National Coalition for Literacy Health Literacy Forum Adult Education Overview Lennox L. McLendon 1

Comprehensive English, reading, math, science, social studies Adults functioning on twelve grade levels With family, work, and community responsibilities Half of whom are learning disabled Customizing the content (reading, math English) to student needs and societal goals 2

How are we doing? The US Department of Education funds 96 education programs Only Four of those programs are rated Effective by the Office of Management and Budget Adult Education is one of those four programs 3

Edna 4

Loretta 5

Richard 6

Villas 7

Cheryl and Bobby 8

Roberto 9

Customizing Learning Student Goals: helping children, being their first teacher, learning English and Citizenship, maintaining employment, independent living, reading and math skills 10

Skills and Context Skills – Root words, prefixes and suffixes – Reading comprehension – Four function mathematics Contexts – Student Goals – Student Needs Health literacy Civic involvement 11

Adult Education Everything to everybody Anything for anybody 12

Foundation Education Reform (No Child Left Behind) Welfare reform Job training Economic development/global competitiveness Non-recidivism Homeland security Public health 13

Customizing Learning Student Goals: helping children with homework, learning English and Citizenship, maintaining employment, independent living, reading skills Managing Community Resources: public health, mental health, job training, social services, 14

The Need 205 Million adults in the US 93 Million have Basic or Below Basic Literacy Skills (National Assessment of Adult Literacy, 2005) 45% of adults in the country – 36 Million have not finished high school – 57 Million have finished high school but have limitations with reading, math and/or English skills 3 Millionthe number adult ed can serve a year. – Waiting lists in 40 of 43 states reporting 15

Health Literacy: Working Together Adult Education – Health Literacy materials, curriculum and professional development Health Community – Training for health care providers regarding serving adults with limited literacy ??How pervasive is either?? 16

We can help each other 46% of adults cannot read and follow medical instructions (AMA Foundation) – Can we connect adult education state offices with state medical associations? – Can adult educators help promote public health initiativesstate and federal? – Can health professionals help promote expanding adult education servicesstate and federal? What other strategies can we create to enable 46% of adults to read and follow medical instructions 17

Quit worrying about your health. It'll go away." - Robert Orben.Robert Orben 18

Lennox McLendon National Council of State Directors of Adult Education