Business Rountable on Literacy: Summary

Background

On December 4, 2006, the Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration and the Department of Education, Office of Vocational and Adult Education sponsored a Business Roundtable on Literacy. The goal of the forum was to engage employers to help identify literacy challenges facing their workforce, current effective strategies in place to address these challenges, and finally to strategize on a public platform to ensure businesses have a literate and educated workforce.

Employers in attendance included CVS, Dollar General Stores, H-E-B Grocery Market, Gaylord Texan Hotel, HCA, Johns Hopkins Health System, Homebuilders Institute, Connecticut’s Financial and Insurance Cluster, National Retail Federation Foundation, Retention Education, and Manpower.

There were several federal agencies represented including Assistant Secretary Emily Stover DeRocco from the Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration; Assistant Secretary Troy Justesen from the Department of Education, Office of Vocational and Adult Education, Assistant Secretary Albert Frink from the Department of Commerce, Office of Manufacturing Services, and Laura Patching, Chief of Citizenship within the United States Customs Immigration and Citizenship Office at the Department of Homeland Security. Additional leadership and federal staff from these agencies were in attendance as well.

The Roundtable

After an informative presentation on the results of the 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy and its implications on the workforce, the employers broke into groups with federal staff to discuss existing programs within their workplace, existing programs within their communities, and gaps in services and programs. This provided the businesses with an opportunity to discuss effective literacy training programs and what was needed to make an impact on their workforce and communities. The break out sessions also allowed for businesses to gain additional knowledge from each other as well as federal staff present.

Some notable outcomes from the groups’ report out sessions included:

Existing Programs

Most employers in attendance invested in some type of literacy program for employees both on the job and off-site. Many employers also pay their employees for the training or reimburse for testing fees.

Other relevant perceptions/observations from employers regarding effective programs include:

• It is more effective to combine literacy and occupational skills training programs.
• Obtaining a GED is an incentive to getting individuals involved in literacy programs.
• Work puts the “finishing touches” on education.

Gaps in Services

The employers identified the following gaps in services including:

• There is a disconnect between the K-12 system and the adult education system.
• Disconnection/competition/duplication among non-profits for services, participants and financial resources. 
• Equipping general managers to dealing with literacy issues.
• Keeping businesses informed about tools and resources through a clearinghouse of knowledge and resources related to literacy.
• Lack of information on value (return on investment) in literacy programs for employers and learners.
• Getting effective programs to scale to impact more people in need of services
• Need for different/innovative learning strategies.
• Common nationwide adult literacy assessment and the ability to show positive outcomes.
• Tax incentives or additional funding opportunities for employers to underwrite workplace literacy programs.
• Business outreach to organizations for workplace literacy/ESL assistance.
• Improved mechanisms to identify and connect to immigration populations.
• Creating career paths and opportunities for lifelong learning for incumbent workers.
• Making high-growth industries attractive to youth and their parents.

Policy Recommendations

After reporting out on their group’s findings, the employers identified the following policy recommendations.

1. Develop an action agenda that would answer the following questions:

• What are current literacy demands in the workplace? How do they vary across the high-growth industries?
• Who are the populations with low basic literacy skills?
• What non-profits are working on literacy and how can we coordinate?
• How different are intended outcomes of the various efforts
• What are the benefits to doing literacy programs in the workplace versus providing training elsewhere? Are there literacy gains?
• What are successful program models for specific populations with different needs?
• What assets/resources exist to serve individuals with low basic skills?

2. Align and leverage resources to help build capacity and bring successful literacy efforts to scale.

• Explore financing mechanisms and how to effectively coordinate at the state and local level.

3. Develop a place for employers to go to learn how to address their literacy needs.

• Establish a clearinghouse for knowledge, resources, and access to tools for employers to use.

4. Develop a social marketing campaign to promote more awareness around the literacy challenges facing the U.S.

• Increase coordination among federal agencies such as the Department of Labor and the Department of Education. Coordinate with employers, non-profits, American Library Association, Chambers of Commerce, and other stakeholders to promote awareness.

5. Explore the use of tax credits and incentives for learners and employers.

6. Business should explore:


• Where and how to talk about literacy challenges and needs.
• How to articulate business’ interest and needs in regards to literacy.
• Increased partnerships with other businesses, government, education institutions, and non-profits.

7. Explore placing teachers in real world industries to keep them engaged in the needs of the workplace.

Next Steps

• Take outcomes from the roundtable and inform the Interagency Group.
• Prioritize an action agenda on literacy for 2007.
• Continue engaging employers around this issue.
• Take names of employers to participate on advisory committee for workplace literacy component of the next NAAL.

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