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

[David J. Rosen]

Fran,

Thanks for this good news from Delaware.  It would be a mistake for us 
to assume that things are uniformly bad and getting worse for adult 
literacy across the country.  Let's hear from other states -- and areas 
within states -- what they are experiencing.  Financially hard times are 
often the best times for organizing.  What's happening in your state or 
your area?  Do you have an urban or state adult literacy/basic 
skills/ESOL(ESL) advocacy organization?  If so, what's been happening 
this year?  How have you tried to reach legislators, state 
administrators, the general public to education them about the 
need/demand for and benefits of these services?

Let's hear from the District of Columbia where the Mayor is launching an 
important new adult literacy initiative.

Let's hear from New York City where the Grassroots Literacy Coalition -- 
a group of practitioners and adult learners -- has been revitalized -- 
and from New York Association for Continuing/Community Education
which has also been working hard on adult literacy public policy.  Let's 
hear from NJALL, New Jersey's state association, and from Pennsylvania 
and Ohio's associations. These, like Massachusetts, have been well 
organized for many years.  Let's hear from your state or your city.

Let's hear the good news, like Fran's, and the bad news, too. Let's use 
the AAACE-NLA forum as an opportunity to learn from each other what's 
happening across the country, and also how to make our organizing 
efforts more effective.

David J. Rosen

Fran Tracy-Mumford wrote:
> I am so glad that David asked about funding in other states.  Delaware 
> is weathering the financial storm very well.  Because of the foresight 
> of the Governor, Lt. Governor, and Legislature, we have gotten a funding 
> increase this year.  The state has a Defact Group that meets quarterly 
> and looks at the financial health of the state.  As a result of their 
> last meeting, the joint finance committee of the legislature was able to 
> place an additional $300,000 into our budget to decrease our waiting 
> list.  Prior to that the governor placed an increase into our budget 
> line.  There is an understanding under the current political 
> environment within our state that adult education programs generate 
> financial resources back to the state and improve the quality of lives 
> of the citizenry.  Legislators are in regular attendance at each of our 
> graduations and they are close enough to the constituents that they hear 
> and know the impact of our adult education programs on the people of 
> Delaware. 
> 
> At the state levelm, I keep a running count of our waiting lists.  
> Currently it is 1,713.  I update it monthly.  As a result of 
> receiving this money from the legislature, programs were able to move to 
> action to hold a summer program.  We were also able to have a summer 
> program last year and the results are phenominal.  Programs report 
> outcomes (though our LiteracyPro program) and I published the outcomes 
> and sent results to the legislature via the Department of Education's 
> legislative update booklet in the fall. 
> 
> Our programs are great about collecting current data, stories, pictures, 
> and keeping local legislators informed.  Adult education has bipartisan 
> support with champions for the programs in key positions in office.  Our 
> Governor, Ruth Ann Minner, is a GED graduate herself.   The Lt. Governor 
> chairs the Interagency Council on Adult Literacy.  While agencies and 
> programs around us were returning monies, we maintained and now have 
> gained resources.  Our job now is to continue providing quality services 
> that will lead to positive changes in the lives of our learners.
> 
> Fran Tracy-Mumford, State Director of Adult Education, Delaware