Happy Springtime

Board Members:

          Bob Burger    - Chair
          Carol Didier  - Library/Bookstore
          Ellie Scholz  - Secretary
          Fram Nichols  - Placement
          Callie Marek  - Records
          Rose Cossairt - Bookkeeper

TOPICS IN THIS ISSUE ---------------------------- Message from the Chair A Little Politics Note from the field Placement Report Records Report Library Report Secretarial Report

In-Service Reminder Why CASAS? Abbreviations Dictionary Helpful Websites Stats & Meetings Tutor Bio's

Hello, Volunteers and Friends

   Did you know that on the second Saturday of each month we are holding tutor in-service meetings at our Royal Avenue office.  So what’s an in-service, you might ask.  It’s an opportunity to discuss tutoring methods, teaching materials, keeping records, and getting answers to any questions you might have.  We might also include a mini-seminar on tutoring techniques, understanding CASAS test results, or a topic suggested by one of you.  Snacks and beverages will be offered.  Here’s the schedule: 10 AM to noon on May 14th, June 11th, and July 9th.  See you there.

Bob Burger, Chairman

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   Funding for all adult literacy programs is in jeopardy.  According to ProLiteracy Worldwide, "The budget calls for a total of $200 million in adult basic and literacy education state grants, down from the $569.7 million requested.  Many programs serving adult learners would see their budgets slashed from 50% to 70% under the proposal; some programs could be forced to close their doors altogether."
   Bob Bickerton, Chair, National Council of State Directors of Adult Education, has an interesting article about the effectiveness and importance of adult literacy programs.  His article also includes two forceful arguments supporting the efficacy of adult education.  To read his article go to http:// www.oregonliteracy.org/publications/ litspeakarchive/litspeak_spring05.pdf

More on Funding

   Representative Mike Castle from Delaware, Representative George Miller from California, and Representative Raul M. Grijalva from Arizona have circulated a "Dear Colleague" letter to other members of the House of Representatives seeking to restore funding for state grants for adult basic education and literacy to the Fiscal 2006 budget.  The letter seeks to restore funding to $574 million.

Write a Letter

   Talking Points for Opposing the President’s Proposed Fiscal 2006 Budget

   Use the following talking points when you phone, e-mail, or fax a letter to your Senators and Representative.  Use as many or as few of the following points as seem appropriate to you, but be sure to state clearly that your purpose is to oppose the President’s proposed Fiscal 2006 budget.

• The U.S. Department of Education estimated in 1992 that between 40 and 44 million adults lack sufficient literacy skills to be successful as parents, workers, and members of their communities.
• In Oregon 15% of the population falls into this category.
• In Jackson County 15% of the population falls into this category.
• The federal and state funded adult education and literacy system in the United States gives 3 million adult literacy students the opportunity to acquire or improve their literacy skills.
• More than 52% of local communitybased literacy programs affiliated with ProLiteracy America receive funding under this program.
• More than 77% of ProLiteracy America affiliates report waiting lists.
• LCJC receives less than $2000 in federal funds and serves an average of 45 adult students each year.
• The President’s proposed fiscal 2006 budget reduces federal funding for adult basic education programs by 63%, from a current budget of $569.7 million to $200 million.
• In Oregon this may also mean an additional cut in state funding for adult basic education.
• Adult literacy programs are important in Jackson County because: [Insert the arguments that will most appeal to your elected representative].  Examples follow:

• Adult literacy programs are important in Jackson County because they help adults to obtain jobs and improve their economic selfreliance.
• Adult literacy programs are important in Jackson County because they help adults to participate in democracy and exercise their rights of citizenship.
• Adult literacy programs are important in Jackson County because they help adults to become better parents and participate in their children’s education.
• Adult literacy programs are important in Jackson County because they help adults to access timely and cost-effective health care.
• Adult literacy programs are important in Jackson County because they help immigrants to become contributing members of society.

• The title of the press release accompanying the budget is entitled "President’s FY 2006 Budget Focuses Resources on Students Who Need them the Most." But the budget proposal ignores the needs of dropouts and individuals with low levels of literacy that cannot access the K-12 system and have families who depend on them for support.  Among these under-educated and limited English proficient adults are tens of thousands of young adults who have just recently found themselves unable to meet new high standards for graduation.
• The President’s Budget Analysis indicates that adult education programs have "little or no evidence of effectiveness." In fact in 1998 Congress set performance indicators for adult education programs; each year the US Department of Education has negotiated performance levels on these indicators with the states and each year a vast majority of the states have met or exceeded these levels.
• The Office of Budget and Management rated programs based on measures that adult education does not use.  OMB established common measures for workforce programs, and then applied them to adult education programs.  Adult education programs do not have the legislative authority to collect data on some of the common measures established by OMB.  The result is that adult education programs are determined to have "little or no evidence of effectiveness" on measures about which they have no authority to collect data.
• 50,000 of the nation’s poorest and most at-risk families are receiving literacy services and support through Even Start funding.  In 1997, 41% of Even Start families had household incomes of less than $6,000.
• More than 42% of ProLiteracy America local affiliates provide family literacy services.
• Even Start parents read more to their children, have more books at home, and take their children to the library more often than before they participated in the program.
• Even Start parents are more informed about children’s development and age appropriate expectations.
• Even Start parents are more active in their children’s classroom, volunteer more, and talk more with teachers.
• Even Start parents take better care of their children’s medical and dental health.
• The cited evaluations supporting the President’s proposal to eliminate Even Start funding are based upon findings that occurred prior to the implementation of new legal requirements for stronger state accountability systems and a mandated increased emphasis on higher quality, research-based instruction to be implemented by the U.S. Department of Education.

