[AAACE-NLA] "Science" eliminates adult literacy program

[Margery Freeman]

The programs eliminated certainly give new meaning to the phrase "women and
children first."  More accurately, "poor women, children and youth first."
What a disaster!
Margery Freeman
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Thomas Sticht" <tsticht at znet.com>
To: <aaace-nla at lists.literacytent.org>
Sent: Friday, February 06, 2004 12:08 PM
Subject: [AAACE-NLA] "Science" eliminates adult literacy program


> February 6, 2004
>
> "Scientific Evaluation" Eliminates National Family Literacy Program
>
> Tom Sticht
> International Consultant in Adult Education
>
> The President's Fiscal Year 2005 budget proposal eliminates several
> programs that adult literacy educators have found beneficial for adult
> learners over the years the programs have been in effect. A list of all
> programs eliminated from the FY 2005 budget can be found online at:
>
>
http://www.ed.gov/about/overview/budget/budget05/summary/edlite-section3.html
>
> Following are some programs that I was particularly disappointed to find
> eliminated.  One, Even Start, is apparently the first federal program in
> adult literacy education to fall victim to the new emphasis upon
> "scientific, evidence-based research" that the Bush administration is
> emphasizing. Following the name and amount of funding for each program in
> FY04 are the government's stated reasons for elimiating the program.
>
> Community Technology Centers - $9.9 million
>
> Supports centers that offer disadvantaged residents of economically
> distressed areas access to computers and training. Program has limited
> impact and funding for similar activities is available through other
> Federal agencies.
>
> Even Start - $246.9 million
>
> This program aims to improve educational opportunities for children and
> their parents in low-income areas by integrating early childhood
> education, adult education, and parenting education into "family literacy"
> programs. However, three separate national evaluations of the program
> reached the same conclusion: children and adults participating in Even
> Start generally made gains in literacy skills, but these gains were not
> significantly greater than those of non-participants. For this reason,
> Even Start funds will be redirected to provide increases for
> higher-priority programs, including the
> research-based Reading First and Early Reading First programs, which are
> better suited to address the President's literacy goals.
>
> Literacy Programs for Prisoners - $5.0
>
> Competitive grants to State and local correctional agencies and
> correctional education agencies support programs that reduce recidivism
> through the improvement of "life skills." Request is consistent with the
> Administration's effort to eliminate small programs that have only
> indirect or limited effect.
>
> State Grants for Incarcerated Youth Offenders - $19.9 million
>
> Formula grants to State correctional agencies assist and encourage
> incarcerated youth to acquire functional literacy skills and life and job
> skills. Request is consistent with the Administration's effort to
> eliminate small programs that have only indirect or limited effect on
> improving student outcomes.
>
> These eliminated programs, coupled with the fact that the President's
> first four federal budgets have never requested more funds for adult
> education State Grants than were available the year before,  offer
> additional evidence that the present administration does not hold adult
> literacy education in high regard. This suggests that only a change in
> administrations offers the promise of better serving the needs of
> America's undereducated and underserved adults and their families. This
> offers a solid, concrete goal for adult literacy education advocates this
> election year.
>
> Thomas G.  Sticht
> International Consultant in Adult Education
> 2062 Valley View Blvd.
> El Cajon, CA 92019-2059
> Tel/fax: (619) 444-9133
> Email: tsticht at aznet.net
>
>
>
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