[NLA] Discussion: CBO's as Key Players

[Deborah W. Yoho]

Nancy:  In my experience, the working definition of a "CBO" is an
organization designated as a 501 c 3 entity by the IRS, and as such, is
governed by a volunteer board of directors.  Funding sources are not part
of the definition.  In my opinion, it is not useful to categorize various
entities providing adult education by funding sources, because most if not
all receive funding from a variety of sources.  (I have made this point
before when rejecting Tom Sticht's definition of the "AELS" and will not
belabour the issue here again.) Many CBO's receive funding from national
sources, (in my case, for example, from a Pfizer grant), and a 501 c 3 is
not restricted to work "within the boundaries of a city/community".

Your underlying implication, however, that the term "CBO" implies a
connection to the community is of course valid.  The Board of Directors is
one such connection.  But a CBO may deliver services entirely through paid
staff, and without the use of volunteers, although in my experience this
would be the exception rather than the rule.  However, since all 501 c 3's
have a volunteer Board, they might be called, and see themselves, as
"voluntary" organizations.  Gail's point that CBO's are extremely varied is
also important. 

Your ongoing concern about the fact that your organization is not eligible
for WIA funds continues to puzzle me.  Reading between the lines of some of
your posts, it appears that the reason is the requirement to use the NRS,
which requires assessment, and that in your case the state requires a TABE
on each learner.  You have made important points about the trauma of
subjecting adult learners to a paper and pencil standardized test, (and I
agree with you on this) so I assume the organization's ineligible status is
partly by choice; you have decided to opt out of the accountability
requirements (the testing).  Is this correct? Also, is the TABE the only
test the state allows?  We have a choice, and my agency uses the Slosson,
which is orally and individually administered with careful sensitivity to
the learner.  We have had no problems with it, though I get criticized for
using it because it does not check comprehension, only vocabulary, but we
have other friendly ways of checking comprehension, and also use a number
of other techniques to complete what I call an assessment (as opposed to
just a test for NRS purposes.)

To summarize, is your program actually barred from applying for WIA funds,
or did decision-makers in the program choose not to participate?  I think
the answer has policy implications.  Thanks, Debbie Yoho 

> [Original Message]
> From: <Nashansen at aol.com>
> To: <nla at lists.literacytent.org>
> Date: 02/22/2003 6:13:33 PM
> Subject: Re: [NLA] Discussion: CBO's as Key Players
>
> NLA subscribers and particularly Gail:
>
> In an email posted before David Rosen's interlude, Gail Spangenberg wrote:
>
>  << Also, I really don't favor 
> lumping voluntary and CBO programs into one category.  Voluntary are 
> just that, but CBOs are extraordinarily varied in purpose and type. >>
>
> As a starting point, define what the state CBO looks like in your
experience. 
>  There seems to be a difference of opinion here as to whether or not a 
> Community-Based Organization is a CBO or a "voluntary" group.  Define the 
> difference in your view.  
>
> In my view and only my view, Adult Education, if funded by federal
funding 
> trickled down through one department or another of the state's
government, 
> doesn't feel as though it >should< be called a community-based
organization.  
> CBO's function through supportive resources identified within the
boundaries 
> of a city/community including instructors as well as funding.  Please
explain 
> if I'm off-base on this.
>
> Nancy Hansen
> Sioux Falls Area Literacy Council
> sfallsliteracy at yahoo.com  AND
> Nashansen at aol.com
>
> In a message dated 02/14/2003 2:32:23 PM Central Standard Time, 
> srobinson at doe.state.vt.us writes:
>
> << Let me say that in some states CBOs are the Adult Education
>  System!
>  Sandra Robinson >>
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