National Coalition For Literacy

News Archive

NCL and COABE Sponsor Public Policy Sessions at Conference

The National Coalition for Literacy and the Commission on Adult Basic Education (COABE) co-sponsored a series of Public Policy workshops and forums at COABE’s annual conference in March. The power point presentation on “How Congress Works” and a diagram of the budget and appropriations process are available here. NCL will again sponsor this series at the 2008 COABE Conference in St. Louis, MO, April 28 – May 1

National Literacy Summit.3 Held in DC

Dr. Fareed Zakaria, editor of Newsweek International, was the keynote speaker at the National Literacy Summit.3 on Monday, October 15th, hosted by Georgetown University. He talked about changes to the global economy and how all countries were economically “playing the same game” now. Dr. Zakaria said that America competes in this economy with innovation and creativity. He emphasized that our entire society must be literate. The bottom third of our population needs a decent education and basic opportunities so that we can compete as one country. Two panels followed, addressing the Drivers of a Literate Community and Community Literacy Solutions; speakers came from the International Reading Association, the National Center for Family Literacy, ProLiteracy America, National Council of LaRaza, National Urban League, Sesame Workshop and the American Library Association. Sherrie Claiborne, NCL President, represented the Coalition. Please click here to view the webcast. http://client.uvault.com/verizon/101507/vod/#

MPR Associates Presents on Community Partnerships at May Membership Meeting

This month’s quarterly membership meeting featured presentations from Kathy Chernus of MPR Associates and Sheryl Adler of the Department of Education on the Community Partnerships for Adult Learning website (www.c-pal.net). The site profiles a dozen successful community partnerships and includes more than 400 resources, such as self-assessment tools, ways to build partnership resources, grant-writing advice, templates for memoranda of understanding, and a section on youth in adult literacy. To view Kathy’s Power Point presentation, click here.

Kathy also discussed MPR’s work to develop a Guide to Adult Literacy for Businesses and discussed what might motivate businesses to get involved in adult literacy. This is especially important to adult literacy advocates, as many businesses are playing an active role in community partnerships and have adopted corporate responsibility plans. Kathy reviewed a preliminary outline of the guide and solicited feedback from Coalition members. Meanwhile, the group discussed ways the guide could be useful for adult literacy programs and providers.

Helping good workers become better
Profile of industry-wide Indiana adult education program [Northwest Indiana Times]

Coalition continues battle with illiteracy
Details efforts to curb Illinois illiteracy rates [Register-Mail]

The National Coalition for Literacy Reacts to Bush Budget: Calls for Increased Funding for Adult Literacy Initiatives

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Coalition for Literacy issued the following statement today regarding President Bush's proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2007:

"The President's budget today reflects the hard choices of our times. However necessary, national security and national defense priorities are crowding out funding for very basic needs in other areas of public policy. This is particularly true when it comes to adult literacy, family literacy, adult education programs, and English as a Second Language programs.

"The National Coalition for Literacy is disappointed with the proposed flat funding and budget cuts in these areas, and we feel strongly that as the budget process moves forward, the Congress must reassess these priorities and make several significant changes. The demonstrated need in the area of adult and family literacy is just too great to fall by the wayside.

"As many observers already know, last December the Bush Administration released the National Assessment of Adult Literacy, an exhaustive study of adult literacy levels in the United States. What it found was startling: As many as 93 million adults didn't have the literacy skills necessary to function adequately in America's increasingly complex society.

"In other words, if you can't read, you won't succeed. This demonstrates a clear need for profound changes in federal adult literacy policy in order to address this looming problem.

"In last week's State of the Union speech President Bush outlined his American Competitiveness Initiative, a package of policies aimed at making America more competitive in the world. We support his efforts but urgently recommend that he add a renewed emphasis on overall adult literacy policy. We feel strongly that doing this would ensure that the current American workforce will have increased access to opportunities for success in the workplace, the home, and the community."

SOURCE National Coalition for Literacy

The National Coalition for Literacy calls on the President to include literacy education in his American Competitiveness Initiative
For Immediate Release Contact: Leila Plassey
February 2, 2006 (202) 244-0732

Washington, DC – The National Coalition for Literacy released the following statement
today in response to President Bush’s State of the Union address:
“The National Coalition for Literacy supports the President Bush’s decision to make
America more competitive through his American Competitiveness Initiative. This high
school initiative emphasizes strengthening math and science courses and improving
teacher training. We hope that the President and the Congress will seriously consider
adding an equally strong literacy component to this critical campaign.

“Currently, only 2 percent of the nation’s retiring workforce is being replaced by
graduating high school students. In order for America to be globally competitive and
nationally prosperous, the current workforce must have access to continuing education
and job training opportunities.

“The National Coalition for Literacy is looking forward to making this case as the debate
proceeds in Congress. Literacy affects every American – workers in every trade and
profession, immigrants from across the globe, and parents and caregivers raising our
youngest citizens. We must seize the chance afforded us by the President’s American
Competitiveness Initiative and use this opportunity to make significant progress toward a
more literate America.”

Low Literacy Levels Will Hurt America -- NCL Calls For Three-Pronged, Bipartisan Approach Monday January 30, 10:19 am ET

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Coalition for Literacy, a broad-based group of adult education and family literacy advocates, is calling for a three-pronged, bipartisan approach to adult education and family literacy as the Congress prepares to open its 2006 session.

