[NIFL-ASSESSMENT:575] Forward from: [AAACE-NLA] Delusion of Accountability in Adult Education

marie.cora@hotspurpartners.com

Date: Tue, 25 May 2004 13:38:42 -0400 (EDT)
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From: "Marie Cora" <marie.cora@hotspurpartners.com>
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Subject: [NIFL-ASSESSMENT:575] Forward from:  [AAACE-NLA] Delusion of Accountability in Adult Education 
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Hello all,

As promised, I'm forwarding a reply of interest to you regarding this
recent discussion.

marie cora
NIFL Assessment List Moderator

-----Original Message-----
From: aaace-nla-bounces@lists.literacytent.org
[mailto:aaace-nla-bounces@lists.literacytent.org] On Behalf Of
AWilder106@aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, May 25, 2004 10:29 AM
To: National Literacy Advocacy List sponsored by AAACE
Subject: [AAACE-NLA] Delusion of Accountability in Adult Education
(longer)

Colleagues,

A couple  of points--in my opinion--

1)  The same valid and reliable measures should be given as part  of the
AELS--across all states.  These measures should be designed to catch
measurable learning gains in literacy.

Do different types of programs require different types of assessments?
Then comparable programs should have comparable assessments--but
something measurable, showing gains.

2)  Students with diagnosed learning disabilities should be given
accommodations.

The report that Tom cites sounds obnoxious: condescending and faulty in
reasoning.

I buy the taxpayer argument.  I am a  taxpayer, too, and I want to  know
that  my money is actually helping students  make adult literacy gains.
The crux of the problem is how literacy gains are to be measured. Do
higher  levels translate  into jobs?  More  income?  Better housing?
Health care? 

Or is advancement through levels the gain that will insure the other
outcomes?  What should I subsidize?  What should I push for?  (I have
also observed teachers "coach" students into filling in test sheets.)

About self-esteem--I see that as an outcome of measurable skill growth.
In general I toss that out as a measure, as something that can be
measured directly.

I think that VALUE plus educators should give a wack at solving the
problems, maybe on this list serv.  As a taxpayer I want to know that my
money makes a measurable difference in increasing adult literacy.  What
would this take in program design and redesign?  Who wants to go first?

Andrea

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