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Fall 2005
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Volume 29, No. 3
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Strategic plan, operations manual, and the big conference is coming up
by Robert McNeill, Delaware Valley College, PAACE President
As we were wondering if summer would ever let go over the past month, your PAACE Board has been very busy. We are putting the finishing touches on our Strategic Plan, which will be implemented over the next two years. We are working on updating the Board Operations Manual. And, of course, we are all diligently working on “Meeting the Challenge” -- the theme of our 41st annual Midwinter Conference scheduled for February 8-10, 2006 in (where else?) Hershey, Pennsylvania.
This year’s Program Chair, First Vice-President Debbie Hrach, is very excited about “Meeting the Challenge,” and she is looking forward to your support by receiving your workshop proposals before the October 31 (Happy Halloween!) deadline. So if you have an interesting topic that you would like to develop into a workshop and share with your colleagues, please go to the PAACE website www.paacesite.org and complete an online workshop submission. It will take only a few minutes, and give you the opportunity to share years of experience. As Debbie noted in her last e-mail message to you, the start of the Midwinter Conference is closer that we think, and this year’s conference promises to be better than ever.
I would also like to bring to your attention a survey that was developed by our Membership Committee Chair Suzanne Webster regarding benefits of membership in PAACE. One of the goals of our new Strategic Plan is to determine, through your input, your perception of PAACE and the benefits you receive by being a member. Suzanne volunteered to develop this survey, and with the help of Scot Mentzer, Technology Committee Chair, has created a link to it on the PAACE website. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey so that your board can review the results and share them with you.
As always, we are looking for those concerned about adult and continuing education to get involved with the board. If you feel you have the time to make a difference, please call me at (215) 489-4888, or e-mail at mcneillr@devalcol.edu.
Thanks, and enjoy fall. It is a beautiful time to be in Pennsylvania! I have to go now, as I need to coach my soccer team!
--Bob McNeill
Member alert! Time to submit session proposals
by Debbie Hrach, Stairways Behavioral Health, PAACE First Vice-President
It’s that time of year to begin thinking of and planning for the next annual Midwinter Conference on Adult Education. This year the conference will be held on February 8-10 at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center. As mentioned in the summer edition of PAACE News, our keynote speaker will be Robert Wedgeworth, President of Proliteracy Worldwide, and our Honorary Chair will be Eunice Askov, Distinguished Professor of Education at Penn State University. Both of these individuals have spent many years in the field of literacy, Bob as University Librarian and Professor at the University of Illinois and Nickie as co-director of the Institute for the Study of Adult Literacy and of the Goodling Institute for Research in Family Literacy. We are most fortunate to have Bob and Nickie join us at this year’s conference and look forward to the opportunity to meet with them and learn from their experiences.
The theme of the 2006 conference, “Meeting the Challenge,” is a reflection of the way in which Pennsylvania practitioners strive every day to meet the needs of their adult learners. It is these same practitioners, people doing all kinds of great things in their classrooms and programs, that we are seeking to submit workshop proposals for the upcoming conference.
Each year conference attendees complete a conference evaluation and the conference committee uses these evaluations to make changes and improvements to the next year’s conference. Some suggestions deal with the logistics of session times and locations; some suggestions concern meals and pricing; but many are with regard to the content of the workshop sessions.
This call for presenters is based upon the desires of your peers. According to the 2005 evaluations, practitioners would like to attend more workshops on the following topics: GED essay exam, corrections education, incarcerated learners with learning differences, drug abuse and memory, early childhood education, high-risk behaviors, GED science and social studies, and sessions with more hands-on activities. Of course, this doesn’t mean we want to limit sessions to just these topics -- we want these plus more -- and we need your help. Put on your thinking caps, get together with your colleagues, and submit a proposal or two or three. We’re looking forward to a conference with much diversity in terms of topics and presenters. We’ve invited back some favorites from last year and look forward to seeing some new faces this year.
Proposals are due by October 31, 2005 but don’t wait until the last minute to submit. Log on to paacesite.org and take a few minutes to complete the form and submit your proposal. Please direct any questions to Conference Program Chair Debbie Hrach, dhrach@Stairwaysbh.org, phone (814) 878-2015.
