PAACE News Summer 2003

PAACE is continuing to make great strides forward as your advocate for adult and continuing education. Recently, PAACE contracted with John Weidman (jweid300@aol.com) to serve as our Advocacy Consultant. Along with being available to help with legislative alerts John will be conducting advocacy training workshops. In this issue’s Legislative Update, he outlines the steps for "adopting" a legislative aide.

While it may seem in the distant future, we are beginning to work on the 2004 Midwinter Conference. It should be another great conference, so mark your calendars for February 4-6, 2004.

We are also working on revisions of the bylaws and operations manual. The time taken to do this will ultimately help the organization serve the membership better.

Members are always welcome to attend board meetings. Sites and dates are listed on the PAACE Web site at paacesite.org. And, if you have questions you are welcome to contact any board member.

by JoAnn Weinberger, Center for Literacy, PAACE Legislative Committee Chair

JoAnn Weinberger Summer is an important time for advocacy efforts. At the federal level, start with adopting a legislative aide. PAACE advocacy consultant John Weidman has outlined the following steps:

Adopt a legislative aide

In order to have a say in federal literacy legislation, it is important to get to know the congressional staffers who work on education issues. Many of you may already have relationships with these staffers -- if so, great work! You can skip down a few steps. For anyone who does not, here are some easy steps to get started.

Step 1: Contact your Congressman

Call the DC office number if you have it, or the Capitol Switchboard at (212) 224-3121 and ask for your Representative. Or visit www.vote-smart.org to find out who your Rep. is by entering your Zip code.

Step 2: Sample discussion

"Hello, may I speak to the staff person who works on education issues?" …

"Hi, my name is _____________ and I work with [insert your program] and I am a member of PAACE -- the Pennsylvania Association for Adult Continuing Education. I am just calling to introduce myself and to tell you that our program has had terrific results. [For example, we just had a graduation ceremony last month, etc.].

"I also wanted to let you know that I strongly support an increased appropriation to the Adult Education State Grant program that PAACE and national literacy organizations are in favor of. We would like to see 1 billion in state grants for adult ed in the 2004 budget. This would ensure that at least one full-time educator would be funded for every program in the country, and that more ESL (English as a second language) programs could be funded to assist the growing immigrant population in our state.

"Is that something Rep. X would support?

[Add a personal note here.] "Are you getting rained on in DC like we are here in PA? Are you originally from the district? Wyoming? How did you end up in DC?

"Please feel free to call me if you have any questions about adult education programs. Here is my name and phone number.

"Thanks, [staffer’s first name]! It has been great talking to you. I really look forward to working with you on adult education issues.

"Bye."

Step 3: Tracking

File some notes on the conversation in your Advocacy file. Please e-mail us the name of your adopted legislative aide, with contact info, and one personal piece of info, such as where they grew up. E-mail John Weidman at Jweid300@aol.com. He will be keeping a database of PAACE contacts.

Step 4: Key Targets

The following Reps are key targets for our advocacy work. If you live in a district or have a program in a district of a key target, please e-mail E-mail John Weidman at Jweid300@aol.com to let him know. Your contact info will be put on our Priority Target list.

Rep. Greenwood Education and the Workforce committee

Rep. Platts Education and the Workforce committee

Rep. Sherwood Appropriations committee

Rep. Murtha Appropriations committee

Rep. Fattah Appropriations committee

Rep. English A moderate Republican. Sometimes a key "swing" voter

Step 5: Tips

Treat the person like a friend regardless of ideology. This is the most effective way to further our goals. Rarely if ever is it productive to take a combative stance with a staff person over the phone.
Be understanding of the staff person’s time. Be ever respectful of their busy schedule.
Don’t complain if the legislator votes the wrong way. Don’t threaten to hurt their election chances by mobilizing voters. (There are other ways to make them aware of this, such as sending postcards in support of our issues from their constituents.)
If you leave a message and don’t get a return call, try back in a week.

