NCL now publishes its Public Policy Updates in the NCL Advocacy Blog, where we invite you to post comments and questions pertaining to them.

The Role of the National Coalition for Literacy

The Public Policy role of a membership organization like the National Coalition for Literacy is to:

1. Become the Collective Voice.
The ability to speak with one voice is a major asset. Too often in the past public policy makers especially in the Congress could point to the contrasting views from the field as a rationale for not acting in our behalf.

2. Valuing the Accomplishments of its Constituents.
The Coalition supports and encourages the activities of its constituent agencies, such as the CAAL occasional papers and conferences such as COABE and VALUE.

3. Promote investment in adult literacy by the general public. Sponsor planned events and reports.

4. Work with special interest groups that have a stake in adult literacy such as welfare associations, employers and labor groups, health professionals, family educators and technology experts. Connecting with associations that represent these groups such as CLASP (the Center for Law and Social Policy), the Workforce Alliance, and the American Medical Association.

5. Work with key Congressional Committees on upcoming legislation in which adult literacy has a stake. For example, WIA and TANF, Higher Education Act, Perkins Vocational Technical Education, and Head Start. Being a resource to Congress by providing both solicited and unsolicited information, being especially vigilant and timely with respect to solicited information so that we are viewed as a valuable resource leading to more frequent communication.

6. Examining administration proposals and working with OVAE on their efforts to involve the full range of agencies that have a stake in raising the adult literacy level.

7. Examining and commenting upon proposed regulations that implement newly enacted legislation.

8. Last – but definitely not least – keeping members and the field informed of developments, initiatives, and concerns by published minutes of Public Policy Committee meetings and by occasional papers devoted to high profile issues. Within the limits imposed by law seeking grass roots support for positions taken by the Coalition.