|
Mayor Narvais spoke at Pathways to Partnerships, the fifth meeting in the Dollar General Presentation Series, coordinated by NCL in partnership with Texas LEARNS, Texas Council of Adult Basic Education (TCABE), and Literacy Texas. Dr. Karl Eschbach, Director of the Institute for Demographic and Socio-Economic Research and Texas State Data Center, shared findings on the downward trend in educational attainment among Texas residents. The educated workforce is aging; persons born before 1964 make up 43% of the workforce and 53% of college graduates. Compared to the rest of the US, Texas ranked 35th in the % of college graduates in the population over 25. The meeting also included a panel of business speakers from Rice University, Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, Mission Pharmacal and the Greater Houston Partnership, who discussed how they have incorporated adult literacy services into their workplaces and what they see as the need for adult literacy in the workforce. The meeting ended with a workshop on how to educate and engage business partners and legislators around the issue of adult literacy and education, presented by Jackie Taylor. The Series will continue with a fall meeting on October 15th in Columbia, Missouri.
Save
the Date:
|
Literacy In the News The National Commission on Adult Literacy has issued Reach Higher, America: Overcoming Crisis in the U.S. Workforce, a report about the adult education system. The report has far-reaching implications and recommendations. The Coalition commends the members of the Commission for their tremendous effort and scholarship that have contributed to this document and the Dollar General Literacy Foundation for its commitment to furthering adult literacy in the U.S. and support of the Commission. Over the next few weeks, the members of the National Coalition for Literacy will review and analyze this report so that NCL may issue a thoughtful response to the recommendations and findings of the report. Please return to this website for information in the future. The Council for Adult and Experiential Learning in partnership with the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems has issued a new report, Adult Learning in Focus: National State by State Data. The report provides data on adult participation in education and also identifies gaps in available data. The report discusses the affordability, support for part-time students, and other factors in adult participation rates that should help policymakers identify priorities for their state efforts. A recent study found that Immigrants of the past 25 years have been assimilated in the United States at a faster rate than earlier immigrants. The report was discussed in the Washington Post. Visit the Manhattan Institute web site, to see the full report, Measuring Immigrant Assimilation in the United States Adult Education identified as the missing piece of education reform as Washington, DC officials resolve to improve the District's school system. They want to stop illiteracy at the source, but fail to recognize the critical role that parents play in a children's educational development. Literate parents pass on motivation and language skills to their children. ABC News featured a two-part story on illiteracy in the US the last week of February and provided a wealth of resources on the ABC News website, including a link to NCL’s Health Literacy page. See the full story here NCL and Dollar General focus attention on the economic impact of low literacy in South Carolina at meeting in Spartanburg. The Herald Journal covered the event, in Teachers: Adult illiteracy dragging down nation. “We are in a crisis,” noted Becky Godbey, manager of work force development for the Greater Greenville Chamber of Commerce, who led a panel of local business leaders. From amednews.com, the newspaper for America’s Physicians, an article on the Health Literacy Act of 2007 Visit the website of the Council for Advancement of Adult Literacy who today released PATHWAYS & OUTCOMES: TRACKING ESL STUDENT PERFORMANCE, a longitudinal study of adult ESL services at the City College of San Francisco (CCSF). The report will help those who plan and design ESL programs at community college and in other settings assess and develop effective services. See item ESL5 of the ESL section of the Publications page Gaps
in critical home conditions and experiences of young children
mirror achievement gaps that begin early in life and persist through
high school, according to a new report from the Educational Testing
Service. The Family:
America’s Smallest School examines the family and home
experiences that influence children’s learning. The National Commission on Adult Literacy released Workplace Education: Twenty State Perspectives. The report describes workplace education programs in 20 states, how states measure outcomes, key elements to success, and more. To view the report, a presentation by Marc Tucker, president of the National Center for Education and the Economy, visit the newly launched website. According to the American Medical Association, 90 million Americans struggle with health literacy, see article in the Chicago Tribune. Migration Policy Institute issues report that finds approximately 5.8 million lawful permanent US residents need about 277 million hours of English language instruction per year for six years to become proficient. Adult Education in America: A First Look at Results from the Adult Education Program and Learner Surveys Educational Testing Service releases comprehensive report on federally funded adult education programs and the skills of participants enrolled in those programs. Forces Changing our Nation’s Future compares the performance of American adults and youth on international literacy assessments, the importance of literacy and numeracy proficiencies for success in the job market, and the outlook for literacy proficiency among adults in the U.S. The report was released by the National Commission on Adult Literacy www.caalusa.org The Council for Advancement of Adult Literacy released TORCHLIGHTS IN ESL: Five Community College Profiles, a supplement to PASSING THE TORCH: Strategies for Innovation in Community College ESL. The report profiles the ESL programs of the five colleges at the heart of CAAL's study- Bunker Hill Community College, MA, City College of San Francisco, CA, College of Lake County, IL, Seminole Community College, FL, and Yakima Community College, WA. The report is available in PDF at www.caalusa.org. DARE TO DREAM: A Collection of Papers from a Resource Group of 102 Adult Education and Literacy Professionals The National Commission on Adult Literacy released this material which reflects the ideas, insights, cautions, and recommendations of 102 education and literacy leaders. The group was challenged to "think outside the box," of how to expand adult education and literacy service and to do so to a high standard of quality. Visit the CAAL website at www.caalusa.org for the report. The
Condition of Education 2007 According to Lumina Foundation report, “Our nation is at a crossroads. With a committed and informed approach, we can help realize the vast educational potential of America’s adult learners and thus substantially benefit individuals, families, communities and the national economy.” To see the report, visit the Foundation website. Passing
the Torch: Strategies for Innovation in Community College ESL State
Education Agency finds that one-third of residents of the District The
ESL Logjam:Waiting Times for Adult ESL Classes and the Impact on
English Learners Touch
Choices, Tough Times America’s
Perfect Storm: Three Forces Changing Our Nation’s Future. Recommendations
concerning the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act
focus on improving accountability and standards and making sure
teachers and administrators are effective. |
It
is “never too late to teach someone basic skills to follow
their dream,” shared Susan Narvais, Mayor of San Marcos, TX.
For Narvais, a high school dropout, receiving her GED changed how
she thought about herself and provided the first step to a successful
career in the staffing industry and a leadership role in her community.
A strong supporter of literacy efforts and adult education, she
considers the low literacy levels in Texas a “real and present
danger for our society”; the “state will not be business
friendly if it cannot provide a workforce.” Read about NCL achievements and events in the NCL Annual Report 2006-07
Learn more about the mission and vision of NCL in the NCL Overview.