Instructions for Contacting Your Representatives in the House:

1. Go to http://www.congress.org.
2. Enter your zip code in the light blue box and click [GO].
3. In some cases, your zip code may be split among more than one Member of Congress. If so, go to step 4.  If not, go to step 5.
4. Enter your nine-digit zip code and press [GO] or enter your street address in the box provided.
5. The Web site will provide the name of your Representative.
6. Below his/her picture, there is a link called "info." Click on it.
7. On this page, under "contact information," there will be the phone number and fax number for the Washington, D.C. office.
8. Phone, e-mail, or fax a letter to your Representative.  Typed or handwritten letters can be faxed.  Do not send a letter by regular mail.  Due to anthrax procedures, letters sent via regular mail will not be processed in time.
9. Register your action at http:// www.ncsdae.org/myweb/Campaign_700.htm.

from ProLiteracy Worldwide

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   The RCC library on the second floor of the new Medford library has small meeting rooms that Literacy tutors can use with their students.  Simply call the Reference Desk to reserve the room and then go there at the time assigned to find out which room to use.

Don Michalak

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   We currently have 9 ABE students on the wait list.  They live in the following areas:

Medford ........................................4*
Jacksonville .................................. 1
White City - DOM .............................. 1
Talent ........................................ 1
Shady Cove .................................... 1
Gold Hill ..................................... 1

* one of these is a young man who lives in Rogue River but works in Medford and could be tutored in the evenings at the Medford Library.

Fram Nichols, Placement

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   We are down substantially on students this report as Ed Dellaquila no longer tutors, so we lost all his students - well, actually, they either reached their goal or left the program.

Callie Marek, Recorder

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   The Literacy Council Library contains 1501 books.  As of this writing, 186 are checked out, and another 36 are "missing." (The missing books are books recorded as of the last inventory that are neither on the shelves nor in the "check out" box.) This leaves 1315 books that are available to you and your students.
   The library is now catalogued on our computer, so that I can better keep track of the inventory.  From time to time I will be sending out a reminder to those who have books checked out.  Books may be checked out for one month - and should be renewed in person or by phone if you wish to keep the book longer.
   You might be surprised by the following statistics for checked out books:

Less than one month .............................. 0
1 - 3 months ......................................2
4 - 6 months .................................... 10
7 - 12 months .................................... 9
More than a year ............................... 165

Carol Didier, Librarian

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   Minutes written up by the secretary are filed at the Literacy Council headquarters on Royal Street.  Copies are sent to all Board members.
   It is helpful to keep Board members current on what is taking place in case they are unable to be present at the monthly meeting.

Ellie Scholz, Secretary

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   Did you know that on the second Saturday of each month the Literacy Council is hosting an open forum for tutors to discuss techniques and issues?  Each session begins at 10 A.M. and ends at noon at our office - 1175 Royal Ave., Suite B.  Attendance is not mandatory, but it would be good if you could attend once in awhile.  Limited snacks available.

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   Many tutors, and students, question the reasons for the pre- and post-testing that have recently been implemented by the Council’s board.  Tutors often feel giving the post-test takes away from valuable teaching time and students worry they will be "disqualified" from the program if their scores aren’t "good enough" on the pretest.
   A little history - 25 years ago CASAS was started in California in answer to the question - How could the state adequately find out what was happening in the field when all the available tests were academic, but adult ESL programs were teaching life skills?
   In the ensuing 25 years, CASAS has become known around the world as the Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment System.  Not only have they developed the lifeskills tests you are becoming familiar with, but also special tests for measuring employability readiness and skills; measuring the growth of students with special needs; citizenship preparedness and high school level test.  All of their tests focus on the functional application of basic skills in specific employment or life skills contexts.  Today, CASAS is the only adult assessment system of its kind to be approved and validated by the US Department of Education in the area of adult literacy.
   But, why do WE test.  There are 2 reasons for the Literacy Council to test:

1. Pretests are used to help match the student with materials and lessons that are at the correct difficulty level and are relevant to the student’s needs.

2. Post-tests measure and document learner improvement in English literacy, reading, writing, listening, speaking, problem solving and math on a common national reporting scale.  Students and tutors often do not realize the progress students have made unless there is concrete proof - earning a driving license, getting a better job, or raising a CASAS score.

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Number of Students ....................... 19
Hours tutored ............................ 87.6
Number of Volunteers ..................... 25
                       18 tutors
                        7 administrative
Hours tutored .............................62.9
Prep time ................................ 21.9
Travel time .............................. 32.4
Miscellaneous time ....................... 59.2

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   I was born in Milwaukee, met my husband, Harvey, at Wisconsin State U, Stevens Point.  Have two wonderful sons, and three special grandsons- the best part is, they all live here in the area.

   I have worked at the Library (Children’s Dept), and was on staff at the Jacksonville Museum.  Both jobs were ended by budget cuts.  As a volunteer, I spent 16 years as a library aide at Sacred Heart School, and still help at Hanley Farm and other Southern Oregon Historical Society events.

   Also, I am very active in Family and Community Education (formerly known as Extension), and am a member of the County Council, the Alumnae Assoc., and my Study Group.  I became a Master Gardener in 1988.  We grow a large vegetable, herb, and fruit garden.

   For years, I’ve been trying to learn Spanish, and have taken four terms at RCC. I have always been an avid reader, and could not imagine not being able to read!

   For a long time I thought about Literacy before I finally committed to it.  It has not really been what I expected; tho I hope I’ve helped the three students to some extent.  It has been quite a learning experience for me, as well.

Liz Koester

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