As readers of this blog know, we have been fighting against a proposed cut to Adult Education and Family Literacy. Yesterday, Tuesday May 11th, the DC Council Committee of the Whole with Chairman Vincent Gray met for a budget mark-up hearing. Some very good news came out of this hearing which was a recommendation to fully restore those funds to adult education. Below is from the report issued yesterday:
The Office of the State Superintendent of Education has proposed a significant reduction in the budget for adult literacy and family education for FY11. These funds support programs that assist District residents in improving literacy skills, earning a GED, training for new job opportunities and breaking the vicious cycle of illiteracy, unemployment and poverty. Nearly 30% of District residents are considered functionally illiterate. The long term implications of continued trends in illiteracy far outweigh the benefit of short term cost savings. As such, the Committee recommends full restoration of proposed reductions.
In light of this, we would like to greatly thank Council Chairman Vincent Gray and his committee for proposing this recommendation. If you would like to thank him, a sample email is below for you to edit as you wish along with his email address.
Dear Chairman Gray,
I would like to thank you for your support of Adult Education and Family Literacy in the District of Columbia. Many DC residents lack basic literacy skills, or the ability to conduct simple tasks such as filling out a job application or reading a newspaper written at an eighth-grade level, and adult education in the District is a vital part of safety net services that low-income people rely on to help them avoid crises. Many adult learners depend on programs to provide them with the skills they need such as reading forms and job applications to better their lives. Thank you for supporting these learners who are trying to improve their skills and those who are preparing for the GED exam, those who wish to get a High School Diploma and those who want to learn English as a Second Language. Your recommendation to fully restore funds to the programs that serve them will have a vital impact on the lives of these learners.
Chairman Vincent Gray’s email address:
vgray@dccouncil.us
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We need this funding and all the funding we can get to serve our adults with disabilities. I have seen so many adults accomplish their goals. Our adults already have so much against them; many have families to raise, they are unemployed, have been abused in the past. Many adults in DDS have little or no literacy skills, however the government would like to place all adults with disabilities in employment. Literacy is a vital key to the success of our adults. Please dont forget about our adults, especially those that are so eager to learn and create a better future for their families. Thank you.
Program Coordinator
Kennedy Institute of Catholic Charities DC
IF I CANT READ OR WRITE, HOW CAN I VOTE FOR YOU, OR HOW AM I ABLE TO LEAVE YOU THIS MESSAGE? THERE ARE MANY OUT HERE WHO WANT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS, BUT THEY CANT, BECAUSE THEY CANT READ OR WRITE THIS,…. OR ANY ARTICLE PERTAINING TO ADULT LITERACY. WE COULD SOLVE ALMOST ALL OF OUR GOVERNMENTS PROBLEMS IF WE COULD READ AND WRITE. DO YOU HEAR ME???
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