[NLA] Thursday Notes, 10/11/01

[Tilghman, Rose]

>From the Desk of Ronald S. Pugsley, Director, DAEL
Office of Vocational and Adult Education
Editor: Sarah Newcomb
Production: Rose Tilghman

October 11, 2001

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House, Senate Split
On FY '02 Appropriations,
Continue EL/Civics

The House approved their Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill October 11,
including a boost in adult education state grants of $55M, or 10.2%, as well
as providing a $60K increase for NIFL and $10M more for Even Start. The
Senate bill, approved by their committee October 11, funds the state grant
program at last year's $540M level and, like the House version, decreases
national activities by $4.5M. Both bills set aside $70M from state grants
for English literacy/civics services. The Senate version funds the Community
Technology Centers (CTC) program at last year's level of $64.95M and keeps
it in education, while the House version does not fund CTCs. The Senate
version increases NIFL funds by $60K and reduces Even Start by $50M. The
Senate is expected to consider the bill next week. Meanwhile, another
Continuing Resolution has been approved, funding programs through October
23.

NC's Caldwell
Puts Class 
"In a Suitcase"

In North Carolina, as in many states, teachers of adult education are
part-time and receive no compensation for preparation time. Caldwell
Community College met this challenge by establishing four "coordinators" who
are specialists in specific adult education curriculum areas. Coordinators
search out best practices and bring those that might enhance Caldwell's
program back to "mentor instructors." One such innovation is "Class in a
Suitcase." These kits help part-time teachers by assembling realia (such as
maps and telephone books for a lesson on using the phone), lesson plans and
worksheets. The "Class in a Suitcase" helps reach rural areas to which a
teacher can carry the kit and provide a class to a small number of students.

Advisory Teachers
Help Learning at
UT's Horizonte

Horizonte, an alternative high school operating in more than 20 sites in the
Salt Lake City area, assigns every adult learner an advisory teacher who
serves as a mentor and single point of contact with the educational system.
The advisory teacher meets with each adult learner every day during
"advisory period." Advisory teachers oversee service learning components
required of every adult learner. In addition, they offer career guidance,
provide assistance in goal-setting, teach resume-writing as well as SCANS
skills, and help with mock job interviews. For more see
http://www.slc.k12.ut.us/sites/horizonte/ Click "Skip Introduction." 

Plans for 
the Weekend?

When is a convenient time for adult education classes? According to
MassINC's recent survey of Massachusetts' adult learners, it's Saturday. The
survey found that despite this learner preference, few or no adult education
classes were being offered on Saturdays in various locations around the
state. Sunday class was not given as a choice for students asked to identify
a "convenient" time, but also might have been popular. See
http://www.massinc.org

____________________________________________________________________________
___________________
A Fact Sheet from the Division of Adult Education and Literacy
Office of Vocational and Adult Education
OVAE Homepage http://www.ed.gov/offices/OVAE/

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