Current status of limbo funding
by JoAnn Weinberger, Center for Literacy, PAACE Legislative Committee Chair
On the federal legislative front, the status is a holding action on the legislation of particular meaning to PAACE members. Between the impact of Hurricane Katrina and approval of Supreme Court Justice(s), Congress is not currently working on the following issues of direct concern to us.
APPROPRIATIONS: The House of Representatives passed an appropriations bill calling for hold even funding for adult education and a reduction of 20% in Even Start. The Senate Appropriations Committee voted for hold even funding for adult education and a zeroing out of Even Start. The full Senate has not yet considered the appropriations bill. In addition to full Senate action, the bill will have to go to a Conference Committee for reconciliation since the House version and the Senate versions will be different. It is expected that the budget bill will not be finalized until the end of November.
Representative Todd Platts (Adams, Cumberland and York Counties) is asking his colleagues in the House to push for continuation funding of Even Start at the current level. All members of PAACE should contact their Congressperson and urge them to “sign on” to this effort.
WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ACT (WIA): This bill is particularly important because Title II funds adult and family literacy programs. It has been in the process of reauthorization since 2003. The House of Representatives has passed a reauthorization bill and the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) has passed its version. The next step is for the full Senate to vote on its bill and then for a Conference Committee to meet to iron out the differences. There are major differences between these two versions. Currently, there is no action scheduled in the Senate to take that bill to the floor. Many advocates following this reauthorization process are skeptical that a bill will be passed any time soon. Without a reauthorization bill, the current law stands.
TEMPORARY AID FOR NEEDY FAMILIES (TANF): This reauthorization is also on hold. The current law has received a series of continuations, the latest of which is until December 31, 2005. There is a strong possibility that reauthorization of TANF may become part of the budget reconciliation process.
2006 Outstanding Educator nominations due December 15
by Karen Mundie, Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council, 2005 Outstanding Adult Educator
We all know many extraordinary people in our field of adult education. Some of them are teachers, some are volunteers, some are students, some are administrators -- and some wear so many hats that’s it’s hard to place them in a category. Through the awards presented at our PAACE Midwinter Conference, we have an annual opportunity to recognize and celebrate a few of these individuals. The ABLE Bureau recognizes dedication to learning and to quality teaching through the Outstanding Adult Student and APEX awards. TLC, in the ABLE Honor Roll, recognizes students who return as volunteers to support the programs that helped them to reach educational and life goals. The Continuing Education division recognizes the efforts, and success, of adult college students who successfully balance work, family, and school and refuse to allow difficulties to become barriers.
An award that is of particular significance to PAACE is the Outstanding Adult Educator award. This award is given to a PAACE member who has made notable contributions to the development of adult education in Pennsylvania. Past winners have been nominated for their work in program administration, professional development, or adult education research. Most have been local leaders whose efforts have had an impact that rippled out to benefit a range of programs and practitioners across the state.
The PAACE awards committee is now accepting nominations for the 2006 Outstanding Adult Educator. Criteria for the award are listed under Awards at paacesite.org, as is a list of past winners. Please give an adult educator that you respect the opportunity to be recognized by the PAACE community. Being nominated for the award is in itself is a significant honor, and receiving it is a lifetime memory.
Continuing Higher Education (CHE)
CEA/PA sponsoring Cyber Summit 2005
by Mary Anne Varacalli, Delaware County Community College, CHE Division Director
Last year, CEA/PA’s (Continuing Education Association of Pennsylvania) program on Project Management was such a great success, that this may just become an annual event, says CEA/PA President Dr. Jan Orris.
This year the event, called Cyber Summit 2005, will be held on Friday, November 4 at Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s Monroeville Center. The program will run from 9:30 am until 3 pm and lunch will be included. Topics will include: E-mail and Security; Blogging; Computer Security and Legal Issues. To be placed on the mailing list to receive additional information about this program, contact Jan Orris by e-mail at jeo2@psu.edu.
Family Literacy
Fall a busy time for Family Literacy
by Susan Mansuetti, Penn State Beaver, Family Literacy Division Co-Director
Now that we have completed our Summer Reading program, we can continue our partnerships with local libraries as well as school districts, Head Start programs, CareerLinks and numerous other human service agencies as we begin another year in Family Literacy.
As we begin this year, we want to plan to recognize National Family Literacy Month in November. Last year we had students from the Learning Center’s Family Program receive the Lycoming County Commissioner’s Proclamation as they recognized November as National Family Literacy Month. During this time of funding issues, continued advocacy is especially important.
