Workforce Investment Act – what is a priority for you? Even though these discussions are “formally” over, the conversations are continuing. (See, for example, the discussions on NRS reform, technology, the Center, and intensity and duration.)

We have thousands of users who spend…

During July 19 – August 5, 2010, guest bloggers from the National Coalition for Literacy have shared their thoughts with you as to why each of the NCL WIA Reauthorization priorities are important. Many readers have posted timely, relevant, and thought provoking comments in response. But are all of your priorities for WIA reauthorization on the Coalition’s list?

For easy reference, here are links to all articles on the Coalition’s WIA Reauthorization Priorities (You can also find these by clicking on Reauthorizing the Workforce Investment Act in the Categories box on the right.)

Tell us, what are YOUR priorities for…

. . . in Title I and Title II. [i]

—An NCL WIA Reauthorization Priority

Article by Jackie Taylor

In the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), several terms are defined in the beginning of the Titles. These definitions are then used as a foundation for crafting the legislation. WIA Title II authorizes federally-funded adult education and family literacy programs. You can find definitions for Title II in Section 203. As times change and the country’s needs change, definitions are added or altered to address these needs.

The problem arises when definitions within…

—An NCL WIA Reauthorization Priority

Article by Art Ellison

A separate line item for infrastructure services for the One Stop Systems in Title I is required to prevent the huge reduction in state administrative funding for adult education. Other proposals to provide this funding would result in approximately 2/3 of the current 5% state administration funding under Title II going into this infrastructure fund.

That would mean the reduction of 66% of the adult education state administrative services currently being provided to the field under Title II. The alternative which would be to take the funds out of programs…

. . . recognizing that programs providing individual instruction may provide fewer hours than programs employing group instruction.

—An NCL WIA Reauthorization Priority

Article by Jeff Carter, Director of Policy and Government Affairs, ProLiteracy

…

—An NCL WIA Reauthorization Priority

Article by Jackie Taylor

As Nickie Askov discussed in her July 30 article on a research center, the adult education and literacy field has unique challenges not addressed by other fields. Thus, we cannot rely on other fields to conduct this research for us. In fact, we think research is so important, we made it a separate priority apart from the recommendation for a National Center for Adult Education, Literacy, and Workforce Skills.

We welcome your comments on any of the following questions:

Why, from your perspective, is…

. . . and allow those funds to be added to the formula grants for states.

—An NCL WIA Reauthorization Priority

Article by Art Ellison

The rationale for changing the administration of Incentive Grants under Title I-II rests mainly on the fact, that for the past five years, all of the money for the grants has come from Title II. Earlier in the life of the Act Title I also had funds in this pot but their payments into the Incentive grant fund seemed to end when the current WIA legislation went into one year extensions beyond the original…

—An NCL WIA Reauthorization Priority

Article by John Segota

Most federal funding programs are created through authorizing legislation, and then funded annually through the appropriations process. The EL/Civics grant program came about in a different way: it started first as a demonstration grant at the U.S. Department of Education, and has been funded annually for over a decade, but lacks the actual legislative backing to authorize the program. This creates a significant disadvantage for the program, as it only really exists on a year-to-year basis, rather than having the opportunity to grow. Moreover, without authorizing language, the program could disappear…

. . . to ensure that required outcomes measures are appropriate for all levels of adult education students.

—An NCL WIA Reauthorization Priority

Article by Peggy McGuire

How might the National Reporting System (NRS) be reformed in order to best serve the needs of adult learners? Whether or not WIA is reauthorized this year, we should continue to move NRS reform forward. Thoughtful dialogue and recommendations are needed and welcomed from YOU! Just enter your comments and recommendations for NRS reform in the Comment box below. Your contributions will also show policy makers that there is significant interest in this…

. . . to improve teacher quality by providing more professional development, improving working conditions, professionalizing the workforce, and researching what practitioners need to be effective.

