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…

The assessment process is necessary to determine what adults need to know in order to do what they need to do--that is, to be literate. The characteristics of "good" assessment need to be identified using multiple indicators that determine progress toward goals for learners, programs, and policies. Ongoing learner-centered assessment…

The organization and mobilization for literacy work consist of two overlapping parts: organizational design and institution building. Organizational design, which covers both the technical and the social system, can be seen to include the following processes: analysis of the institution; invention of roles; invention of rules relating the roles…

This paper reviews some of the issues in the new literacy studies and the questions, from an anthropological perspective, of self, person, and identity that affect literacy practices. It is suggested that in discussing literacy, it is better to start from a cultural viewpoint rather than an educational one. The traditional autonomous model of…

Various groups of Native American peoples and other non-English speakers are required to become literate in English and are promised that literacy will solve their social, economic, and political problems. Yet, having achieved some level of English literacy, many of these people find that not much has changed. The educational system attributes…

The Basic Skills Task Force within the United States Office of Education was created to provide the effective use of knowledge among the various basic skills programs in the country and to foster increased local impact from Federal education funds. On the assumption that with cooperation and coordination existing programs can meet the basic skills…

This report's major points are highlighted in two sections: Section One sets forth the rational, design, and intended use of the training monograph series, "Literacy in Development", which (1) has been commissioned by the International Institute for Adult Literacy Methods, (2) is to be used as the basis for the Institute's future training…

Few assessments are critical of the purposes and goals of intergovernmental organizations as they seek to advance adult education for national development. This paper seeks to clarify connections among policy, planning, and evaluation, especially as associated with intergovernmental strategies for the development of adult education. In doing so,…

This paper examines the efforts of the Chinese Communist government since 1949 to bring literacy to the masses through its language reform policies. The policies discussed include the establishment of a common dialect, simplification of Chinese characters, and the development of a Chinese phonetic alphabet. In addition, the paper discusses methods…

The State University of New York (SUNY) Bridge Program is a federally funded work force preparation program that was initiated in October 1992 to help mothers receiving welfare achieve self-sufficiency by helping them acquire job skills. The program is housed at the Urban League of Northeastern New York and SUNY's 10 educational opportunity…

Examines the potential of the World Bank scheme, outlined in its 1980 Education Sector Policy Paper, for helping Bangladesh achieve universal basic education. Considers such issues as formal vs. nonformal schooling, costs, and teacher training. Part of a theme issue on the World Bank Paper and Third World educational development. (SJL)

The Wood County Literacy Coalition (WCLC), in Wisconsin, is a unique partnership of state- and federally-funded employment and training agencies, local non-profit agencies, and area vocational and technical colleges. There is a great need for such cooperative efforts in the provision of adult literacy services. To succeed, all involved literacy…

E-learning's potential for responding to the challenges of adult literacy was explored through a review of research and input from program managers, developers, and funders. The study identified adult literacy e-learning products, programs, and resources that are available or in development. Challenges to greater use of technology in adult…

Over the past decade, the Travelers Insurance companies have dramatically expanded their involvement in educational programs for students at all grade levels, from prekindergarden through college. Throughout the 1970s, the Travelers educational programs focused exclusively on providing speakers for career awareness programs for high school…

Provides guidelines for preparing a proposal for funding a library literacy project, including funding sources; community needs statement; plan of operation, including goals and objectives and a time frame; quality of key personnel; budget and cost effectiveness; evaluation plan; adequacy of resources; and cooperation and coordination. (LRW)