Web sites to bookmark

As part of your summer "to-do" list, explore Web sites and listservs that will bring you up to date on legislative issues. These include:

paacesite.org	Our very own PAACE. Updated information available on PA literacy issues. Subscribe to the PAACE listserv.
www.natcoalitionliteracy.org	National Coalition for Literacy. National policy goals for literacy organizations. Subscribe to the NCL update on the home page to get e-mail updates.
www.vote-smart.org	Find out who your state and federal representatives are, or check political scorecards from a variety of nonprofits.
paadulted.org	The PA Dept. of Education’s Bureau of Adult Basic and Literacy Education has a map for locating all PA ABLE programs. Subscribe to receive e-mail notifications of new content.
www.aaace.org	The American Association for Adult and Continuing Education is the nation's premier organization dedicated to enhancing the field of adult learning. This site has good information on federal legislation. Subscribe to the AAACE listserv on the home page.
www.seventy.org	The Committee of Seventy is Philadelphia's good government watchdog group and source of nonpartisan research and election information for Greater Philadelphia
www.legis.state.pa.us	Pennsylvania Legislature’s Web site has links to both houses and member info.
thomas.loc.gov	A Web site run by the Library of Congress with information on every piece of federal legislation searchable by bill number or keyword.
www.house.gov	U.S. House of Representatives official site contains links to representatives, committee offices, and leadership offices.
www.senate.gov	United States Senate site, contains profiles and contact information for current senators and committees as well as descriptions of legislation, Senate history, and reference materials.
www.npaction.org	Online advocacy resources for nonprofits.
www.ed.gov/offices/OVAE/AdultEd	United States Department of Education, Office of Vocational and Adult Education site includes up-to-date information on the Department’s recommendations, on, for example, the reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act.

ABLE and the WIA: Read the ‘Blueprint’

The Workforce Investment Act, of which Title II funds Adult Basic and Literacy Education, is in the process of being reauthorized by the Congress. The U.S. Department of Education has released its blueprint for the reauthorization, which is being known as The Adult Basic and Literacy Education Act of 2003. You can find it at: www.ed.gov/offices/OVAE/AdultEd/aeblueprint2.doc

Key provisions include:

Creating accountability for results
Funding what works
Expanding options and choices for students
Reducing bureaucracy and increasing flexibility

States would grant funds for:

State Leadership Activities (up to 12.5% of allocation; however, for 2004-06, States that need additional funds to develop content standards and assessments may reserve up to 15% for that purpose)
State administration (up to 5%)
Workplace education programs (at least 5%) -- THIS IS NEW
Local ABLE programs (competitive grants and contracts; as in current law, states will operate correctional and institutional programs up to 8 percent of the State's allocation)

Strategies for achieving improvement include:

Holding local programs and State agencies accountable for student achievement
Requiring State-developed or State-adopted content standards and aligned assessments
Focusing on what works--promoting local use of research-based practice
Providing increased options for basic skills acquisition (including strengthening the participation of community- and faith-based organizations, workplace education partnerships with employers, allowing for-profit provider competition, and enabling a smooth transition to postsecondary education)
Expanding appropriate technology options
Promoting collaboration and resource-sharing across agencies that serve undereducated adults (State ABLE plans may be submitted as part of a comprehensive education plan or part of a unified plan with plans for workforce development programs)
Coordinating the delivery of services through the One-Stop Career Center system (adult education as a partner in the One-Stop Career Center system, with representation on the State Workforce Investment Board).

The National Institute for Literacy would be reauthorized, focusing its activities on the synthesis and dissemination of rigorous research on reading for children, youth, and adults as well as on mathematics and English acquisition.

Please read this document in its entirety and post your reactions to the PAACE listserv. The U.S. House of Representatives has already passed its version of the bill; the Senate will be considering it in the fall.

Midwinter 2004
Adult Education in a Changing World: Globalization, Or Think Globally, Act Locally

by Mary Kay Peterson, La Comunidad Hispana, PAACE First Vice-President (mkpeterson@chesco.com)

Mary Kay Peterson "Think Globally, Act Locally" may be a bumper sticker slogan, but it’s exactly what the upcoming Midwinter Conference is all about. It’s a subject that has been of keen interest to me for a very long time. Areas such as: What are the underlying issues around literacy, both here and abroad? How does lifelong learning impact the growth and development of a society? And how to overcome the barriers of gender and race in improving the quality of life to the most vulnerable.

