This is a congressional hearing on H.R. 11, a bill to extend several expiring education programs. The focus is on the Adult Education Act, a program that provides grants to states to help provide basic skills to illiterate adults and adults without a high school diploma. The text of H.R. 11 is provided. Testimony includes statements, prepared…

The process of developing indicators, measures, and standards of program quality can be considered a tiered, four-step process consisting of the following: (1) identification of topic areas important to program quality; (2) establishing the indicators that reflect quality for each area; (3) determining measures of the indicators; and (4) setting a…

The Cooperative Extension Division (CED) of the University of Nebraska's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources has presented pesticide applicator training (PAT) for nearly 2 decades. Because Nebraska did not pass the complementary state legislation, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as provided in the Federal Insecticide,…

For the past 18 years, Federal policy for adult literacy has been contained principally in the Adult Education Act of 1966 and in the administration of the program it supports. When this Act was passed, few programs for adult literacy existed in the states; thus, the Act authorized 90 percent Federal funding in order to encourage states to develop…

Increasing numbers of American adults are engaged in many types of learning activities; a significant part of these learning activities are organized and structured. Record-keeping about institutionalized adult learning is often scanty, however, or even non-existent. As the social goal of a "learning society" has been articulated, it has…

Although older persons are increasing both in number and as a proportion of the total American population, they are not taking advantage of educational opportunities. Barriers to their educational efforts include inadequate transportation, lack of money, poor health, program scheduling, and the attitude that learning is for others. Available…

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 policy paper is part of the plan for achieving universal literacy in New York State. It acknowledges accomplishments in creating a statewide network of public and private providers, in public financing, and in the public recognition of literacy's importance; it then examines what must be done to further meet literacy needs. The proposed…