Newswise — The National Commission on Adult Literacy will release a report Thursday on the crisis and solutions for adult education and workforce preparation. "Reach Higher, America" will serve as a domestic "Marshall Plan" for policy-makers, business leaders, educators and philanthropists.
Commission member Sharon Darling -- who is president & founder of the National Center for Family Literacy -- is available to provide additional insights on the findings. She will speak at the event, which will be held at 10:30 a.m. at the U.S. Capitol, Room HC-8.
The recommendations come at a critical time. A global, high-tech economy is replacing heavy manufacturing while more than 34 million U.S. adults have such low literacy skills that they have trouble filling out a job application, reading a newspaper or deciphering doctors' instructions. In addition, about 88 million adults in the workforce have one or more educational barriers, including a lack of English skills, that block their access to postsecondary study and job training -- both known to be requisite for middle-level and emerging jobs in the 21st century economy. They are not prepared for an old economy job much less a 21st century job that pays a family-sustaining wage.
In turn, millions of children are adversely affected in their own academic pursuits. Past studies have shown that parents are one of the strongest indicators of their children's educational success.
The report will be available Thursday at http://www.nationalcommissiononadultliteracy.org.
Darling conducts dozens of local, regional and national media interviews each year. In addition, she has been featured on the Arts & Entertainment television network's series, "Biography."
As a teacher, administrator and educational entrepreneur, Darling has challenged the status quo and developing new methods of educating families. She serves as an adviser on education issues to governors, policy-makers, business leaders and foundations throughout the nation.
Darling's many awards and recognitions include: the 2001 National Humanities Medal awarded by the President and Mrs. Bush; 2000 Razor Walker Award from the University of North Carolina for her contributions to the lives of children and youth; Woman of Distinction Award, Birmingham Southern University, 1999; and the Albert Schweitzer Prize for Humanitarianism, Johns Hopkins University, 1998.
The National Center for Family Literacy, the worldwide leader in family literacy, has raised more than $115 million for literacy efforts since its founding in 1989. More than 1 million families have made positive educational and economic gains as a result of NCFL's work, which includes training more than 150,000 teachers and thousands of volunteers. For more information, contact 1-877-FAMLIT-1 or visit http://www.famlit.org.
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