Developing Literacy Skills through Education and Training
Needs
Estimating literacy levels has always been difficult. One obvious difficulty is that we cannot "test" our entire population; another is that relying on self-reported information yields questionable data. Studies of literacy using random sample populations give an idea about national literacy levels; comparing correlates of literacy identified in these studies to census data allows us to make estimates about state and local situations.
Changes in our understanding of what constitutes literacy and what kind of literacy is needed in different contexts also make it difficult to use the information that is available. For example, 100 years ago, people were said to be literate if they could write their names. Today, our increasingly technological society is placing greater and greater literacy demands on everyone. People must be able to read, write, do math (often called "numeracy"), and think critically in the contexts of their work, families, and communities at levels far more advanced than even a generation ago.
Concerns
It is estimated that in North Carolina just under 20% (approximately 894,733 adults) are experiencing literacy difficulties which are serious enough to adversely affect their daily lives. These adults need significant literacy instruction. For North Carolina county information see the following web site:
http://www.nclrc.state.nc.us/NCLRC/home/
Community Response
When a community has a planned strategy for addressing literacy problems, a variety of successful programs will evolve.
Strategies
1. The North Carolina Literacy Resource Center Database
The North Carolina Literacy Resource Center works with the staffs of basic skills and literacy organizations to provide an online resource database as a service to adult learners, job-training and employment seekers, educators, social services caseworkers, employment counselors, Job Link staff, employers, librarians, and others seeking information about adult basic skills and literacy. The database is updated regularly to assure users the most current information possible.
The database contains up-to-date information on over 400 programs in 114 organizations arranged by county. Community college entries are listed first, followed by volunteer organizations, libraries, or community-based organizations. The contact list contains informaion about the primary contact person for an organization. The program list contains information about each program offered by an organization. See the internet web site:
http://www.electronaut.com/sagrelto/nlrcdir/ndirq20.htm
2. Remedial Education
Literacy skills developed to reach employment goals serve as an incentive for most people. Most successful literacy programs use real-life experience materials, are active, use small groups, and offer support services such as employee counseling, wise shopping or budgeting, and career counseling.
To evaluate: Standardized tests, measures of self-esteem, self-profiles (before and after), focus group discussion, and entry and exit interviews.
3. Job Training or Retraining
Those who benefit include welfare recipients, dislocated workers, youth, immigrants, and the homeless. The most successful Job Training programs have surveyed the labor market, have no entry exams, and offer support services (child care, counseling).
To evaluate: Follow-up with graduates and track earnings over time to measure self-sufficiency and earned income.