In developing countries, we know that, on average, the more education a woman receives, the fewer children she is likely to have, therefore increasing her ability to provide for the children she does have. This means improved nutrition; she and her children will be healthier overall, reducing infant mortality; and her children are more likely to go on for more education as well. While a slow process, it is ultimately more effective for economic growth than one that is rapidly imposed.

This has relevance to our society, as well. We all know that education at all levels is key to providing the tools needed to maintain even the most basic lifestyle in an economy under duress. A study commissioned by the Women’s Association for Women’s Alternatives in 1996 estimated that in Chester County, a single mother with two small children, receiving no subsidies such as child care or Medicaid, would need to make $17.51 an hour to stay afloat. The work all of us in PAACE do daily to assist learners at all levels be successful can make it hard to step back and reflect on what works and what needs changing in our society.

I’m pleased that our honored Keynote Speaker, Dr. Galen Godbey, is carrying on the tradition of both life membership in PAACE and thinking beyond the everyday practices of adult education that his father, Past President Dr. Gordon Godbey, practices. When I first came on the PAACE board, I sat in awe at many a meeting as Dr. Godbey spoke about literacy, history, and social issues that impact both. I know the younger Dr. Godbey will provide the same level of inspiration.

Please begin to think about how you can inspire us by presenting at Midwinter. A postcard announcing the availability of the Call for Presenter application will be in your mailbox soon and you’ll be able to obtain the application from this Web site.

That’s the global part. Now for the local part. One of the things I think all of us agree on is that the high quality of Midwinter comes not from the amenities but the people of PAACE. It’s the membership--the expertise and passion of our membership and the collegiality of our members--that makes Midwinter legendary. Regardless of the economy, you members remain high-quality professionals. However, the amenities are an important part of the conference. While the location of the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center and the great staff and surroundings isn’t going to change, other aspects might. We are going to have to make some hard decisions as we plan for the 2004 Midwinter Conference. PAACE has, for as long as I can remember, subsidized many of the events held at conference. The banquet for example, costs PAACE $30 per meal, while we have charged only $20. The Legislative Luncheon and Annual Meeting luncheon have been underwritten by about $4 per meal. And while I know that, with budgets being cut drastically all over the Commonwealth, this is coming at a particularly bad time, the Board feels that we need to increase some of the fees. We will NOT be raising the overall conference fee but will be increasing meal fees. We’ll be approaching our many supportive exhibitors for sponsorship and will probably be asking for a donation from programs that display at the Marketplace.

The PAACE Board of Directors and I are mindful of the issue of program funding and will make every effort to keep any increases to the barest minimum so that the true quality of the conference--the membership--remains at its usual high level. If you have suggestions or questions about the 2004 Midwinter Conference, on either the global or local level, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Globe image credit: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/National Geophysical Data Center

Nominations sought for PAACE board

by Karen Mundie, Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council, PAACE Remote Past President/Nominations Committee Chair

Karen Mundie It is now time for PAACE members to consider candidates for the leadership of PAACE in 2004.

We know what you’re thinking. "I really value PAACE, but I just don’t have the time to commit to even a year of service. Maybe next year I’ll have my head safely above water, and I’ll volunteer then." This is pie-in-the-sky nonsense. You’ve always been busy, and you always will be. However, you have usually found a way to make time for what’s really important, and your professional organization cannot function without you--or someone just like you. Please consider nominating yourself for a Board position.

Or maybe you know a PAACE member with lots of skills and just oozing leadership potential, but cramped a little by modesty. Go to this person, say, "PAACE needs you," and get permission to send in a nomination on his or her behalf.

The elective positions for 2004 include Second Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Central Geographic Representative. If you wish to nominate yourself for one of these positions--or know of someone else who is interested in serving on the Board--please contact me, Karen Mundie, Nominations Committee Chair, at GPLC@aol.com no later than September 30, 2003. Please note that if you are nominating someone other than yourself, you must obtain his or her permission before submitting the nomination.

