This document contains transcripts of testimony and written materials presented by four persons at a Congressional hearing on illiteracy. Testimony was given by Gerald L. Baliles, Governor of Virginia; James E. Duffy, vice president, Capital Cities/ABC; Karl O. Haigler, director of the Adult Literacy Initiative, U.S. Department of Education; and…

This final report presents materials from a conference that addressed the evolution of adult education and the development of adult education as an essential prerequisite for lifelong education. Among other concerns were measures to improve international and regional cooperation to promote adult education. Part I is the General Report, which…

Intended for those involved in American social service and educational communities, this book addresses the widespread problem of illiteracy in the United States and the social consequences of this problem. Following an introduction, the chapters in the first section of the book discuss the growing crisis of illiterate America, specifically, the…

A community assessment for literacy action was conducted in Salinas, California. Service agencies were surveyed to assess literacy programs and materials. The agencies were asked questions regarding awareness of the illiteracy problem, knowledge of existing or retired programs, and agency commitment to support of a community-wide program. Research…

This annual report of the National Advisory Council on Adult Education highlights the activities undertaken by the Council during Fiscal Year 1987. These activities included the following: (1) co-sponsorship with the University of Pennsylvania of a symposium, "Towards Defining Literacy" (an overview of the work of the symposium is…

This collection was written by the students of English as a second language at Streatham and Tooting Institute, London, England. Some of the work is by advanced students, some by people who have only just begun to learn English. Some students who are not yet confident of their ability to write in English dictated what they wanted to say. The…

Recently, the definition of functional literacy has been broadened to include the completion of a secondary education or its equivalent. This definition focuses on obtaining the functional competencies required to perform adequately in adult life. Three major sets of functional competencies are represented in models developed by the Adult…

A study was conducted to obtain information about the involvement of the private sector in creating literacy programs for employees. Specifically, it examined the extent to which selected Fortune 500 companies were involved in literacy training and the extent to which materials and methods used were relevant to specific job tasks. An analysis of…

The primary goal of a multi-purpose project was to utilize both Literacy Volunteers of America (LVA) and Laubach Literacy Action (LLA) in training volunteers to teach English to refugees. Catholic Social Services trained 163 volunteers who were placed in adult basic education (ABE) classes, small group instruction settings, and one-to-one tutoring…

A study examined the role of the state in providing adult literacy services. Questionnaires were sent to state adult education directors, state library directors, and state literacy commission directors in the 50 states and five territories, with a varying rate of return approximating 75 percent. Each questionnaire sought information about…

In a concerted effort to head off a situation in which almost half of the nation's young adults may conceivably be judged as having restricted literacy skills, the Educational Testing Service (ETS) has made a major commitment of human and financial resources to the area of adult literacy. ETS is directing a team of researchers and measurement…

This training manual was developed as a source of information about Competency-Based Adult Basic Education (CBABE) for administrators, counselors, and teachers involved in the implementation of a CBABE program. After section I provides an introduction to Brevard Community College's development of CBABE curricula, section II explains the purposes…

Adult literacy programs could be improved by determining the learning styles and life-styles of individual students and incorporating the findings into the instructional program. Many researchers have looked at adult students' lives and suggested teaching methods based on the studies. Some suggest using an instrument for identifying adults'…

The need for a better educated work force has created a corresponding need for workplace literacy programs. A number of issues have emerged as the focus of literacy education has shifted from improving social mobility to providing employment-related literacy programs. Some of these issues are related to the need for more resources for workplace…

A Merrimack Education Center (MEC) project was developed to provide technology consultation, expertise, and advice for capacity building and networking of adult center staff in regional locations in Massachusetts. Two pilot sites were installed to demonstrate the computer/skills center approach of teaching basic skills to adult learners. Six…