Adult Literacy

National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week Begins Today

/ The Old Crank / 1 Comment

I’m heading to Baltimore today to join Rep. John Sarbanes (D-MD) for an event at the South Baltimore Learning Center in recognition of National Adult Education and Family Literacy (AEFL) Week.

Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO) recently introduced, for the fifth year in a row, a House resolution designating the week of September 23-29, 2013 as AEFL Week. (Rep. Sarbanes is a supporter.) Meanwhile, in the Senate, for the third year in a row, Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) have introduced a bipartisan resolution that does the same.

Programs and state/local governments around the country have also passed resolutions recognizing AEFL week, and there will be events all week to recognize the work of adult and family literacy programs and students nationwide.

New Documentary from American RadioWorks: “Second Chance Diploma: Examining the GED”

/ The Old Crank

In case you missed it, American RadioWorks aired a radio documentary earlier this month on the GED, called “Second Chance Diploma: Examining the GED.” From the Minnesota Public radio website:

A new documentary from the American RadioWorks documentary unit explores the history and purpose of the General Educational Development diploma or GED. 39 million adults don’t have a high school diploma, but some researchers say passing the GED test won’t help you in college, the job market, or the military. The GED only tests cognitive skills, and those are not enough to make it in life. Hard-working people of good character find the lack of a GED is a barrier to many jobs they are well-equipped to handle.

You can listen to it here.

Health Literacy Problem “Poses a Challenge for the Success of the Affordable Care Act”

/ The Old Crank

According to the National Journal, the Congressional advisory committee on Medicare (MedPAC), is concerned that poor health literacy discourages patient involvement in treatment decisions and substantially increases the cost of Medicare.

The article also reminds us why health literacy should be of particular concern to President Obama in the coming months:

The health literacy problem also poses a challenge for the success of the Affordable Care Act. Once the exchanges open on Oct. 1, the millions of new patients added to the system in the coming years are expected to have high rates of health illiteracy, as many of them may not have had health insurance before.

As noted in the article, improving health literacy “is a stated priority for HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.”

The First Adult Charter School Opened in D.C. in 1998, Not Today

/ The Old Crank

(Updated Below)

From today’s POLITICO Morning Education:

FIRST ADULT CHARTER SCHOOL OPENS IN D.C. — The first adult charter school in Washington, D.C. to offer educational services and skills training opens today. The Community College Preparatory Academy teamed up with Pearson to help adults move from high school into postsecondary education and careers. The school plans to serve about 150 students in its first year and up to 300 students by its third year.

The news that D.C. is welcoming its first adult charter school today will certainly be of interest to these guys, who got their charter way back in 1998. Not a big deal, but it’s important to recognize that charters in D.C. have been serving adults for quite some time.

More on D.C. charters and adult education here.

UPDATE 9/18/13: Politico has clarified their story, noting that the Community College Preparatory Academy is the first charter school to offer adult education in Southeast D.C.

UPDATE 9/18/13 (2): Fixed link to the Carlos Rosario School.