No subject

"In its 1991 National Literacy Act, Congress defined literacy as:=20

an individual's ability to read, write, and speak in English, and =
compute and solve problems at levels of proficiency necessary to =
function on the job and in society, to achieve one's goals, and develop =
one's knowledge and potential." =20

Also consider the National Education Goals Panel Goal #6 for adult =
literacy:  "By the year 2000, every adult American will be literate and =
will possess the knowledge and skills necessary to compete in a global =
economy and exercise the rights and responsibilities of citizenship."=20

Donna Moss
Washington, DC


-----Original Message-----
From: Frances Keenan [mailto:fkeenan at pbs.org]
Sent: Monday, May 19, 2003 5:49 PM
To: aaace-nla at lists.literacytent.org
Subject: [AAACE-NLA]literacy defined


Official definitions of literacy have changed over the decades, whether
to adapt to the changing complexity of our society or to set the stage
for a national survey such as the NALS (just two examples).

The definition of literacy that is in HR 1261 is as follows:

" the term `literacy' means the ability to read, write, and speak the
English language with competence, knowledge, and comprehension;"

Leaving aside for the moment the odd concept of speaking English "with
comprehension," does this definition express where we are in 2003 with
our understanding of what adult literacy is?  (It may be hard to find a
definition everyone feels is broad enough.)

For comparison, the definition in the current WIA:
The Workforce Investment Act of 1998 defines literacy as "an
individual's ability to read, write, speak in English, compute and solve
problems at levels of proficiency necessary to function on the job, in
the family of the individual and in society."=20

I can't at the moment seem to put my hands on the definition of literacy
from the National Literacy Act of 1991 (that established the National
Institute for Literacy) but I thought it was broader.

For more on literacy definitions and the NALS, see NIFL's site
http://www.nifl.gov/nifl/faqs.html#literacy

Fran Keenan
PBS Adult Learning Service

-----Original Message-----
From: David J. Rosen [mailto:DJRosen at theworld.com]=20
Sent: Friday, May 16, 2003 4:11 PM
To: aaace-nla at lists.literacytent.org
Subject: Re: [AAACE-NLA]House language on NIFL


AACE-NLA Colleagues,

That Web address won't work.  Instead, go to:

http://thomas.loc.gov/home/thomas2.html

type in h.r. 1261 , click on version 3, then scroll down Title II,=20
Chapter 4, Part B, "National Institute for Literacy"

David J. Rosen


David J. Rosen wrote:

> AAACE-NLA Colleagues,
>
> You might be interested in reading the language of H.R. 1261.  You
> will find it at:
>
> http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/F?c108:3:./temp/~c108JFjbe7:e17839
> 6:
>
> David J. Rosen
>
> _______________________________________________
> AAACE-NLA mailing list: AAACE-NLA at lists.literacytent.org=20
> http://lists.literacytent.org/mailman/listinfo/aaace-nla
> LiteracyTent: web hosting, news, community and goodies for literacy=20
> http://literacytent.org
>


_______________________________________________
AAACE-NLA mailing list: AAACE-NLA at lists.literacytent.org
http://lists.literacytent.org/mailman/listinfo/aaace-nla
LiteracyTent: web hosting, news, community and goodies for literacy
http://literacytent.org




__________________________________________________________________

Give them words to grow by.
Share a story with a child in your life today.
pbskids.org/shareastory
_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

This email may contain material that is confidential or proprietary to =
PBS and is intended solely for use by the intended recipient.  Any =
review, reliance or distribution of such material by others, or =
forwarding of such material without express permission, is strictly =
prohibited.  If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the =
sender and destroy all copies.
__________________________________________________________________


_______________________________________________
AAACE-NLA mailing list: AAACE-NLA at lists.literacytent.org
http://lists.literacytent.org/mailman/listinfo/aaace-nla
LiteracyTent: web hosting, news, community and goodies for literacy
http://literacytent.org