[NLA] Discussion: Proposed FY 04 Adult Basic and Literacy Education Budget

[George E. Demetrion]

On Fri, 07 Feb 2003 23:46:05 -0500 "David J. Rosen"
<DJRosen at theworld.com> writes: (snipit)
>
 We do have some major problems that
>cannot be solved by the states alone: national support for adult
>literacy education research, curriculum (especially Equipped For the
>Future,) and assessment. I am especially concerned that we will not be
>able to address serious deficiencies with the current assessment
>instruments used to meet National Reporting System requirements.  We
>need a major and long-term national commitment to develop valid and
>reliable instruments, including direct measures as well as tests. As
>Paul Jurmo noted, practitioners want to know how the administration 
>can require accountability but not support the development of research; 
>and I would add, valid and reliable assessment instruments needed in
order
>to be accountable.  To solve these problems we need national 
>leadership.
>
>David J. Rosen
>DJRosen at theworld.com
>
>The proposed budget will be found at
>http://www.ed.gov/offices/OUS/Budget04/04summary/section2c.html#adult
>_______________________________________________________________

This makes it more important than ever for ProLiteracy Worldwide to take
on the function of applied and basic research within its own house in
collaboration with such research institutions like Syracuse University. 
I realize this would be difficult given other pressing priorities and
limited resources.  Yet if the house of adult literacy doesn't own its
own research and products stemming from it (i.e., valid and appropriate
assessment instruments), then that power will either be ceded to the
federal govt (which may or may not have the best interests of the field
in mind), or further marginalized.

I state the argument in bald terms here.  Any implementation would
require more than a little complex work.  The issue is not its
feasibility, but an assessment of its importance in light of both
external challenges and internal capabilities.

George Demetrion
sophocles5 at juno.com


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