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Literacy
Summit Calls for Learner Leadership
(Posted October, 2000)
In September 2000, leaders in the U.S. adult education community met in Washington, D.C. at the National Literacy Summit 2000. This was the latest in a series of meetings held around the country. VALUE members — including several members of our board — participated actively in these meetings.
The purpose was to prepare a final version of a national "action agenda." This agenda describes what we need to do to build a "system of high quality adult literacy, language, and lifelong learning services in every community." (For a copy, go to the National Institute for Literacy web site <www.nifl.gov> or call 1-202-233-2025.)
The Summit paper places a high priority on "student involvement." The paper says:
"As the field’s primary stakeholders and customers, students must participate meaningfully in every aspect of the system that exists to serve them."
The paper outlines actions that should be taken to enable adult learners to participate effectively:
Action 1: Require that programs have a climate and culture that encourage student involvement, as well as a continuum of student-driven activities and provisions for student participation in planning and evaluation.
Action 2: Provide for student leadership by offering appropriate training, establishing a student advisory board that includes current and former students, and including at least one student on the board of directors of all programs.
Action 3: Involve former students in program implementation as volunteers and as paid instructional and support staff, including recruiters and mentors.
Action 4: Provide adequate support for a national student organization such as VALUE, as well as for state and local chapters of such a group.
Action 5: Create a national student speakers’ bureau.
Action 6: Encourage all states to adopt an Adult Education Bill of Rights similar to Rhode Island’s legislation, which delineates the ways adult students are assured appropriate services, as well as voice, access, and involvement in all matters relating to their education.
VALUE is pleased that the Literacy Summit has shown such support for learner leadership. This will encourage us as we . . .
. . . plan our next national Adult Learner Leadership Institute;
. . . run learner leadership workshops around the country;
. . . create leadership training modules for others to use;
. . . use our web site to share information about student leadership activities;
. . . advocate for adult learners and adult education.
We are now conducting a membership campaign and fundraising drive to get the members and resources we need to do this work. We are moving ahead to act on the national agenda of the Literacy Summit. We hope you will join us.
Revised 9/29/00