National and international studies such as the recent Survey of Adult Skills provide strong evidence of the need for and economic value of adult basic skills (ABS). Although ABS program evaluation and accountability reports typically show small gains for program participants in test scores and other outcomes, these studies rarely include…

Describes the success of the Shared Book Experience with a GED class of inner-city adults. (SR)

America is becoming a less educated nation (National Commission on Adult Literacy, 2008). While this is frequently measured through comparisons of the number of adults with college degrees, strategies to address sagging educational attainment statistics in the United States are typically focused on K-12 reforms--mostly through expanded definitions…

Since 1991, the U.S. has had a national research and development (R&D) center focused on programs that help adults to improve their language, literacy, and numeracy skills; to acquire a General Educational Development (GED) or other high school certification; and to transition into postsecondary education or training. For the first five years,…

An impact study was conducted of ABC CANADA's LEARN campaign, a national media effort aimed at linking potential literacy learners with literacy groups. Two questionnaires were administered to 94 literacy groups, with 3,557 respondents. Findings included the following: (1) 70 percent of calls to literacy groups were from adult learners aged 16-44;…

This memo is designed to assist Wisconsin's Special Committee on Employment Disincentives in reviewing the issue of adult illiteracy. Section A provides information on the extent of illiteracy in the United States. Section B discusses selected literacy programs at the federal, state, and local levels. Results are provided of a study of federal…

A study evaluated different approaches to placing students in adult literacy classes using 168 adult basic education (ABE) and General Educational Development (GED) students. Students in classes at Rochambeau School in White Plains, New York, were given the Tests of Adult Basic Education (TABE), the Tests of Adult Literacy Skills (TALS), an oral…

Intended for use by participants in the Ohio Preconference and the 1991 White House Conference on Library and Information Services (WHCLIS), this background paper on one of the three major WHCLIS themes examines Ohio's literacy problem and reviews the state's current literacy programs and funding sources. Definitions of terms, a brief history of…

This report gives updated information on two literacy programs sponsored by the International Business Machines Corporation (IBM). The report is in two sections. The first section briefly summarizes findings from studies around the United States of "Writing to Read," (WTR), the K-1 reading/writing program developed by John Henry Martin.…

The Technology for Literacy Center (TLC) was designed to find a new and better way to teach literacy skills to adults by using computers and other forms of technology. It served 1,300 illiterate adults in the St. Paul, Minnesota, area of Ramsey, Washington, and Dakota counties. The project had four major components: direct services, training,…

The Adult Education for the Homeless programs implemented by the states followed one of four approaches. The Development/Capacity-Building approach emphasized program structure and model-building. The Urban Focus approach was tailored to reach the maximum number of students. The Services to Women approach tried to meet women's special needs. A…

Profiles are provided for the outstanding adult basic education (ABE) program in each of 10 regions. Each profile provides a brief background; discusses the program's focus(es); describes program activities, operation, and components; presents some figures on the population served; and provides the name, address, and telephone number of a contact…

This document details the Ohio Department of Education's Adult Basic Education and Literacy Education indicators of program quality. A chart details the measures and performance standards for the following quality indicators: learners will demonstrate progress toward attaining basic skills/competencies supporting their educational goals; learners…

Serious problems were posed by North American pioneer efforts to force their traditions on Eskimos, Indians, and Aleuts. Fortunately, other pioneers, such as home economists and district agents with the University of Alaska Cooperative Extension Service, responded to villagers' home and community needs. The University of Alaska also pioneered in…

This report provides an abstracted review of 75 available sources on the subject of adult learning problems, disabilities, development, and solutions in adult education. Documents from many levels of education are included; most of the works cited are unpublished reports, papers, and dissertations. Entries are arranged in chronological order…