Literacy and illiteracy are cultural; the need to read, to write, and to compute comes from values placed on these functions by the cultural or social group in which one lives. They are also intergenerational. This intergenerational factor should be turned around so that parents transmit literacy to children. Illiteracy is also costly to society…

In an era of rising public criticism of education and decreasing resources, strategic planning can be a major tool for educational administrators who wish to respond to the increasing challenges their adult literacy programs face. Strategic planning can be defined as a disciplined effort to produce fundamental decisions and actions that shape and…

This manual is designed to serve as a step-by-step guide for managers of volunteer adult literacy sites. It discusses day-to-day responsibilities, suggests procedures, and provides forms and directions for their use. The guide is organized in four sections. Following information on the guide and background information on literacy education in…

This checklist, revised by the Further Education Unit from an earlier effort, was developed through a review of 10 case studies in the East Midlands and Wales. It offers a series of pointers for all those involved in the education and training of unemployed adults, providing a framework for program design and delivery. The checklist includes an…

This training manual was developed as a source of information about Competency-Based Adult Basic Education (CBABE) for administrators, counselors, and teachers involved in the implementation of a CBABE program. After section I provides an introduction to Brevard Community College's development of CBABE curricula, section II explains the purposes…

The Army's Basic Skills Education Program (BSEP) was studied to consider whether it was properly designed to determine the basic skills needed in Army jobs and to be effectively implemented. Information and reports on BSEP were reviewed, and three major commands were selected for evaluation. In designing the program, the Army did not identify the…

Each year one week is designated by the Governor of New York as Adult Learning Week because of the growing importance of adult education to society and the economy of New York State. The major purpose of Adult Learning Week is to promote greater public awareness of the availability and variety of learning opportunities for adults. In practical…

This book is intended to assist literacy program administrators, coordinators, instructors, and volunteers in the design and implementation of literacy programs for homeless adults. Chapter 1 discusses barriers to instruction when serving homeless adults, including shelter environment, impermanence of location and opportunity, and the effects of…

The guidelines in this paper were developed to assist Massachusetts Private Industry Councils, social agencies, unions, businesses, and education providers in designing educational programs appropriate to the workplace. The focus is on literacy education. The paper is organized in four sections. The first section briefly examines the background of…

In this report, the authors present the results of their analysis of who adult basic education (ABE) teachers are, how they approach their work, the challenges they face, and the concerns they have about their work. Using the teachers' own words as often as possible, this report describes teachers within their four roles, as: classroom teachers,…

Community education can be characterized as a flexible community process for addressing the community's educational needs; it is designed by local residents to meet local needs. This guide presents an overview of community education and offers some ideas for drafting and passing legislation for community education and beginning and carrying out…

This guide was developed to assist adult education program directors and staff to integrate technology into their programs. Adapted from the original guidebook developed by the Merrimack Education Center's Adult Education Computer Applications Project, it focuses on major considerations in matching computer applications with instructional program…

The Adult Basic Education (ABE) program of the Saginaw (Michigan) Public Schools achieved 8 of its 11 objectives for 1987-88. The program is designed for adults who have less than an eighth grade education, and provides basic and remedial instruction in mathematics and communication skills, as well as Michigan Life Role Competencies (MLRC),…

This report presents results from interviews with a sampling of experienced Equipped for the Future (EFF) users. Chapter I provides background and context for this initiative. Chapter II provides facts and figures from the field and presents questions posed and interviewees' views. The questions are as follows: (1) Why did you or your organization…

This guide was developed from a perceived need to improve the procedures and standards used in managing adult education programs funded under the Adult Education Act. Based upon an analysis of materials used in managing adult education programs, the various standards and elements were synthesized into the eight major sections covered in this…