The FORCAST readability index was developed and cross validated on technical job reading materials and job candidates. Several structural properties of passages were related to passage readability defined as the lowest measured reading grade level at which half the readers met a standard cloze criterion on the passage. The simple, single variable…

This notebook contains materials for a workshop to teach participants how to address the needs of youth and adults for improved literacy, employability, and productivity. Chapter 1 provides information about the current state of youth and adult literacy, employability, and productivity in the United States. Chapter 2 presents a conceptual…

In the United States and Canada alike, expressions of concern over the fact that the demand for skilled workers far exceeds the current supply have been heard repeatedly. However, several studies would seem to indicate that, as familiar as these claims about the supply and demand for skilled workers may be, they are very contentious. If a Hudson…

Research indicates that many illiterate youth and adults who become parents are unable to transfer high levels of oral language skills or to model literacy use for their children. Consequently, their children begin school without the readiness skills necessary to learn to read and thus continue a cycle of family illiteracy and employment problems.…

Two separate research reports are presented in this paper. In the first report, we have identified through literacy research three sets of job-related reading tasks for adults: (1) those involved in getting a job, (2) those concerned with learning a job, and (3) those concerned with doing a job. National surveys have indicated that the black,…