Program Problem/Idea (the Context of

¶ … program problem/Idea (the context of the problem or idea). Adult illiteracy is a global problem with an extensive impact on the economy. The United States is now crawling out of an economic recession via the creation of new jobs in increasingly service-oriented sectors. The shift away from a base of heavy industry and low-skilled labor and toward jobs that demand communications skills signals a need to revisit the topic of adult literacy.

Moreover, the job market is woefully insecure and requires workers to amass broad and diverse skills sets instead of relying on areas of specialization. Literacy can be viewed as a ticket to upward social mobility, and it can also be presented as an essential survival skill. Literacy increases potential for career flexibility and insulates all Americans from job insecurity. Illiteracy is strongly correlated with poverty and a lack of economic opportunity. Therefore, increasing rates of adult literacy among America's poor communities will help those neighborhoods stimulate local economic growth.

The creation and stability of communications and service-oriented jobs, coupled with a more viable workforce in general, will help stimulate the American economy. Increasing adult literacy increases the value of the American labor market. 2.Description of the source of the problem (people, responsibilities and tasks, organization, community). Adult literacy programs are insufficiently aggressive, insufficiently funded, and insufficiently broad. Existing programs are scattered, lack focus, and decentralized. Educational techniques and practices are not standardized.

Several institutions and organizations including those in the private sector must step up to ensure the development of adequate adult literacy programs. To combat insufficient community resources, state and federal governments must invest in poor communities in which adult illiteracy poses the greatest problem. Approaching adult literacy as an economic imperative will encourage investment. With improved funding, adult literacy programs can become more extensive, and therefore more effective. 3.Description of the nature and extent of the problem (any documentation, literature, etc.).

The main organization currently examining the adult literacy problem is the National Center for Education Statistics. Statistics for adult literacy are also compiled on a state-by-state basis. For example, Portland State University offers a Web site for local and state literacy estimates. The URL is https://www.casas.org/lit/litcode/Results.CFM.Some states offer their own educational programs for stimulating adult literacy such as the Georgia Office for Adult Literacy, with their Web site located at http://www.dtae.org/adultlit/menu.html.

Thus, few centralized organizations exist to tackle the adult illiteracy problem. The organization SIL points out the major sociological and economic implications of adult illiteracy among impoverished communities, suggesting that adult literacy programs are essential for the growth of the American economy ("Issues in Literacy"). 4.Defined institutional and personal context for the program. The proposed program is an endeavor to create a federally recognized, federally-funded adult literacy program. The program will also create and maintain literacy standards and objectives, with a core part of the program being devoted to application.

One of the main objectives of any adult literacy program is to help stimulate personal growth and development. Moreover, an adult literacy program like this one will aim to stimulate job creation and boost local economies. Individuals participating in the program will be shown not only the mechanics of literacy but how those skills can increase their career flexibility and allow them to compete for jobs in an increasingly competitive global market.

5.Describe the target population: age, grade, reading level, attention span, occupation, previous work experience, motivation level, health, interests, socio-economic status, attitudes toward school or work, previous performance levels, language, ethnic/cultural background, gender. The target population includes anyone over the age of 17, whether or not they are citizens of the United States and whether or not they have high school diplomas. Special attention will be offered to critical and at-risk communities including high school dropouts in impoverished areas, new adult immigrants, and children of immigrants.

The poor will be especially served by this adult literacy program, which will not discriminate on the basis of gender or ethnicity. Participants in the adult literacy development program will also possess a wide range of pre-existing skills. 6.Identify learning-site constraints that could affect design and delivery. Learning site constraints that could affect program.