[AAACE-NLA]Adult Literacy Advocacy at the State Level

[David J. Rosen]

AAACE-NLA Colleagues,

Many states face cuts in adult literacy services for FY 04, but many are 
also involved in campaigns to prevent or reduce the cuts.  What's 
happening in your area?  Please post information to this list -- we all 
need to get a better picture of what is happening.  My sense is that 
there is growing concern in most states, and that urban and state 
literacy coalitions in many areas have increased their organizing efforts.

Here's some news from my state to get the ball rolling:

Some of you know that in November of 2001 our legislature nearly 
eliminated state funding for adult literacy education (a 50% cut, passed 
halfway through the year, which would have resulted in severe cuts to 
federal funding because of failure in maintenance of effort.) Adult 
learners, practitioners and others, however, were well organized and 
provided an immediate and overwhelming response (1,000 phone calls a day 
to the Senate President's Office over a two week period, for example.) 
The result was restoration of all but 2% of the state adult literacy 
education budget by January of 2002.

For FY04 our Governor proposed level funding.  The House and Senate, at 
this point, have agreed on a 1% cut.  Given that the legislature must 
cut over $3 billion from a $23 billion budget, and that other education 
and human services will be cut drastically or eliminated, this is 
clearly a recognition by both the administration and legislature of the 
importance of adult literacy education.  Nevertheless, all tolled, our 
publicly funded programs have faced federal and state cuts the past two 
years which add up to 10%.  At the same time we have seen a documented 
rise in numbers of people waiting for services, primarily ESOL classes, 
from 14,000 to 24,000.

What's the picture in your state or area, and how are students and the 
field responding?

David J. Rosen