[NLA] Discussion: CBO's as Key Players

[Jon Randall]

Yesterday afternoon, Nancy Hansen wrote:
"Even though some of the CBO's don't get a federal nickel, I
predict that a cut in funding will affect all of the CBO's
in the end anyway.  They will end up serving learners with
the "lowest proficiency levels" referred >by< the entities
whose funding was cut."

And " ... I'll bet there are literacy CBO's (who are not
receiving federal funding) who *would* have advocated for
keeping adult ed funding stable.  Did you see SD?  We aren't
there because we aren't funded ..."

Nancy's message illustrates why I feel there is a single
adult education and literacy system, which includes two
subsets: those programs that receive federal funding and
those that don't. As Nancy points out, what happens to one
subset DOES impact the other subset.

She also points out that literacy programs will advocate
only if it is in their self-interest to do so. I would
assert that States must be creative in finding ways to
ensure that a rising tide DOES in fact raise all boats.

We are all together in this effort to increase literacy and
WE must appreciate the diversity of literacy programs and
help policymakers understand and appreciate it too.
Programmatic variation meets the wide-ranging needs of adult
learners.  When we acknowledge this broad-based system and
find ways to support such variation, we increase our
advocacy base. When we narrow the public funding criteria of
the system and fail to find ways to support variation, we
undercut our own advocacy efforts to grow the pie.

Quality and accountability cannot be sacrificed in this
effort to support a broader programmatic base. However,
please consider three points:

1. The incentive for literacy programs to increase quality
and accountability is the knowledge that doing so WILL
result in public funding.
2. Program quality and accountability must not be used as
rationale for limiting programmatic variation.
3. In some states, CBO's may need additional help to improve
program quality and accountability.

States that recognize these three points and find ways to
support the broadest-possible base of programs have been
able to tap into greater grassroots advocacy resources.

Assuming Nancy's program meets the needs of the adult
learners it serves, it is frustrating that there is no
benefit to her program from advocating for increased federal
funding - especially when she's got the ear of the Senate
Minority Leader!


Jon Randall
FedStrategics, LLC
strategic advocacy & public affairs consulting
to charitable organizations
www.FedStrategics.com

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



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