This chapter reflects on the educational, socioemotional, and relational impact of a critical literacy and trauma-informed reading discussion group for women of color, highlighting the collective sense of knowledge, awareness, and resistance nurtured through the group process.

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…

The purpose of the study is to describe the status of literacy training programs in the military services during the summer of 1971 and develop suggestions for more effective training. A prologue provides information on the scope of the general literacy problem. Data were obtained through questionnaires, interviews, record search, and observations…

Understanding the origins of poor literacy and numeracy skills in adulthood and how to improve them is of major importance when society places a high premium on proficiency in these basic skills. This edited collection brings together the results of recent longitudinal studies that greatly extend our knowledge of what works in raising skill…

The study is intended to begin the process of collecting, coordinating, and disseminating basic information about adult literacy projects and classes in England. Spanning the years 1950 to the present, the data are based on questionnaires sent to all listed adult literacy projects in England. Following a review of the history, background, and…

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…

When the goal is supporting excellent teaching, there is no "one-size-fits-all" approach. This book helps literacy coaches and administrators navigate the many choices involved in developing and fine-tuning a coaching program that offers the best fit for a particular school. The authors draw on current research and their personal experiences in…

This report on the program highlights of the first national conference on urban literacy contains 40 information sheets describing the literacy programs represented at the conference. Each program information sheet contains some or all of the following: the name of the program; the name, address, and phone number of a program contact person; the…

Explores causes of adult illiteracy and examines the effectiveness of adult literacy programs. (MM)

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

The Florida Adult Homeless Literacy and Basic Skills Assistance Project was initiated in 1992 to provide literacy and basic skills training to at least 2,700 homeless Florida adults. In 1993, a limited evaluation of the project was conducted. Evaluation data were collected from reviews of 39 state and local documents, interviews with the program…

Discusses open entrance/open exit programs designed to prevent attirtion in adult reading programs for students who have not completed high school. Offers suggestions for encouraging success within such programs. (FL)

Ten literacy pilot programs developed by the Adult Basic Education Society (ABES) of Pakistan in Gujranwala, Pakistan, between 1963 and 1973 were analyzed and evaluated to evolve a series of adult literacy program development guidelines. The programs were evaluated on the basis of an eleven-category evaluation system developed by Cyril Houle in…

A study sought to apply the Navy's Academic Remedial Training (ART) program to illiterate adults by concentrating on intensive reading instruction. Administrators from the City of Memphis selected 16 participants based on employee interest and need. They were primarily middle-aged, black males with four years of education who earned between…

Examines the current status of adult literacy programs in rural areas. Discusses the goals of rural adult literacy programs and the types of programs reported to be effective. Discusses the needs of adult illiterates in rural areas and the conditions that support--or limit--the widespread influence of effective programs. (MG)