A startling number of students arrive at the doors of colleges and universities lacking the essential skills and knowledge required to succeed there. If given the proper tools and supports, the great majority of these students would be able to achieve their goals in and outside of the classroom. But most of them are shuttled off to developmental…

The Canadian Literacy and Learning Network (CLLN) is the national hub for research, information and knowledge exchange, about increasing literacy and essential skills across Canada. CLLN, a non-profit charitable organization, represents literacy coalitions, organizations and individuals in every province and territory in Canada. CLLN shares…

Each month, the Literacy Information and Communication System ("LINCS") will feature one of the three LINCS Resource Collections--Basic Skills, Program Management, and Workforce Competitiveness--and introduce research-based resources that practitioners can use in their adult and family literacy programs and classrooms. This edition features the…

This report presents the results of the formative evaluation of the Adult Learning, Literacy and Essential Skills Program (ALLESP). Data collection related to this evaluation took place between November 2008 and May 2009. The evaluation resulted in the following four recommendations: (1) It is recommended that Program objectives and activities…

This edition features current research, practice, and policy related to the Joyce Foundation's Shifting Gears initiative beginning with an interview with Whitney Smith, Manager of the Employment Program at the Joyce Foundation. Julie Strawn, Center for Law and Social Policy, presents a national perspective of basic skills reform efforts similar to…

This report details five principles for creating powerful classrooms and offers a new vision for professional development: (1) High Structure; (2) High Challenge; (3) Intensity; (4) Intentionality and Learning How to Learn; and (5) Inquiry and Making Learning Visible. Included are recommendations drawn from the work of the 11 community college…

Four key topics in the implementation of Title II legislation are reviewed: (1) the Congressional intent of the Basic Skills Improvement Program (BSIP) and its two major focuses--demonstration and coordination; (2) what is meant by "basic skills"; (3) expected outcomes for the BSIP; and (4) standards for demonstration projects. Congress…

This report summarizes an evaluation of educational needs in the areas of health and physical education, physical recreation, and athletic programs within the Fresno City Unified School District. The criteria of evaluation were primarily comparative. A standard of skill development was first derived and then used to compare the present performance…

Literacy and work force preparedness are two of the most important issues facing education today. Findings of nationwide studies show that reading and writing performance of students is inadequate. One of every eight current workers reads at the fourth-grade level or lower. The nation's economic future will be determined by the quality and…

This description of the Erie Basic Educational Skills (BES) Program provides examples of the achievements made by the Erie Public Schools and Head Start toward BES and Responsive Educational Program goals. Staff positions, staff responsibilities, the curriculum, and programs initiated and carried out in the Erie Public Schools are described. The…

Physical education can be an integral part of the basics of education when the curriculum teaches fundamental skills, focuses on these skills for life survival, broadens awareness of the world, and provides recreation. (DF)

The superintendent of schools in Boston examines major factors in improving Boston public schools: strong principals, emphasis on basic skills, clear curriculum objectives, high expectations of all students, use of test results to improve classroom instruction, and state-of-the-art teaching methods. He discusses successful outcomes of these…

Recommendations for curriculum made in "The Unfinished Agenda" and recent national marketing education curriculum activities are discussed. A checklist for teachers to use to review their curricula as well as ideas for incorporating the development of basic skills into the marketing education curriculum are also presented. (CT)

This document reports the text and analysis of the proposed Job Training and Basic Skills Act of 1992. The purpose of the act is to provide improved job training and education services to economically disadvantaged persons most in need of assistance. The act would maintain the federal-state-local partnership of the Job Training Partnership Act,…

The Denver Public Schools have initiated programs to improve basic skills and to respond to a court order for school desegregation. On the elementary level, programs include individually Guided Learning and Mastery Learning instructional approaches. The Diagnostic Teaching Center Project seeks to improve the academic and personal performance of…