Board Meetings

Board meetings are held from 10 AM through noon on the second Tuesday of each month. Meetings are held in various locations across the Commonwealth. Board members are expected to attend the meetings regularly and to participate actively in Board business.

In case you are unfamiliar with the job descriptions for the open positions, the following provides a list of duties and length of commitment.

Second Vice President

The Second Vice President makes a commitment to the Board for five years, including serving as Second Vice President; First Vice President; President; Advisor to the Board; and Chair of the Audit, Budget, Finance, and Fiscal Affairs Committee. Duties as Second Vice President include:

Assume duties and functions of the 1st Vice President in the absence of the First Vice President and to accept other duties as assigned by the President. [NOTE: The First Vice President is responsible for the Midwinter Conference program.]
Chair the Strategic Decision-making Committee. This includes: 1) working with Board members to document movement towards strategic goals, 2) updating Board members on progress toward goals at monthly meetings, 3) preparing a report on progress for the Annual Meeting during Midwinter, and 4) coordinating revisions to the goals at the end of each three-year planning cycle.
Guide and assist in development of Program Divisions and Geographic Representatives. This includes: 1) encouraging attendance at the Board meetings; 2) proposing new Program Divisions and revisions to the Geographic Regions based on member interests and needs; 3) coordinating work of the Divisions and Regions with the Board, the membership, and Midwinter Conference activities; 4) assisting Divisions and Regions in developing annual objectives and activities; and 5) encouraging and assisting, if necessary, Divisions and Regions in preparing articles for PAACE News, the PAACE journal, or other publications.

Treasurer

The Treasurer is elected for a 1-year term and may serve three 1-year terms. The Treasurer has the following responsibilities:

Keep all financial records.
Submit monthly financial statement, a Treasurer's Report, at the monthly Board meetings.
Submit quarterly financial statement reflecting overall financial status of the Association and its various accounts.
Submit annual financial report at the Annual Meeting during Midwinter Conference.
Work with the President and immediate Past President in appointing an Audit Committee to review the financial records of the Association.
Make recommendations to the Board regarding fiscal management.
Assist the Budget, Finance, and Fiscal Affairs Committee in preparation of the annual budget of the Association.
Make recommendations to the Board on deposit of funds.
Prepare and submit annual reports to the federal and state agencies working with legal and accounting as necessary.
Arrange bonding of the Treasurer and President in accordance with guidelines approved by the Treasurer.
Sign all checks that draw on accounts of the Association.
Receive all funds due the Association.

Secretary

The Secretary is elected for a 1-year term and may serve three 1-year terms. The Secretary has the following responsibilities:

Prepare and mail notices of monthly Board meetings. This includes soliciting an agenda for the meeting from the President, mailing the agenda to Board members, Committee chairs, and other people recommended by the Executive Director or President. The mailing also includes a copy of minutes from the past meeting, and background information relevant to topics for discussion at the meeting.
Take and keep minutes of all meetings of the Association and Board of Directors, and prepare and distribute the minutes as described above.
Work with the Nominations Committee in preparing and distributing the election ballot. The Secretary reports the results of the election at the Annual Meeting.

Geographic Representative

Geographic Representatives are elected to 3-year terms. Individuals may serve a maximum of two 3-year terms. Geographic Representatives have the following responsibilities:

Represent PAACE in the Geographic Region at adult continuing education events, providing information on membership and Association activities, as requested by the President
Serve on the Membership Committee and assist in recruiting new members, contacting people with lapsed membership, and inviting members in the Geographic Region to attend Board meetings
Serve on the Legislative Committee and assist in encouraging regular contact of members with legislators and ensuring that information about legislative priorities reach members in the Geographic Region
Prepare a written annual report for presentation at the Annual Meeting

Again, if you are interested in being nominated or if you want to nominate someone for an open Board position, please contact me at GPLC@aol.com no later than September 30, 2003.

