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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Thanks, Art, for your analysis of NRS data.
As I was telling David Rosen, sometimes some of us who are perceived as lurkers
are actually very active by forwarding information on to our colleagues.
Your message really hit a nerve with me, so I sent it on with the
following editiorial (see below) to our center's staff and Adult Basic and
Literacy Education (ABLE) state directors. Some of you on the list may
also want to take a look at our Montana LINCS Legislative Link.
<LI><FONT face=Arial size=3><STRONG>Go to </STRONG></FONT><A
href="http://www.nwlincs.org"><FONT face=Arial
size=3><STRONG>www.nwlincs.org</STRONG></FONT></A><FONT size=3><STRONG><FONT
face=Arial> .</FONT> </STRONG></FONT>
<LI><FONT size=3><STRONG><FONT face=Arial>Click on <FONT
color=#800080>Montana</FONT>. </FONT> </STRONG></FONT>
<LI><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=3><STRONG>Then click on <FONT
color=#800080>What's New <FONT color=#000000>and </FONT><FONT
color=#ff0000>Legislative Link</FONT>.</FONT></STRONG></FONT></FONT>
</LI></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>NP =)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Norene Peterson<BR>Adult Education Center<BR>415
North 30th<BR>Billings, MT 59101<BR>406-247-3720<BR><A
href="mailto:petersonnh@billings.k12.mt.us">petersonnh@billings.k12.mt.us</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><STRONG>Sent: Monday, January 06,
2003 7:58 PM<BR>Subject: Funding and stats - Very
Important!!!</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><STRONG>We have frequently talked
about our statistics or should I say lack of decent stats. Read the brief
info below to see that others throughout the country are experiencing similar
frustrations. Unfortunately, it is now beginning to take a toll on funding
in D.C., New York, and several other places. What's next?
<BR> <BR>Obviously, programs nationwide are still doing the job they are
supposed to do - working with the hard-to-serve students and not creaming.
But the "boys" with the bucks want to see better stats. It's a vicious
circle, isn't it? We have always known education is a numbers game, and
yet at times we have tried to deny it. The way the NRS is asking for data
to be reported leaves us little alternative but to report limited growth.
I agree with Art LaChance (below) - I, too, am not surprised. I am only
saddened. <BR> <BR>But sometimes when I get sad, I get mad.
Yes, we have published our student writing in the newsletter, and we have talked
to the students about writing letters to legislators. That is still not
enough until students actually begin writing and sending their letters to the
legislators. We can not sit back and lose our state money. I
challenge all of us to continue our legislative activity and get our students to
contact their legislators. Statistics? This is one time we certainly
do not want to become one. We can not wait any longer! Please take
action! Now!<BR>NP =)</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>----- Original Message ----- </FONT>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>From: "Art LaChance" <</FONT><A
href="mailto:arthur@ellijay.com"><FONT face=Arial
size=2>arthur@ellijay.com</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial size=2>></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>To: <</FONT><A
href="mailto:nla@lists.literacytent.org"><FONT face=Arial
size=2>nla@lists.literacytent.org</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial
size=2>></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Sent: Monday, January 06, 2003 10:14
AM</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Subject: Re: [NLA] Fwd: Metro Briefing New
York</FONT></DIV></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><BR><FONT size=2></FONT></FONT></DIV><FONT face=Arial
size=2>> I think it goes along with the thought that we need to downplay
the<BR>> 'welfare' philosophy and get all these folks back to 'work'.
When you<BR>> look critically at the NRS data that was collected - nationwide
- adult<BR>> lit only saw about 10% of the target population or that
population who<BR>> should 'need us'. Out of that 10%, only about 20%
of them were actually<BR>> served successfully in terms of upping a level or
two. So overall they,<BR>> the fed legislature, only sees us as
'effective' for what - 2% of the<BR>> target population ??? Not good in
terms of funneling additional $$ our<BR>> way. The fact that the data
was almost impossible to attain is not a<BR>> factor in their decision making
process. What would you do in their<BR>> place if decreasing taxes and
government spending was your primary<BR>> platform ? Especially
when the precursor to the funded program, the<BR>> local volunteer based
programs, had almost the same outcome as the funded<BR>> version
? I've been seeing the trend build on the NLA list for a
year<BR>> now, I'm not surprised at this.<BR>> <BR>> art<BR>>
<BR>> "Landrum, Elaine" wrote:<BR>> <BR>> > These emails are not
good news. What are these people thinking?<BR>> ><BR>> >
Elaine<BR>> <BR>> _______________________________________________<BR>>
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