The rate of student departure from adult literacy programs is as high as 80% within the first 12 months (Porter, Cuban, & Comings, 2005). An examination of the literature reveals two perspectives concerning learner persistence: a "control perspective" and an "acknowledgement and accommodation perspective." The control…

This article reviews the research literature on political impacts linked to adult literacy. Despite the enormous importance of literacy, few studies exist on their interconnection. The majority of quantitative studies indicate higher levels of political participation by former adult literacy program participants compared to their non-participant…

The Education for All (EFA) goal of increasing adult literacy by 50 percent reflects two simple facts: first, primary school attendance has positive effects, including better family health and increased productivity; and second, when parents learn to read, more children go to school. So why haven't more countries and donors supported adult…

The repeated reading technique has been used successfully with children to build fluency and enhance comprehension and can be a viable instructional and remedial technique for adult beginning readers. (SK)

Discusses a variety of programs, practices, and materials available to the teacher of adult basic education. (MKM)

Presents a critical review of the research on the effectiveness of adult literacy programs. Suggests that the methods used in current literacy programs offer students little chance of significant improvement. (ARH)

Reviews research that presents the criteria by which adult literacy program effectiveness can be assessed. (MG)

This report describes adult literacy needs, the role of the libraries in meeting those needs, literacy needs and services in New York, and the contributions the City University of New York (CUNY) is making to the literacy effort. Quotations from Paulo Freire and Jonathan Kozol are used to define the nature of illiteracy and its extent in the…

Offers evaluation methods based on criteria that relate directly to instructional techniques appropriate for adult learners, benefit both teacher and student, and preserve the integrity of the mature student. (Author/FL)

Discusses the latest research findings and includes teaching strategies successful with aged readers. Exploration of appropriate reading materials and teaching strategies needs to be performed. Educational needs and interests of the elderly need to be identified so that reading programs offered actually are attended. (Author)

Reviews the literature dealing with ways of improving the effectiveness of adult basic education reading instruction in the areas of teacher training, teaching styles, instructional methods and materials, and adult learning patterns. Discusses the implications of the studies cited. (AYC)

This bibliographic essay describes resources available in the ERIC database for teachers of adult beginning readers. Categories considered are theories, principles, and assessment tools; resources to assist with material selection and development; and practical teaching guidelines. (SK)

Areas of concern for matching adult readers and programs are theoretical orientation (meaning based, code based, or interactive); programing factors (reading assessment, goal formation, affective factors, negative schooling attitudes, student interests, reading interpretations); and methodologies (phonics, whole word, neuro-impress, repeated…

Describes current research being done on literacy and discusses reasons behind the varied estimates of adult literacy rates. Presents several case studies of adults who are currently or have been in reading programs, particularly older adults. Describes the work of major literacy education providers. (CH)

Looks at developments in adult reading over the past two decades, concentrating on the training of teachers, testing and evaluation, and program evaluation methods. Concludes that while adult reading has made substantial progress, it is still not a mature field. (FL)