[NIFL-WORKPLACE:3868] Thursday Notes 11/9/2000

From: H. A. C. Watson (haw6@psu.edu)
Date: Tue Nov 07 2000 - 13:51:36 EST


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>From the Desk of Ronald S. Pugsley, Director, DAEL
Office of Vocational and Adult Education
Editor: Sarah Newcomb Production: Rose Tilghman
November 9, 2000
___________________________________

Congress May Give $90M Increase to Adult Ed

Adult education funds could increase by as much as $90 million in FY 01 for
a total of $540 million, according to preliminary numbers posted at
http://www.ed.gov/offices/OUS/budnews.html We do not yet have information on
how the increase may be allocated between EL/Civics and the regular State
Grant program. National Leadership would be level-funded at $14 million and
NIFL would receive an increase of $0.5 million to $6.5 million, according to
the website. The Community Technology Centers program would more than
double, receiving an increase of $47.5 million to $79.95 million. Voc Ed
could receive nearly $50 million more for State Grants and Tech Prep.
Congress has not officially adopted this agreement and it is subject to
change once the House returns on November 13 and the Senate returns on
November 14. Watch this space for more details.
** Note from Heidi: I encourage you to contact your congressman to 
encourage them to approve this funding.

Using Skills Outside Class Boosts Scores

The Highbridge Community Life Center (HCLC) in the Bronx has found that
learners who use skills outside of class have higher test scores. New
performance standards based on student goals produced changes in instruction
and improved learner achievements. In addition to standardized tests,
learners complete a self-assessment using lists of common student skill
goals. The assessment is repeated at the end of classes to check for
improvements in skill level and frequency of use. HCLC's basic skills and
ESL programs are putting more emphasis on using new skills outside the
classroom as a result. Approaches range from phone buddies who speak English
or watching English language TV for ESL learners, to trips to bookstores and
reading the newspaper daily for ABE learners. Information on these
activities is collected via learner journals, portfolios and teacher
observation as well as the new self-assessment.

Study Measures Skill Gains in Distance Learning

A new study, partly funded by OVAE, will help answer questions about how
much learning goes on when learners use video, print and online modules from
PBS LiteracyLink's Workplace Essential Skills. The evaluation will use CASAS
measures and other tests to check improvements in 400 adults' basic skills
at 27 sites in CA, IA, KY, NV, NY, CT and DC. The study also will look at
the number of hours needed to produce learning gains in a distance learning
environment. When complete, the study will be available at
http://www.pbs.org  Contact nlopez@pbs.org

____________________________________________________________________________
A Fact Sheet from the Division of Adult Education and Literacy Office 
of Vocational and Adult Education OVAE Homepage 
http://www.ed.gov/offices/OVAE/



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