[NLA] Call for OERI Re-organization -- How will Adult Education Research fare?

[David J. Rosen]

NLA Colleagues,

A March 6th  article in EdWeek 
    http://www.edweek.org/ew/newstory.cfm?slug=25oeri.h21
describes a bill before Congress, introduced by Representative Michael 
Castle, R-Del,  that would overhaul the US DOE's Office of Education 
Research and Improvement (OERI).

Since OERI is the only place in the federal government with specific 
funding for adult education research and a center for that purpose (this 
is where the funding for  the National Center for the Study of Adult 
Literacy and Learning, NCSALL comes from) I am concerned when I see a 
call for a major re-structuring that adult education will be lost in the 
shuffle.

After the Bush Administration's NIFL Board candidates -- none who has 
adult education experience -- I wonder if others see a pattern which 
will cause adult education to lose ground under this administration.  If 
so, isn't it time for some organized fax/letter/e-mail-writing?

Are the National Coalition for Literacy, COABE and AAACE public policy 
committees, state adult education coalitions,  state adult education 
directors and others talking about this?  If so, let's hear about it on 
the NLA list -- and how about a plan for some action?

David J. Rosen
NLA List Moderator

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