[NLA] Research in adult literacy education

[Sheryl Gowen]

Andrea,

You ask several important questions and make one essential observation:  Literacy programs need an "ongoing program of research, supported by the report of outside evaluators" in order to secure and maintain funding levels.  Like it or not, the need  for systematic program evaluation is essential in the current economic and political climate.  It is possible to find evaluators that are pro-active and supportive of the program's goals and objectives.  I would encourage program directors to seek those evaluators out.

Sheryl Gowen, Associate Professor
Research, Measurement and Statistics
Department of Educational Policy Studies
Georgia State University
Atlanta, GA 30303-3083
sgowen at gsu.edu
404.651.1152
fax 404.651.1009
>>> AWilder106 at aol.com 11/15/02 09:10 AM >>>
Dear Nancy,

OK, your question:

How was the decision made to begin the NRS reporting system?

Now, I think you said that administrators did not actually use the system, 
and that resulted in a drop of numbers reported, and hence less funding.  Is 
this correct?

If what I am saying is not correct, then how is it that your local literacy 
program (is this you?) was stripped of federal funding?

How is the use of the NRS related to PRIOR inaccuracy in literacy statistics 
as reported to policy makers?  How do you know the figures were inaccurate?  
How were the figures calculated?

Now about documents quoted on the NLA.  Which are you talking about here?

As you can see, I am ignorant about several matters.  The NRS was discussed 
on the NLA last spring, but this sounds like a different conversation.

What I have written above sounds like a money discussion.  Now to educational 
content, where I think you also have some feelings.

I think your concern here is that the ongoing program of research supported 
by your organization will be pushed aside by new federal requirements 
dictating new modes of teaching.  Is this right?  

I am not sure exactly how this would happen, and if there would be 
considerable bargaining around teaching issues.  I should think that an 
ongoing program of research, supported by the report of outside evaluators, 
which Marsha Tait spoke about in a spring post would increase the credibility 
of your teaching methods and outcomes.  Could be wrong, though.

Overall, you feel that volunteer literacy programs have lost funding support 
and now may be forced to change teaching methodology?

Thanks for your patience through all these questions.

Andrea
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