Last issue we introduced all the new board members but one: Theresa Andrews, ESL Program Division Co-director (along with Elaine Greene). Theresa has been teaching ESL for about 10 years and has worked with the Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council for three years. She currently runs a family literacy program for refugee families in a neighborhood outside of Pittsburgh. This involves teaching ESL and working to help families adjust to their new community. Theresa holds an M.A. in TESOL/Linguistics from West Virginia University. Before moving to Pittsburgh, she worked as an Academic Director for an Intensive English Program in Managua, Nicaragua.

Are you curious how your GED students are doing in comparison to the rest of the state? Or, possibly, how they compare to the rest of the country? This summer, you should be able to find out. There will be an emphasis on making data available to practitioners, through regional sessions and on the ABLE Web site (paadulted.org). For more information, please contact your PDC or Chuck Klinger at cklinger@tiu11.org or (717) 248-4942.

End-of-year-data. Summer Reading. Filling in for staff while they are on vacation. What happened to the lazy days of summer? You probably feel like they are gone. As programs and to do lists are in full swing, I encourage you to have fun this summer. I am sure that I am biased but I think that we in Family Literacy have the most enjoyable job in our field.

As you are planning and holding your summer reading activities with your local libraries I encourage you to invite your government representatives. This is the perfect time to spotlight your efforts and to remind your local officials of who you are and why they should support your program. And as always, don’t forget to share your experiences on the PAACE listserv.

I hope that you all have a wonderful summer. Don’t forget to take some time out for you and your family.

The National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy (NCSALL) recently released a publication entitled "Expanding Access to Adult Literacy with Online Distance Education," by Eunice N. Askov of Penn State’s Institute for the Study of Adult Literacy and Jerome Johnston, Leslie I. Petty, and Shannon J. Young of The University of Michigan.

The monograph examines the potential and feasibility of using online distance education (ODE) to meet the educational needs of adult learners and the factors that must be taken into account if ODE is to become widely used in adult education. In particular, the report takes a close look at use of PBS LiteracyLink’s first two online distance learning products: GED Connection and Workplace Essential Skills (WES). After exploring the ODE topic in general, the authors zero in on specific applications in the United States and Australia.

Pennsylvania has a starring role in the monograph as Chapter 3 describes the implementation and evaluation of the distance learning pilot program conducted here. An excerpt:

The chapter goes on to describe how the Bureau contracted with the Tuscarora Intermediate Unit (TIU) to manage the program and provide training and ongoing support to the pilot sites, and identifies the best practices learned over the course of the project.

Based on experiences in Pennsylvania and elsewhere, the authors conclude by identifying the salient issues involved in ODE implementation. They also provide a bibliography, list of ODE products, and outline of the ODE planning process.

The PDF file of "Expanding Access to Adult Literacy with Online Distance Education" can be downloaded for free from the NCSALL Web site at ncsall.gse.harvard.edu/research/op_askov.pdf and bound printed copies of the 109-page document can be purchased for $10 through the NCSALL Web site at ncsall.gse.harvard.edu or by calling (617) 482-9485.

Another recent release on the subject of distance education is "Planning and implementing distance learning programs," an article in Fieldnotes for ABLE Administrators, by Dehra Shafer. Dehra is a former PAACE president who led TIU’s online distance education pilot project as part of the ABLE-funded Distance Learning Project. Published exclusively online, the PDF file is available at www.able.state.pa.us/able/lib/able/fieldnotes03/fn03distance.pdf

Workforce Innovations is the nation's premier conference for America's successful workforce investment leaders, decision-makers and change agents. This is a unique conference opportunity to explore the links between workforce investment and economic development.

The Annual Conference on Distance Teaching and Learning is a forum for the exchange of information on distance education and training. The conference addresses the needs of educators, trainers, managers, and designers from throughout the world who are involved in the application of technology to the teaching and learning process and in the planning, administration and management of distance education.

EFF Center for Training and Technical Assistance in partnership with the State Education Office, District of Columbia present an orientation institute designed to introduce standards-based instruction and assessment in reading and math to teams from agencies or organizations that are considering implementing EFF or standards-based instruction and assessment in their organizations.

International Literacy Day has been celebrated every September 8 since 1965, when it was first established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Many organizations and governments throughout the world take advantage of the day to consider the status of adult and child literacy, note progress, and identify work still to be done.