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

[Debbie Yoho]

Fropm David:  "In a time of cutbacks some will be relieved to see that
level funding is
proposed"

David and Jon, could it be that some of our advocacy efforts of the past
two weeks had an effect on the Bush proposal, which I thought initially
included a reduction for adult ed?  If so, who do we call to thank?  Debbie

Deborah W. Yoho
Co-moderator, NIFL-Health Listserv
President, SC Adult Literacy Educators
Executive Director, Greater Columbia Literacy Council
2728 Devine Street,  Columbia, SC  29205
803-765-2555   Fax  803-779-8417   dwyoho at earthlink.net


> [Original Message]
> From: David J. Rosen <DJRosen at theworld.com>
> To: <nla at lists.literacytent.org>
> Date: 2/7/2003 11:52:43 PM
> Subject: [NLA] Discussion: Proposed FY 04 Adult Basic and Literacy
Education Budget
>
> NLA Colleagues,
>
> The web address for the Administration's proposed budget for adult
> education will be found below.  It is called "Adult Basic and Literacy
> Education" so maybe nationally, as is the case now in several states, we
> will become the ABLE system.  This name was one of the top choices in
> the national online survey I did a couple of years ago.
>
> In a time of cutbacks some will be relieved to see that level funding is
> proposed. But level funding is not enough when urgent demand greatly
> exceeds supply of these essential public education services, and where
> adult basic skills are needed in order to accomplish other national
> goals such as child literacy, family health, and employment.
>
> This budget calls for absorption of national program funding into state
> grants.  Some would argue that this is not bad, that the USDOE has not
> always used national funds wisely.  But this makes it even more
> important that the National Institute for Literacy not dilute its
> commitment to *adult* literacy. 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
>
>
>
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