National Coalition for Literacy

The National Coalition for Literacy has been asked by Hill staff, “Of the NCL WIA Reauthorization Priorities, which are most important?” The answer to that question is that they are all important.

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? During this period, guest bloggers from the Coalition wrote about why each NCL WIA reauthorization priority is important and invited comments from the field.

Substantive discussions resulted over multiple weeks about why these are priorities for the…

. . . 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…

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…

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…

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

…