Professor Stephen Reder presented the Longitudinal Study of Adult Learning (LSAL) at The Centre's 2011 Fall Institute--IALS: Its Meaning and Impact for Policy and Practice--whose findings had implications far beyond assessment. Based on evidence from the ten-year study of more than a thousand adult high school drop-outs, Dr. Reder challenges many…

To promote the academic success of and to retain adult students of color, the Academic Services Unit at the University of Detroit Mercy (UDM), an urban Catholic university, in Detroit Michigan, has designed and implemented the Professional Mentor Program Plus, funded by the State of Michigan's King-Chavez-Parks (KCP) higher education initiative,…

In 1996, the Kansas City (Kan.) Public Schools, a largely poor, urban system, was facing a crisis. Talk at local and state levels was about closing a number of poor-performing schools. The author discusses how the district took matters in hand to make significant changes. Partnering with the local National Education Association leadership,…

An effective director of adult basic education (ABE) utilizes the strengths of his staff. Improvement of ABE programs should include careful attention to priorities and local needs. Community cosponsorship agreements are mutually beneficial and an effective means of student recruitment. Scheduling should allow for balance in time, location,…

The 285 adult schools in California enrolled 1,206,864 adult learners supported through state apportionment funds in program year 2006-07. This report presents the results of data collected by the Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment Systems (CASAS) from all learners enrolled in California adult schools. The report analysis was prepared by…

The mandate of the Recognition for Learning Pilot Project was to develop a recognition system that would work in Huron and Perth Counties (Ontario), particularly for the agencies offering adult literacy services. Design principles were developed for each of the three system components: a registry, a paper of recognition, and a teacher support…

The long range goal of the Rhode Island Adult Education program is to encourage the establishment of programs to enable all adults sixteen years and older to continue their education through secondary school and to secure training to make them more employable, productive, and responsible citizens. The State Adult Education Staff Development Plan…

This annotated bibliography contains 14 citations of books, papers, and videotapes that pertain to learner outcomes in adult education. The following are cited: "Understanding and Facilitating Adult Learning" (S. Brookfield); "Self-Direction for Lifelong Learning" (P. Candy); "Helping Adults Learn Workshop" (A. Chickering); "Adults as Learners"…

This handbook is intended for teachers new to adult basic education (ABE) programs and attempts to cover concepts of adult learning and the role of the educator as facilitator and resource for self-directed learners. Background information is provided concerning the phenomenon of illiteracy with discussions of basic principles (particularly…

NCSALL's (National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy's) Practitioner Dissemination and Research Network (PDRN) set out to create and support systematic partnerships between practitioners and university researchers to better connect research and practice, with the ultimate outcome of improved practice, policy, and services for…

A workshop on adult basic education (ABE), held at Ohio State University, was organized around the team approach in developing a model learning center, field experiences in the Columbus area, and speeches by special consultants. This document presents these speeches -- on such topics as adult learning, psychological characteristics of ABE…

The quality of a literacy program can be assessed by taking into account the following factors: purpose of the program, how the program meets the most important current needs of the adult population, if it is accessible to the people who need services, and whether the literacy content is relevant to learners' needs. Flexibility of funding also is…

A program for family life education is outlined in its various stages. The outline contains nine chapters: (1) Stages in Planning, (2) A Pattern for Planning, (3) Target Population and Preprogram Surveys, (4) Syllabus and Curriculum Design, (5) Teaching Methods, (6) Curriculum Development and the Preparation of Materials, (7) Recruitment and…

A project was conducted to initiate a regional system of documenting and recognizing the learning that takes place in literacy programs. Phase 1 focused on gathering articulation models and materials. In phase 2 the following were developed: a skills list for communications, numeracy, personal growth, and computers; skills inventories; and a…

If the year 1999 was dominated by the intense efforts of the federal government to establish guidelines for compliance with the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998, the year 2000 was dominated by the field's efforts to implement plans to meet those guidelines. In addition to engaging in this time- and labor-intensive work, the field witnessed…