[AAACE-NLA] News from the States

[David Kring]

Hi folks,

This has been an extremely interesting year in New Jersey.  At the state
level, several governmental departments have been operationalizing the
consolidation of all "to-work" efforts under the new Department of Labor and
Workforce Development.  The intent is to streamline funding and service
provision, supported locally through the Workforce Investment Boards and
their One Stop Centers.  Adult educators have been involved in the process
at the state level through the State Council for Adult Literacy Services and
NJALL, and locally in the WIB Literacy Committees.  As with any change,
there have been a few "bumps-in-the-road."

The responsibility and funding for Adult High Schools remains with the
Department of Education.  In NJ, the adult high schools are a critical (and
often leveraged) component of the literacy system.  Although there was a
modest 3% increase in school funding this year after two years of frozen
budgets, the K-12 system is financially stressed.  Consequently, we have
lost several adult high schools this year and we are quite concerned about
the risk to others.

Obviously, we are quite busy and have much to do.

Dave Kring
dkring at patmedia.net


-----Original Message-----
From: aaace-nla-bounces at lists.literacytent.org
[mailto:aaace-nla-bounces at lists.literacytent.org]On Behalf Of David
Rosen
Sent: Tuesday, July 27, 2004 10:00 AM
To: National Literacy Advocacy List sponsored by AAACE
Subject: Re: [AAACE-NLA] News from the States


Dear state level adult and family literacy advocate,

So far I have only heard from one state, Illinois.  Please let us hear
from _every_ state where there are adult literacy education activists!
This is important.  We need to know -- from each other -- how things
are going, what opportunities may be arising, what advocacy strategies
have been effective, if and how things may be changing.

I will send a summary of advocacy news from the states (only) to those
who provide information from their state.  If you want this
information, send information about your state to this list -- or to me
privately.

  How did your state do this year? (See message below for details.)

Thanks,

All the best,

David J. Rosen
Adult Literacy Advocate
djrosen at comcast,net

On Monday, July 26, 2004, at 12:20  PM, David Rosen wrote:

> Dear state level adult and family literacy advocate,
>
> A FY 05 budget in most states has now been approved, and adult
> literacy advocates now know what their state funding is for
> July-2004-June, 2005.
>
> How did your state do? Were there gains, losses, or was there level
> funding?  Were there new advocacy efforts or strategies? If so, what
> did you do and what happened as a result?  This information is very
> useful for state level advocacy colleagues across the country.  It
> would be best to post this directly to the list but, if you are
> uncomfortable doing this, e-mail it to me privately and I can post it
> for you anonymously.
>
> Massachusetts
>
> In Massachusetts we saw level funding of our state Department of
> Education adult basic education line item, and we appear to have
> another $1 million or so for community-based organizations to provide
> adult literacy/basic skills and job skills training through the State
> Department of Labor.  Our Governor, for the first time, showed
> interest in adult literacy education. In a supplemental budget --
> which did not pass -- the Governor proposed an unprecedented 50%
> increase in adult basic education public funding for one year.  When
> the state legislature does pass a supplemental budget, it might
> include  more funds for adult education and literacy, and if so, the
> Governor is unlikely to veto this.  In any case the Governor's
> interest could signal a new bi-partisan interest in adult basic
> education.
>
> Please let us hear what the news is from *your* state.
>
> David J. Rosen
> Adult Literacy Advocate
> djrosen at comcast.net

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