A study sought to determine how and why small businesses invest or do not invest in basic skills instruction for their workers. Data were gathered through a national mail and telephone survey of a random sampling of 11,000 small (50 or fewer employees) and medium-sized (51-400 employees) firms, a targeted mail survey of 4,317 manufacturers, a…

Thirteen national leaders were interviewed about their concerns and hopes for adult literacy. Questions focused on research and public policy, literacy awareness, harmful notions and misconceptions in the field, and the role of the new National Institute for Literacy (NIL). Everyone interviewed stressed the need for research and public policy that…