[NIFL-4EFF:990] Literacy summit

From: Andy Nash (andy_nash@jsi.com)
Date: Mon May 01 2000 - 17:07:46 EDT


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From: "Andy Nash" <andy_nash@jsi.com>
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Subject: [NIFL-4EFF:990] Literacy summit
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Hello,
Since I don't remember there being anything posted here about the
Literacy Summit, I thought I'd pass along some information about how
to become informed about and participate in this national process to
define a "vision and action plan" for developing "a more literate
nation." The information, below, comes from the NIFL webpage and the
NLA listserve. I've added a couple of my own thoughts at the bottom.

"On Feb. 14-15, 2000, approximately 150 leaders from the adult
education and literacy field and other stakeholders convened in
Washington, DC, for the National Literacy Summitt 2000. The goal of
the Summit was to begin developing a vision and action plan that will
move America toward achieving literacy for all of our nation's
adults."
- From the introducation to the "Draft Action Agenda"

>From a posting to the NLA list by Andy Hartman:
Dear Colleagues, 
NIFL staff and several of our Summit partners have been busy working
on follow-up activities since the February meeting held here in
Washington and planning the next steps in the Summit process. We have
created a web site for the Summit at:
http://novel.nifl.gov/nifl/summit.html

At this site you will find: 
* A brief overview of the Summit process; 

* A revised version of the background paper which we are now calling
the Summit Foundation Paper (based on feedback from Summit
participants and other contributors); 

* A first draft of the Action Agenda that was generated by the
meeting participants

* A brief Feedback Form for people (both individuals and groups) to
use in offering reactions and input to the draft Action Agenda. 

* A Discussion Guide that can be used by organizers of Summit
follow-up meetings, along with the feedback form, to orient themselves
to the Summit materials and frame their input into the Summit process

* A list of meetings around the country where people can get involved
in the Summit process by discussing the draft Action Agenda and adding
their own thoughts and ideas. Several such discussions and meetings
have already occurred. 

The Summit steering committee is in the process of finalizing sites
for the regional meetings we committed to organize with local/state
sponsors. In addition, the NIFL will be sending a mailing to our
entire database (about 11,000 people and organizations) informing them
of how they can get involved in shaping the Summit agenda. If you have
any questions about the Summit process, please contact Carolyn Staley,
NIFL's Deputy Director, at "cstaley@nifl.gov Thanks for your interest
and support! 
Andy Hartman NIFL 


My thoughts:
When I read the foundation paper and the draft action plan that's up
for discussion, I was struck by the limited references to EFF. The
primary discussion of EFF focuses on its role in identifying adults'
role-related goals and purposes, but there isn't discussion of it as a
framework for guiding the system reform that the field is seeking;
there is no suggestion that we might use EFF's definition of
"literacy," which grew out of those adult purposes; and in the search
for a new consensus, there is no mention of the consensus-building
that has already taken place throughout the development of EFF. I hope
that we all take the opportunity - either individually or through the
various regional forums that are being offered - to review these
documents and participate in the  dialogue. 

Andy Nash
NELRC/World Education



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