NLA: A Policy Recommendation to Support Young Adult Education

[David J Rosen]

NLA Colleagues,

Jon Randall has rightly challenged us to focus on adult literacy public
policy. After all, that is the main purpose of this list.  Jon has asked
that we put forth public policy recommendations which, I presume, might be
considered by the National Coalition for Literacy, and which we might also
choose to act on at the state level.

I would like to respond to that challenge, and I encourage others to do
this, too.

Recently we have been discussing here the best ways to support young
adults who have left school and who want to continue their education.  I
hope we continue the discussion, and I would like to recommend that:

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Specific language should be added to federal and state legislation so that
16-22 year-olds who have left school without graduating may continue
their education in publicly-funded adult and youth education programs
leading to a high school diploma or GED  >and< , when a young adult 
enrolls in these programs, the funding must follow the student, that the
annual public expenditure per year for that student must then go to the
adult or youth education program.
***************************************************************************

There are at least two reasons why I think this is a good policy:

1. A serious disparity in funding now exists between K-12 and adult
education.  A 16-year old who leaves school, where there has been a
multi-thousand dollar annual investment, enrolls in an adult secondary
education (GED or ADP) program where there is usually a only a few hundred
dollars per year available to support his or her education.

2.  Average Daily Attendance (ADA) is a term used in many school systems 
and refers to the amount of public funds per student per year received.  If 
the ADA is subtracted from a public school budget for each young adult who
leaves before graduating, public schools may have a disincentive to push
students out who have low scores on high stakes tests.

I believe (someone please confirm this) that California allows ADA funds
to follow young adults (perhaps all adults) to adult schools. If your
state has a policy that the ADA must follow the student into an adult
education program please let us know, and also tell us if you think this
is a good policy and why.

David J. Rosen
<DJRosen at world.std.com>



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