—An NCL WIA Reauthorization Priority

Article by Andy Nash

NCL is advocating that state leadership funds be returned to 15% (the funding level before WIA), and that those funds be dedicated to strengthening the adult education workforce by supporting professional development and working conditions that stabilize the field. Understanding that state budgets are tight, if not in crisis, some are reluctant to use federal funds that could go into direct service this way.

I…

. . . to ensure that all local eligible providers[i] have access to apply and compete for grants and contracts.

—An NCL WIA Reauthorization Priority

Article by Jeff Carter, Director of Policy and Government Affairs, ProLiteracy

Current law requires that all eligible providers have “direct and equitable access” to apply for federal grant funds under the Act. This means that a state must have grant application procedures in place that allow for all eligible providers of adult education services to apply for Title II funds, and it must treat all applicants fairly in funding decisions.

In practice, however, a number…

. . . by: establishing goals for co-enrollment; establishing shared accountabilities for serving adult education students; explicitly allowing career pathways, integrated education/training and dual and concurrent enrollment; and creating a new funding stream to support a career pathways leadership grant program.

—An NCL WIA Reauthorization Priority

Article by Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield

The Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (Title II, Workforce Investment Act, WIA) set broad economic and educational goals for adult education and English literacy programs. The law includes…

—An NCL WIA Reauthorization Priority

Article by Heidi Silver-Pacuilla

Consider these statistics about how U.S. adults are using technology in 2010 and whether adult education programs are prepared to take advantage of these trends:

Broadband. 74 % of adults have broadband access at home, and 67% consider themselves as users of that access in the home. The main dividing lines for access are along socioeconomic dimensions such as income and education:

46% of adults whose highest level of education is a high school degree are broadband users at home;

• 82% of adults who have attended or graduated from college

…

—An NCL WIA Reauthorization Priority

Article by Art Ellison,  Policy Committee Chair,  National Council of State Directors of Adult Education

An annual federal appropriation of at least $1 billion for adult education would represent the lowest possible figure that would indicate a serious commitment to the needs of undereducated adults in this country. The state grant appropriation level of $614 for FY11 contained in the budget submitted to Congress by the Obama administration would need to be increased by Congress to $386 million in order to reach the $1 billion level for next year.

A [ Read More → ]

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…

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 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…

Did you go to Conference? Share what you learned on public policy and advocacy so other adult literacy advocates can benefit from your ideas. Advocacy is a team effort! Tell your colleagues who stayed home to bookmark this space and watch for updates.

If you did not go to Conference, this Blog offers a way you can benefit from the conference afterwards. Session handouts you can download are now available! Just click on the title of the session that interests you and you will find the handouts linked there. Share your comments/questions for any of the…

Popularly known as the “Policy Panel” that has drawn over 400 participants each conference, this preconference provides you an exclusive opportunity to interact with panelists for an in-depth look at the federal legislative issues. National adult education leaders will update you on federal legislative developments in adult education and related areas. Then join roundtable discussions led by panelists, examine how policy affects practice, and target policy change in areas that concern you most. Create a plan; bring it home.

Monday, March 15, 8:30 – 11:30 am

Boulevard C

Panelists:

• Jeff Carter, Policy and Government Affairs Director, ProLiteracy
• Art Ellison,

…

Thursday, March 18, 1:45 –2:45 pm

Continental Ballroom B (Lobby Level)

Presenters:

• Brenda Dann-Messier, Assistant Secretary, Office of

…

Professional quality—including both teacher quality and the working conditions professionals need—is critical for advancing the adult education and literacy system. Learn how panelists advance this cause in their programs and states, and through federal legislation. See how you can stabilize and strengthen the adult education workforce in your area.

Friday, March 19, 8:30 – 9:30 am

Continental Ballroom B (Lobby Level)

Panelists:

• Jackie Taylor, NCL Public Policy Committee Co-Chair
• Mary Ann Corley, Principal Research Analyst, American Institutes for Research
• Richard Tariff, Director of Adult Services, EASTCONN
• Andy Nash, World Education; MA Coalition for Adult Education (MCAE) Working Conditions Committee

…