Is public funding shifting to serve higher level adult learners, away from basic adult literacy or basic ESOL/ESL services?

Hello Program Management Colleagues,

This article from Star News Online in North Carolina describes a funding decision, in this case federal funding that goes through a community college system, that has affected a literacy council that provides adult literacy and English language services, very likely at a basic level.  The article explains that the state system office recently changed their funding formula, and that this has resulted in several programs, in both community colleges and community-based organizations, losing their public funding. The article goes on to say that state statistics show that one-third of the adults in that community aged 16 and older “are functionally illiterate".

Recently I have noticed that programs in several states that offer basic adult literacy and ESOL/ESL services have lost their public funding. There could be many reasons for this, including their program performance or their proposal writing skills; however, I wonder if this is a, possibly unintended, consequence of legislation or public policy.

In your community, city, or state, are you seeing a pattern of public funding shifting to programs that serve higher level adult learners, those at the adult secondary education or transition to college levels, away from programs that serve those with basic adult literacy or basic ESOL/ESL needs?

David J. Rosen, Moderator

LINCS CoP Program Management group