NLA Discussion: Smaller state strategies, waiting lists

[KathleenBombach at aol.com]

To address the trade off between intensity vs. serving everyone:

One year we decided to change the number of hours of instruction in the 
program I was working with so that everyone could be served. It was in 
response to one of a (presently continuing) successive cuts in funding.  
Rather than the previous 12 hours a week (three hours a day Monday through 
Thursday), we cut to six hours a week (Monday-Wednesday and 
Turesday-Thursday).  Each class session remained at three hours.  We also 
thought that enrollment and attendance might actually increase because it was 
difficult for students to give up four mornings/evenings a week, rather than 
two, for classes.

Enrollment did not increase and attendance actually dropped!  It seemed that 
the learners wanted a certain level of intensity of instruction.  Less 
intensity so that we could (in theory) serve more people didn't benefit 
either group.  Making progress toward their individual goals in the time 
frame they had chosen was key to the students.

Kathleen Bombach


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