There are many activities you can plan on local level to involve your parents, children and partners: Book drives, story hours, after school activities, guest readers, invitations to local legislators and the media to your centers, etc. Use your imagination.
In addition, please visit the Family Literacy Website (pafamilyliteracy.org) for more information and updates on events, articles, photos, and documents. Also, keep checking the PAACE website for information about the Midwinter conference. The Best Practices Awards Application should be available soon. We also want to encourage programs to submit a proposal for the conference.
Corrections Education
NCSALL publication focuses on corrections ed
The new issue of Focus on Basics is now available online at www.ncsall.net/?id=818. This issue's topic is Correction Education but information could be relevant to all ABE/GED settings.
Focus on Basics is the quarterly publication of the National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy. It presents best practices, current research on adult learning and literacy, and how research is used by adult basic education teachers, counselors, program administrators, and policy makers. Focus on Basics is dedicated to connecting research with practice, to connecting teachers with research and researchers with the reality of the classroom, and by doing so, making adult basic education research more relevant to the field.
Adult Basic and Secondary Education (AB/SE)
Remember to time the 9 & 10 TABE Locator!
by Libby Wilson, GECAC and Stairways Behavioral Health, ABSE Division Director
In our area there has been some confusion about the new versions of the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) locator. Here's the lowdown for everyone using the TABE. The 7 & 8 version of the TABE Locator was untimed. However, the new version is timed. If students are not timed on the new Locator, they may end up testing at a TABE level far beyond their capabilities. Locator test times are: Reading, 12 minutes; Math Computation, 5 minutes.; Applied Math, 8 minutes.
Excerpts from OVAE Review
(Vocational and Technical Education; Adult Education and Literacy; and Community Colleges)
September 30, 2005
Full issue at www.ed.gov/news/newsletters/ovaereview/orev092905.html
“The Review” is an update from the Office of the Assistant Secretary at the Office of Vocational and Adult Education, U.S. Department of Education.
New Department of Labor resource provides local data on limited English proficient (LEP) populations
The Employment and Training Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has released a special tabulation of 2000 Census data on LEP populations as a resource for One-Stop Career Centers and their education and job training partners. The data, which are disaggregated by state and for local workforce investment areas within each state, include the number of individuals who speak a language other than English at home, their native language, a self-reported measure of how well they speak English, their educational attainment, employment status, occupation, and income.
For more information and to access the data set, visit DOL’s Web site at:
www.doleta.gov/usworkforce/whatsnew/eta_default.cfm?id=1231
OVAE establishes Center for Rural Education
The newest addition to the Office of Vocational and Adult Education is the Center for Rural Education (CRE). Designed to provide a unified approach to rural education, the mission of the CRE is to disseminate information regarding research and promising practices to stakeholders on a wide range of topics of particular importance to schools and communities in rural America and to bring renewed attention to the problems and issues of students in rural schools. Inquiries regarding the Center can be sent to RuralED@ed.gov.
From the U.S. Department of Labor
“Katrina Recovery Job Connection” is a new Web site resource focused on supporting the transition back into employment for individuals impacted by Hurricane Katrina. The site’s purpose is to connect job seekers with employers for either new permanent employment or for jobs related to the clean-up, recovery, and rebuilding process in hurricane-impacted areas. While the site is intended to complement efforts at the state and local levels, it is also intended to make individuals evacuated to other states aware of opportunities in their home state.
The site also allows employers to post jobs and job seekers to search for job opportunities and post their resumes. Please visit www.jobsearch.org/katrinajobs for more information.
Community Colleges
The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) has a link on their Web site directed at hurricane relief. They are monitoring daily the status of colleges, resources for institutions, students, and offers of assistance. See the sections for the support for students, help for colleges, news updates, status of colleges, policy updates, and hurricane relief resources.
www.aacc.nche.edu/Content/NavigationMenu/NewsandEvents/Hurricane_Relief/Hurricane_Relief.htm
Please complete the member survey!
In order to identify member expectations of the benefits of being a PAACE member, we are asking the membership to participate in a short survey (only TWO questions!). It is a news item on the front page of the PAACE website.
I look forward to receiving your responses.
