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

[Jon Randall]

Note: The following FY'04 Budget issue is one our field
should be aware of. However, at this time it is something
that is best addressed by the leaders of the National
Coalition for Literacy's 36 national organization members.

Included in the Administration's FY'04 Budget Recommendation
is the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) plan for
evaluating the effectiveness of adult education programs.
Data gathered for the measures in this plan will be used by
OMB to make future budget recommendations. These measures
are:

1.	Percentage of participants who entered employment in the
1st quarter after program exit
2.	Percentage of participants who were employed in the 1st
quarter after program exit who remain employed in 2nd and
3rd quarters after exit
3.	Percentage change in earnings based on (a) pre-enrollment
to program exit and (b) 1st quarter after exit to 3rd
quarter after exit

Reporting on these measures is feasible in States that can
track wage data using social security numbers for all
program participants. However, States that must use the
survey method because data match is not permitted are having
a much more difficult time providing data for these
measures.

The problem as I see it is that adult education and literacy
is an EDUCATION program, not an employment program! With
these measures, we have one foot on the slippery slope to
being judged a "poor performing" program, for which OMB
recommends funding cuts or major program changes - like
actually making ours an employment program.

We've been assured by folks at the U.S. Dept. of Ed that OMB
also will consider educational gains as reported through the
National Reporting System. However, my understanding is that
OMB indicated it would ACCEPT additional information - it
made no promises to USE it in making its future budget
recommendations. Educational gains are NOT listed as a Key
Performance Measure in the Administration's FY'04 budget
briefing book.

Stay tuned!

Best,
Jon


Jon Randall
Consultant, Government Relations
ProLiteracy Worldwide
and Public Policy Committee Chair
National Coalition for Literacy
www.natcoalitionliteracy.org

ProLiteracy Worldwide continues to underwrite
the coordination of NCL policy efforts
www.proliteracy.org

FedStrategics, LLC
8413 Park Crest Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20910
Tel: (301) 588-5304   Fax: (301) 588-5353
jrandall at FedStrategics.com



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