NCL's call to action is based on the National Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL) released by the Department of Education in December 2005. The NAAL surveyed adult literacy skills across a wide cross section of the American adult population.

Dale Lipschultz, President of the National Coalition for Literacy, said, "NAAL found that ill-prepared citizens in the millions are struggling to keep up in an increasingly complex and demanding workplace."

The results of the NAAL have serious implications for the future of America's economy and the workplace, its families, and its civic institutions. According to Lipschultz, American businesses lose more than $60 billion in productivity each year due to employees' basic skills deficiencies.

"To stay competitive, the United States must have a well-educated workforce, capable of keeping up with technological advances and an ever- changing job market. We cannot afford to leave any adults behind because of a lack of literacy skills," Lipschultz said.

According to the recent National Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL), as many as 93 million people need some kind of literacy service. These adults include parents, out-of-school youth, recent immigrants, the unemployed and underemployed, and incarcerated individuals. They do not have basic tools they need to succeed in modern America.

Fourteen percent of these people, or 30 million, are at-risk adults. They are categorized by the NAAL as "Below Basic". This group includes individuals with few basic literacy skills, including those who have great difficulty reading and are both poorly skilled and unable to read and understand any written information in English.

Another 29 percent of the population, or 63 million adults can read, but not well. They are only able to understand materials that are simply written and clearly articulated.

"Currently, adult education programs are serving only 3 million people. The NAAL gives a very stark picture of the challenges we must tackle," Lipschultz said.

"The National Coalition for Literacy is calling for a bipartisan effort to address the problem in three areas:

* Substantially increase funding for adult education and family literacy programs and services in order to expand opportunities for all adults.

* Invest additional resources in adult education research to ensure that instructional practices reflect the best available knowledge about how adults learn.

* Improve outcomes for students by funding high quality professional development for adult education providers and by promoting transitions from adult education to college academic and vocational study programs.

"The National Coalition for Literacy seeks a broad-based, bipartisan response to this national literacy challenge. Over the next several months, NCL will work actively for bold, innovative actions to meet this national challenge. Addressing this high priority need now will pay huge dividends to our economy, our families, our democracy in the future, and our ability to compete in the global marketplace," Lipschultz concluded.

Oct. 2005

Dale Lipschultz, president of the National Coalition for Literacy (NCL), said today that the National Coalition for Literacy and its member organizations wish to express their deepest concern and sympathy for their fellow Americans struggling with enormous personal loss from the Gulf Coast disaster. Those left homeless and jobless by the storm and its aftermath will need materials, assistance, and access to information, and some may need help managing the system to rebuild their lives. The NCL is encouraging its member organizations and local literacy programs across the country to help as they can to relieve some of the critical needs. For example, they can assist those victims whose lack of literacy and health literacy skills may be a barrier to filling out FEMA and other benefit forms. We encourage Congress, in allocating emergency funding, to acknowledge the relationship between poverty and low literacy and to take into consideration the role of adult education in helping adults and families to establish long-term security in their jobs, lives and communities.

The National Coalition for Literacy Announces the 2005 Literacy Leadership Award Winners

The Board of Directors and members of the National Coalition for Literacy cordially invite you to attend our Annual Literacy Leadership Awards Reception. This year, NCL is honored to recognize the following individuals and foundation.

The Honorable Edward M. Kennedy, Ranking Member on the Senate Committee
on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
The Honorable William F. Goodling, Retired Chairman of the House
Committee on Education and the Workforce
Art Ellison, New Hampshire State Director of Adult Education
Garrett Murphy, NCL Board Member and former New York State Director of
Adult Education
The Dollar General Literacy Foundation

The NCL Literacy Leadership Award recognizes individuals and
organizations that have made extraordinary contributions to improving
literacy in the United States. Award recipients have demonstrated a deep
and sustained individual or corporate commitment by supporting literacy
continuously across the lifespan on the local, state, and national
level. Their enlightened leadership has truly strengthened literacy in
America and been a constant source of inspiration and encouragement.

The nation's demand for adult education, family literacy, and English acquisition services and programs is growing and is fast approaching crisis levels. In 2002-2003, 51 million adults – 23% of the adult population – lacked a high school diploma. Only 2.7 million of these adults participated in the nation’s adult education and family literacy system.

The National Coalition for Literacy (NCL) is a unique member organization, made up of major service, research, and policy organizations in adult education, family literacy, and English Language Acquisition. These organizations represent the nation's and field’s leadership. NCL’s broad mission is to advance adult education, family literacy, and English language acquisition in America -- from the most basic skills proficiency level across a continuum of services including the transition into postsecondary education and job training. NCL’s goals are to:

• Increase public awareness and understanding of adult education, family literacy, and English acquisition;
• Foster collaboration at the national level among public and private organizations promoting adult literacy and English language development;
• Promote a comprehensive approach to adult education, family literacy, and English acquisition research and its dissemination and application.

In addition, NCL strives to promote fresh thinking, knowledge sharing, effective policy and service development, and collaboration through a range of leadership activities and member services.

For photos of the event, click here>

July 12, 2005

The Senate Appropriations subcommittee with jurisdiction over adult education held its mark-up session this afternoon. THE MEMBERS RECOMMENDED LEVEL FUNDING FOR ADULT EDUCATION for FY06. This recommendation is approved by the full Committee on Thursday and later on the floor of the Senate, the House and the Senate will go into conference carrying the same amounts for adult education. No negotiations will be necessary.

READ the NCL Thank You Letter Written to the Senate Appropriations Committee Members