Suzanne Webster
PAACE Membership Committee
Institute for the Study of Adult Literacy
Pennsylvania State University
208 Rackley Building
University Park, PA 16802
Ph: 814-865-6604
email: ssw133@psu.edu
National Family Literacy Day® 2005
!Learning is a Family Legacy…Pass it On!
Let’s all make this upcoming 12th National Family Literacy Day® the biggest celebration ever! Across the country, special activities and events will showcase the importance of family literacy programs.
Annually, National Family Literacy Day® is officially celebrated on November 1st, but many events are held throughout the month of November. It’s never been more important to spread the word in your community and build awareness for the importance of families working together toward a better educated tomorrow.
The resource links (see the page link below) provide information on how you can orchestrate events in your “corner of the world” that will educate, inform, and raise public awareness and corporate support for your efforts.
More information on the Web site of the National Center for Family Literacy.
AAACE Annual Conference
"Adult Education and Learning: Working for You"
November 6-11, 2005
Hilton Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA
More information available at www.aaace.org
PAACE News available in PDF
For those who like to print out PAACE News, you have the option of printing directly from your browser or downloading a PDF file of each issue.
Download the current issue of PAACE News as PDF file here.
Comprehensive conference listing!
Whatever your interest in adult education may be, the LINCS conference calendar has something for you--actually, LOTS of things for you. Check out this thorough list of conferences and events related to adult education, technology, and affiliated topics at: www.nifl.gov/cgi-bin/Calendar/calendar_world.cgi
Are you subscribed to the PAACE members e-mail list?
If you are a PAACE member and are not subscribed to the members e-mail list, you may use the simple sign-up process by going to www.paacesite.org, clicking on the link on the main page for the PAACE lists, and following the link for the members@paacesite.org list. Subscribers also may follow the link to change subscription information. Only subscribers may post to the list.
PAACE members are encouraged to be on the e-mail list in order to receive announcements and late-breaking legislative news, especially now!
E-mail PAACE!
Address your e-mail to paace@paacesite.org for general inquiries and information. Joan Leopold, PAACE executive director, will answer your questions or direct your e-mail to the appropriate person.
Our 2005-06 Officers, Regional Representatives, and Division Directors:
President: Robert McNeill (Delaware Valley College)
First Vice-President: Debbie Hrach (Stairways Behavioral Health)
Second Vice-President: Chuck Klinger (Tuscarora Intermediate Unit 11)
Secretary: Karen E. Warner (Lincoln Intermediate Unit 12)
Treasurer: Frank Nardone (Luzerne Intermediate Unit 18)
Immediate Past President: Mary Kay Peterson
Remote Past President: David Manzo (Luzerne County Community College)
Western Regional Representative: Emmett Baxendell (Goodwill Industries of Pittsburgh)
Central Regional Representative: Ruth Love-Schooley (Lycoming County Library System)
Eastern Regional Representative: Joe Morales (Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13)
Adult Basic and Secondary Education Division Director: Libby Wilson (Greater Erie Community Action Committee and Stairways Behavioral Health)
Continuing Higher Education Division Director: Mary Anne Varacalli (Delaware County Community College)
Corrections Education Division Director:
ESL Division: Eastern Co-Director: Elaine Greene (Center for Literacy), Western Co-Director: Theresa Andrews (Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council, on leave)
Family Literacy Division: Susan Mansuetti (Penn State Beaver Adult Literacy Action), Julie Shumaker (Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit)
Tutors of Literacy in the Commonwealth: Kim Roush
Workplace Education Division: KayLynn Hamilton (Institute for the Study of Adult Literacy at Penn State)
Committee Chairs/Full Board list: Click here.
PAACE News Editorial Board
Tana Reiff, Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13 / PAACE News Editor
Joan Leopold, Harrisburg State Hospital / PAACE Executive Director
Robert McNeill, Delaware Valley College / PAACE President
Karen Mundie, Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council
Ruth Love-Schooley, Lycoming County Library System
Carol Shefrin, Tuscarora Intermediate Unit 11 Adult Education Dept.
Mary Anne Varacalli, Delaware County Community College
The purpose of PAACE News is to inform members of PAACE about the activities and plans of the Association and how they can participate in them. Remaining consistent with the mission of the organization, the newsletter connects a diverse audience of adult education practitioners, researchers, and students throughout Pennsylvania.
This issue published October 6, 2005
To submit material for PAACE News, please e-mail the editor at tana_reiff@comcast.net.