NLA Question: Senate bill on reading and literacy

[Alice Johnson]

David & Other NLA Colleagues,
Sender: nla-approval at world.std.com
Precedence: list
Reply-To: nla

That is a very good question.  I've heard mixed responses from the Hill.  Time 
(and the lack of it before the end of the session) is working against us right 
now.  If the bill is not enacted by July 1, the $210 in new funding for literacy
will default to another program.  

One thing is true of all legislation, this included:  the more members know 
their consituents care about an issue and are paying attention to what they do 
with it, the higher priority it will be.

Alice Johnson
National Institute for Literacy


 Separator _________________________________
Subject: NLA Question: Senate bill on reading and literacy
Author:  nla at world.std.com at inet
Date:    6/12/98 12:16 AM


NLA Colleagues,
     
A May 29th National Institute for Literacy _Policy Update_ mailed 
out by Alice Johnson includes some information about a reading and
literacy bill in the U.S. Senate.  This legislation, if enacted, would 
provide an extra $210 million per year for three years to improve reading 
and literacy skills of children and families.  One of the three activities 
is improving in-service instructional practices for teachers, including 
adult education and literacy instructors.  According to the policy update, 
the Senate bill calls for each state to develop a "State Plan to Improve 
Teaching and Learning of Reading and Literacy Programs."  Plans would 
include assessment of professional development needs of teachers, 
including those in adult education and family literacy.
     
This is the first attention I have seen to funding for adult education 
staff development since the (now largely disappeared) funding for State 
Literacy Resource Centers.  It is refreshing to see this need beginning to 
be recognized again.
     
Alice, or anyone else, do you have  more information about how this is 
doing in the Senate, more specifics on its provisions, and whether it will 
be conferenced with H.R. 2614, a similar bill which passed the House?
     
David J. Rosen
NLA List Moderator
<DJRosen at world.std.com>