A project sought to determine if reluctant learners, about 30 percent of the adult basic education (ABE) population, can be retained in ABE classes through accommodations in the program structure and more effective teacher/counselor intervention. The project was based on earlier research findings that most ABE learners who drop out do so in the…

This packet contains eight workbooks of lessons covering daily living skills for adult basic education or adult literacy education students. The books contain 160 short lessons organized in 13 units. The units cover the following topics: filling out forms; numbers, days, months; money and banking; monthly bills; post office; alphabetical order;…

This document describes South Carolina's progress during 1991-92 toward achieving the six National Education Goals, first formulated at a meeting between the U.S. president and the 50 state governors in September, 1989. The goals, which are listed at the beginning of this report, are targeted respectively at: (1) school readiness; (2) school…

Ohio's Literacy 2000 initiative was launched in fall 1992 to examine opportunities and challenges for meeting the state's adult literacy needs. More than 600 Ohioans discussed their concerns regarding critical aspects of literacy at four regional summits. Nationally recognized leaders in adult literacy, representatives of exemplary local literacy…

This publication presents the abstracts of the 57 National Workplace Literacy Program 1993 projects. Each abstract provides the following information: project title; award number; project director; awardee; address; telephone and fax numbers; funds by fiscal year (federal and nonfederal); award period; federal project officer; objectives;…

In March 1993, Laubach Literacy Action (LLA) convened a nine-member women's focus group to identify barriers and issues that make it difficult for a woman to achieve her literacy goals. Six new readers and three program administrators participated. A brainstorming session identified an initial set of issues and/or barriers to women who want to…

A representative sample of 1,650 members of the 1970 British Cohort Study were surveyed at the age of 21 (in 1992) to gather information on their education, training, and employment experiences after the age of 16 and their self-assessed literacy and numeracy. Respondents also completed a half-hour assessment of their literacy and numeracy skills.…

This collection of 29 succinct information articles discusses issues relating to language arts, including whole language, phonics, student evaluation, spelling, and censorship. Some of the authors contributing to the collection are Ken Goodman, Yetta Goodman, Jerome Harste, Patrick Shannon, and Constance Weaver. Titles of articles are:…

Five brief articles from a journal published by the Public Affairs Department of the University of Natal, South Africa, discuss issues related to empowering adults through literacy education in that country. "Meeting Needs" (Gwyneth van Heerden) describes the extent and nature of adult illiteracy in South Africa and the activities of the…

In 1991, a study was conducted of the 71 community colleges and technical institutes in Texas to generate a description of existing literacy programs and activities. A total of 61 surveys were returned for an 89% response rate. Findings from the study included the following: (1) 66% of the institutions cited the lack of resources as the…

A 2-year demonstration project called Literacy Improvement Needs Collaboration (LINC) was conducted in Bridgeport, Connecticut, to stimulate greater minority participation in local literacy programs. Project LINC's overall goal was to increase participation of adult students and tutors from the black community by using two general strategies:…

To meet new needs, society has raised its requirements with respect to basic education and redefined illiteracy. A 1989 survey found that 38 percent of the Canadian adult population have reading problems. Illiteracy is a social problem involving the entire community. The social cost is counted by the millions prevented from exercising their rights…

During the 1989-90 school year, 978 adult learners received basic and remedial instruction at the 19 sites of the adult basic education (ABE) program of the School District of the City of Saginaw (Michigan). The program's objectives were specifically aimed at adults who are urban residents from high unemployment areas, rural residents, members of…

Factors were studied that influence attitudes of Asian English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) learners in order to better understand possible reasons why attitudes may change and ways they may be influenced. Special attention was given to cultural and education differences, difficulties relating to nonliterate adult learners, and strategies to assist…

A literacy project in the eastern hill ranges of India is reported, based on 20 years of involvement, at the beginning of which the tribal language, Adivasi Oriya, was not yet a written language. The literacy rate among tribals in the agricultural community is about 10%. Researchers studied the tribal language, gave it an alphabet, adapted the…