[NLA] Omnibus Literacy Legislation

[David J. Rosen]

NLA Colleagues,

Jon Randall has invited us to look at the National Coalition for
Literacy's (NCL) Draft Concept Paper which recommends federal
legislative measures for adult literacy in an omnibus literacy bill. 
It will be found at:

        http://www.natcoalitionliteracy.org

Jon provided these details on getting to it: "click on 'Policy and
Legislation' on the home page, then on 'Commitment Three,' and then on
'Omnibus Literacy Legislation.'

The concept paper is being reviewed today by the NCL. It is the
groundwork for a bill which, whether enacted or not, can shape federal
policy in 2002 and can also help in changing the Adult Education and
Family Literacy Act(AEFLA) and other parts of the Workforce Investment
Act (WIA) which is up for reauthorization in 2003.

I urge NLA list subscribers to read and comment here on the concept paper.

Overall I find it faithful to the recommendations made during the
Literacy Summit year, and reflective of many of the concerns raised by
the field. It follows the three priorities which emerged during the
Summit process: Resources, Access and Quality. But I am interested to
know what you think.

In addition to the part George Demetrion highlighted here a couple of
days ago,  I would like to call your attention to:

Page 4

"Several significant issues cut across the priorities.  The first issue
is student involvement.  As the field's primary stakeholders and
customers, students must participate meaningfully in every aspect of the
system that exists to serve them."

Page 5

There is a paragraph comparing efforts in the U.S. with those in the
United Kingdom. It ends with this sentence: "For the U.S. to mount an
effort proportional to that of the U.K. it would have to appropriate
$3.2 billion annually instead of the $540 million that it currently
makes available."  

The significant effort in the U.K., referred to on the NLA list several
times by Tom Sticht, might do for adult literacy in the U.S. in this
decade what Sputnik did for elementary and secondary U.S. Science
Education in the 1950's. If there is evidence that the U.K. investment
is "paying off" with a stronger economy, and more people working in
better jobs, policy makers in the U.S. may become interested in adult
literacy in ways we have not seen before.

Page 6

"ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION ACT"

"Require the transfer of comparable per session funding to adult
education and family literacy programs serving secondary school students
who are transferred to adult education and family literacy programs by
secondary schools."

The "dollars follow the student" concept --  especially compelling for
serving students up to the age of 22 -- could significantly affect
funding if it were to be implemented in every state.

Page 8

"Provide assurances that One-Stop candidates who demonstrate multiple
barriers to employment - especially low literacy - will not be turned
away in favor of candidates more likely to be quickly employed, a
practice often referred to as "creaming."  Revise One-Stop performance
requirements to accommodate this hard to serve population."

Throughout the concept paper are references to the need to improve
services to adults with learning disabilities and other special needs.
Also, throughout the paper is the need to have and better use
technology. I am glad to see these. 

David J. Rosen
<DJRosen at theworld.com>
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