[NLA] Clarification: Giving the NIFL funding back....

[David J. Rosen]

NLA Colleagues,

Andy Hartman proposed that the National Institute for Literacy (NIFL):

"give the funding that the NIFL receives to disseminate research 
information on reading  (primarily focused on grades K-3) back to the 
U.S. Department of Education.  This would continue the NIFL as it was 
originally conceptualized in the National Literacy Act and preserve the 
service and leadership it can and should provide the adult and family 
literacy field. Do it this year."

My understanding of the meaning of "give the funding...back" is that the 
funds would be transferred from the NIFL to the U.S. Department of 
Education.  In my view, this is not like giving a grant back to the 
funder. It is a statement that the funding allocated by Congress to one 
agency better fits the mission of another government agency, not that it 
is to be returned to the general fund.  I understand that this would be 
easy to accomplish.  I would guess that there would be some at the U.S. 
Department of Education who would welcome these funds, and agree that 
they properly fit within the Department of Education's mission.  The 
question for me is, will this enable the NIFL to focus on its original 
mission (adult and family literacy) to thrive, and to have its work and 
resources grow in support of that mission?

I would like to hear from the NIFL, the U.S. Department of Education, 
and the National Coalition for Literacy, as well as from others on the 
NLA list on this question.  

David J. Rosen
NLA List Moderator
<DJRosen at theworld.com>





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