[NLA] Peparing America's Future

[Hal Beder]

In discussing whether or not there has been a decline in adult literacy 
participation it is important to recognize that Title II WIA is just the 
tip of the iceberg in adult literacy funding and participation.  If 
learners have left the Title II roles, it is quite possible that they have 
simply moved to programs funded through other sources.  In NJ, there are 23 
separate funding streams for adult literacy (not counting community college 
developmental skills).  While title II WIA is about  $14 million in the 
state, the total amount available for adult literacy is over $100 
million.  The attached chart chronicles the funding streams.  Federal 
agencies are represented by the boxes on the top; their state analogs
are below.

The study for which the chart was an exhibit concluded that the major 
problem for NJ was not funding (although we do need more funding) but 
extreme bureaucratic fragmentation and inefficient resource 
allocation.  Local program are 100% grant funded and funding comes from up 
to 16 sources.  That means that administrators spend an inordinate amount 
of time writing grants, satisfying reporting requirements, and in being 
monitored.  There is little time for instructional leadership.  Staff 
development resources are extremely thin because the only funding stream of 
the 23 that has leadership money is Title II, so the Title II 12.5% has to 
fund the entire 100 million operation.

Let's stop thinking about adult literacy as being Title II and let's 
consider what has to happen if the whole system is to function well.

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.literacytent.org/pipermail/nla-nifl-archive/attachments/20020618/e39c64ca/attachment.htm
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: banjo.doc
Type: application/msword
Size: 38912 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://lists.literacytent.org/pipermail/nla-nifl-archive/attachments/20020618/e39c64ca/banjo.doc