[NLA] Spring Advocacy Speaking Tour

[Thomas Sticht]

    Spring Focus for Advocacy: The United Nation’s Literacy Decade and
    The Adult Education and Literacy System (AELS) of the United States

    Tom Sticht                                      March 12, 2003

    The ProLiteracy America web site has a news item stating that ProLiteracy
    America is Poised for Leadership. It notes that ". ProLiteracy America is
    now some 1,450 affiliates strong, and with a presence in all 50 states,
    it represents over 130,000 volunteer tutors, trainers, and teaching
    professionals who work with nearly a quarter of a million adult learners
    each year."

    According to Peter Waite, ProLiteracy Worldwide's vice president of U.S.
    programs, "First and foremost we will represent the field in promoting
    the need to increase funding-both federal as well as state-that is
    dedicated to adult basic education."

    In keeping with this goal, ProLiteracy Worldwide has been providing
    support for the advocacy efforts of the National Coalition for Literacy
    (NCL). In January 2003, the NCL announced that it had "
released its
    recommendations white paper for FY'04 appropriations for key adult
    education, language, and literacy programs." At the top of the list was
    the recommendation that funding for the Workforce Investment Act, Title
    2: Adult Education and Family Literacy Act State Grants, for what I call
    the Adult Education and Literacy System (AELS) of the United States, be
    increased from some $575 million to $1 billion. The NCL white paper goes
    on to say, "An increase of this magnitude is needed to meet the rising
    demand for ESL instruction, to provide one full-time teacher for every
    adult education program in the country, and to support increased use of
    instructional technology."

    Spring Advocacy Speaking Tour

    Both ProLiteracy America and the National Coalition for Literacy provide
    a focus for a national advocacy effort. The goal is to move the Adult
    Education and Literacy System (AELS) of the United States, that is, the
    programs supported wholly or in part by the WIA Title 2 State Grants,
    from the margin to the mainstream of our nation’s educational structure.

    In joining with these two major advocates for adult literacy, one of my
    activities for the year is to combine a Celebration of the United Nations
    Literacy Decade with advocacy for the AELS. Currenty I have the following
    Spring schedule of presentations at which I will join with ProLiteracy
    America, the National Coalition for Literacy, and local adult education
    and literacy organizations in advocating for $1 billion for the AELS and
    for policies of greater inclusion in the AELS of America’s thousands of
    adult literacy providers.

    March 16: Long Beach, CA – National Conference on Family Literacy
    March 26: Boston, Ma – Massachusetts Family Literacy Consortium,
                                           Meetings of State Legislators
    April 3: Denver, CO – Adult Education & Family Literacy and Center for
                                             At-Risk Education Spring
                                             Rendezvous Conference 2003
    May 16am: West Palm Beach, FL – Palm Beach County Literacy Coalition
    May 16pm: Fort Lauderdale, FL – Palm Beach County Literacy Coalition

If anyone would like additional information about this Spring series of
advocacy presentations or to discuss Summer or Fall presentations, you
can contact me off the NLA list.

    Tom Sticht
    Tsticht at aznet.net
  Tel/fax: (619) 444-9133





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