This study examined the reliability and validity of administering Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) to adult basic education (ABE) students. Ninety ABE participants were administered DIBELS measures, the Woodcock-Johnson III Broad Reading (WJ III BR) measures, and four orthographic ability tests. Since ABE students are a…

This issue of "literacy.ca EXPRESS" focuses on poverty. The articles included in this issue are: (1) Poverty Overview; (2) Tony's Story; (3) LAN (Learner Advisory Network) Member's Story (Dianne Smith); (4) Linking Adult Literacy to Poverty Reduction; (5) MCL (Movement for Canadian Literacy) Update; (6) Highlights from the LAN; (7) Good…

Reports the development and testing of a practical instrument, the Self-Description Questionnaire, that can be used by teachers to identify the psychosocial factors contributing to learning problems experienced by low literate adults. Provides examples of how teachers can use the framework and data obtained from the instrument. Includes the…

Adult basic education (ABE) is an ideal venue for developing health literacy skills. Literacy and numeracy assessments used in ABE were identified and the most common were examined for health components. Only the Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment System (CASAS) included health. The two most common health literacy assessments used in general…

The Adult Education Amendments of 1988 require the Department of Education to submit a report to Congress on the definition of literacy and then to estimate the extent of adult literacy. Literacy has been defined by self-report in early Census Bureau surveys, in a competency-based approach by the Adult Performance Level project, and as "the…

The arguments for the monitoring and evaluation of adult literacy and basic education programs are no different from those justifying monitoring and evaluation of any other educational program. The priority and status accorded different programs are likely to determine commitment to their internal and external evaluation and the form that these…

Michigan Literacy conducted a project to collect, review, summarize, and compile a reference document of all student assessment tools currently being used by adult volunteer literacy programs in Michigan. Data were gathered through a survey questionnaire that was sent to 134 volunteer literacy programs (with 82 responses). Respondents reported…

This booklet of information and accompanying reading selections are intended to help a tutor get started with a new adult learner. The booklet does not provide suggestions for teaching strategies, but rather discusses conducting the initial assessment of learners, observing the student reading, categorizing the students into one of three stages,…

Outlines the benefits of Goal Attainment Scaling, which involves setting measurable short- and long-term goals, developing a scale, and defining indicators. Demonstrates its use in a program to train college students as volunteer literacy tutors and in a family literacy program. (SK)

An evaluation model for workplace literacy programs was developed and applied at two industrial plants. Development of the model included a literature review and consultation with plant managers. The model included interviews, questionnaires, Cloze tests, class observation, plant-gathered productivity indexes, and supervisor ratings. The…

Due to fragmentation of the field, framing and engaging in debates over adult literacy standards have been particularly difficult. The discourse of adult literacy standards reflects this fragmentation. The terms content standards and opportunity-to-learn (OTL) standards have typically not been used. The term performance standards has been used…

This guide is designed to help Ontario's literacy program coordinators implement the Core Quality Standards in their literacy programs. It provides ideas about simple approaches to evaluation which they can use. The first part of the guide discusses what program evaluation is and what it can do for the program coordinator. The second part…

A project was conducted at the Northwest Adult Basic and Literacy Education (ABLE) Resource Center in northwest Ohio to establish workplace education indicators of program quality with specific measures and standards. Research was conducted through a survey of other states to determine their status in the development of workplace…

The evaluative implications of adult literacy for all, as delineated by the World Conference on Education for All (held in Jomtien, Thailand, on March 5-9, 1990), are examined. These implications are presented in four interrelated sets related to different stakeholders at different parts of the system. The Education for All (EFA) initiatives…

The Functional Literacy Project of India was initiated in 1967 as part of a joint program, involving several Indian government ministries and United Nations agencies, to train some five million farm families in both literacy and modern agricultural skills at the same time. This report first describes the beginnings of the project and its…