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

Educational Programs That Work - 1995

BES Adult Literacy Project

BES Adult Literacy Project. A reading program that includes both instructional methods and a curriculum for functionally illiterate adults. Approved by JDRP for functionally illiterate adults in the nonreader or beginning reader category (i.e., those reading below the 4.0 reading level).

Description The BES Adult Literacy Project's instructional methods combine a problem-solving approach with a linguistic analysis of words, sounds, and sentences and a highly structured sequence of oral and written drills. Instruction is provided on an intensive basis over a twenty-week treatment cycle. All instruction is classroom-based and occurs within community centers and churches.

Students participating in the BES Adult Literacy Project have improved their reading skills to a statistically significant degree (p<.05>) as measured by the Tests of Adults Basic Education (TABE), based upon the results of longitudinal and cross-sectional studies conducted with several cohorts of students.

Staff Development:12 hours of intensive staff/teacher training is required by a BES teacher/trainer. Curriculum Materials: The BES curriculum is used during training and project implementation. The Curriculum Guide is packaged for dissemination. 10-12 hours of periodic visits are necessary to monitor trainees' development, model teaching methods, and to answer questions on implementation. Project staff is available to provide this ongoing support and technical assistance.

Costs for the program are approximately $183 per student per year initially, but are reduced to $110 per student in subsequent years. For adopters who already employ paraprofessional staff, the costs could be as low as $20 per student. Awareness materials are available at no cost. BES staff are available to conduct workshops and awareness presentations at the project site or elsewhere. Potential adopters are welcome to visit the Project by appointment.

Contact
Patricia Medina, BES Adult Literacy Project, 965 Longwood Avenue, Bronx, NY 10459. (212) 991-7310.

Developmental Funding: Out-of-School Basic Skills Improvement Program and Adult Basic Ed. Act, Section 310.
JDRP No. 85-4 (2/26/85)


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