[NLA] update on HR 1261

[Brenda Bell]

At 03:38 PM 3/26/03 -0500, KSmith1 at aol.com wrote:
>My question is why should the adult education community be concerned about
>the fate of NIFL?  It isn't ours anymore; we already let it slip away.
>
>Kevin Smith
>LVA-NYS, Inc.
Dear Kevin and colleagues --

There are those of us who continue to work with NIFL on it's adult-focused 
initiatives, including EFF, LINCS, and Bridges, who haven't given up on 
NIFL yet and don't want to.

The Center for LIteracy Studies at the University of Tennessee has been a 
partner in the development of EFFsince the beginning and still coordinate 
EFF field research as well as EFF dissemination.  We get to work directly 
with programs and states that are implementing EFF and to read their 
reports and evaluations of how EFF is making a difference in teaching and 
learning  and results.
We also serve as the Southern LINCS Regional Technology Center, 
coordinating a network that provides resources and training for programs 
across 14 states.  In addition, we manage several LINCS special 
collections, including workforce education, literacy and learning 
disabilities, and program improvement.  So we see how NIFL's work makes a 
difference for programs and learners and communities.  This is work we 
believe in, and that we are proud to be part of.

We are worried, as you are, that we will lose the National Institute for 
ADULT Literacy.  We are supporting the position of the National Coalition 
for Literacy  -- to return to the language on NIFL that is currently in 
effect as part of the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, Title II of 
WIA, 1998. We would like to strengthen language in the purposes section 
(Sec 242a) to emphasize a commitment to adult literacy, and we would like 
to add language in the duties section (242c) to specifically mention EFF 
and it's role in developing and disseminating materials and tools that 
support standards-based instruction, assessment, and reporting.  LINCS and 
learning disabilities are already specifically mentioned in the current 
language.

We hope others will work with us in our efforts to keep NIFL as a valued 
and valuable resource for adult learning.

Jean Stephens, Director
Brenda Bell, Associate Director, CLS
Beth Bingman, Associate Director, CLS
On behalf of the staff of the Center for Literacy Studies



Brenda Bell, Associate Director, Center for Literacy Studies
Co-Director, EFF Assessment  Consortium
Management Team, EFF Center for Training and Technical Assistance

office/voice mail 865-974-6654  fax 865-974-3857
bsbell at utk.edu

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