[NLA] a proposal to "save" the NIFL

[Alice Cain]

Christy Gullion wrote:

>Can people please explain why they feel the Institute has lost or ignored 
>it's focus on adult literacy?  What exactly has the Institute done/not done 
>that precipitates these feelings?<

Christy and NIFL staff,

I would like to turn this question around:  What does the Institute consider 
its accomplishments over the past year for *adults*?  What has it done to 
make a difference for adults with literacy needs or the programs serving 
them?

Could you please update us on the status of initiatives NIFL used to support 
that helped adults such as:  funding for VALUE, literacy leader fellowships, 
adult literacy public awareness, the annual policy retreat on adult literacy 
with key Congressional staff?  What federal agencies, businesses and 
foundations is NIFL bringing to the table to get engaged in adult literacy?  
Can we expect further state policy updates on adult literacy?  Does NIFL 
still produce federal policy updates?  (The last one I could find on the 
website was from February -- despite the major welfare changes passed by the 
House and Senate committees since then.)  Has NIFL testified on the Hill 
this year or helped shape (or get the field to help shape) this important 
legislation?  Has NIFL alerted the field when there are opportunities to 
educate Congress about the importance of allowing participation in a 
literacy program to count as work for adults with low basic skills who are 
on welfare?  (My understanding is that the Senate has made some changes in 
the right direction that have major implications for the adult literacy 
field.)  Has NIFL followed through on its commitment (under Andy) to support 
state directors' efforts to tranlate adult literacy research to practice?  
Are there any new NIFL investments in adults?

My impression is that the Partnership for Reading, which is child-focused, 
has taken over most of the Institute staff's time, energy, focus, and 
funding.  I am not aware of any funding going toward adult-focused projects 
beyond the continuation of EFF, LINCS, and some LD work, and I believe (but 
may be wrong here) that both EFF and LINCS have lost staff over the past 
year.

Maybe there are more projects at NIFL designed to help adults and the 
problem is that they are not being communicated to the field.  Or maybe they 
are no longer happening.  I don't know, but I think any insights NIFL staff 
can provide would be helpful to this discussion.

Alice Johnson


_________________________________________________________________
Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com

_______________________________________________
NLA mailing list: NLA at lists.literacytent.org
http://lists.literacytent.org/mailman/listinfo/nla
LiteracyTent: web hosting, news, community and goodies for literacy
http://literacytent.org