A r c h i v e d I n f o r m a t i o n

Biennial Evaluation Report - FY 93-94

Chapter 415

State Literacy Resource Centers

(CFDA No. 84.254)

I. Program Profile

Legislation: Adult Education Act, P.L. 100-297, as amended by the National Literacy Act of 1991, P.L. 102-73 (20 U.S.C. 1208aa).

Purpose: To establish a network of centers that will: stimulate the coordination of literacy services; enhance the capacity of State and local organizations to provide literacy services; and serve as a reciprocal link between the National Institute for Literacy and service providers for the purpose of sharing information, data, research and expertise, and literacy resources.

Funding History

Fiscal Year	Appropriation
1992	$5,000,000
1993	7,856,640
1994	7,857,000

II. Program Information and Analysis

Population Targeting

The State Literacy Resource Centers Program is one of four new programs authorized by the National Literacy Act of 1991. This program provides grants to States to improve the capacity of literacy and service providers to serve the population of adults with less than a high school education. The Adult Education Act targets this population in its Grants to States Program.

Services

During FY 1992, the first funding year for the program, all 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico received grants to support literacy resource centers. Of these, 41 States are establishing centers or expanding existing ones. Seven States comprise the latter group. In addition, three regional centers, comprising a total of 11 States, are supporting efforts to develop regional services and resources on a collaborative basis.

Literacy Resource Centers program services are geared to the needs of State and local organizations in helping them to improve their capacity to provide and coordinate literacy services within the State. Center activities include:

improving teaching methods, technologies, and evaluations;
assisting public and private agencies in coordinating their literacy services;
encouraging partnerships with non-profit organizations and community-based organizations;
encouraging innovation in the delivery of literacy services;
providing technical assistance to State and local service providers;
assessing learning style, screening for learning disabilities, and providing individualized instruction; and
facilitating the training of full-time professional adult educators.

Program Administration

Grants for the support of State Literacy Resource Centers are made to the Governor of a State for a State resource center or to the Governors of a group of States for a regional literacy resource center. Governors, in turn, have designated other agencies or institutions to receive funds to support existing center operations. Sub-awards to support the establishment of new centers were contracted on a competitive basis with State or local agencies, organizations, or institutions.

Grant payments are based on criteria established under the Adult Education Act. The Federal share in each State's grant is: first 2 fiscal years, 80 percent; third and fourth fiscal years, 70 percent; and fifth and succeeding years, 60 percent.

III. Source of Information

Adult Education Act as amended by the National Literacy Act of 1991.
Program Regulations (34 CFR Parts 460,461, 464, etc.) Adult Education and Literacy Programs.

IV. Planned Studies

The Department has started a descriptive evaluation of the State literacy resource centers to describe the program, assess the States' initial implementation of it, and identify promising models. The contractor for this study is RTI (Research Triangle Institute).

V. Contacts for Further Information

Program Operations:: George Spicely, (202) 205-9720
Program Studies:: Daphne Hardcastle, (202) 401-1958

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[Adult Education--State-Administered English Literacy Grants]

[Adult Education - Funtional Literacy and Life Skills Program for State and Local Prisoners]