Hrd 849 441 Cooper, D Evaluation April 09

Accessing Funder Expectations: Accessing Funder Expectations: Greenville Literacy Association’s Adult Basic Greenville Literacy Association’s Adult Basic Education/Education/Pre- General Education Development ProgramPre- General Education Development Program

Prepared By: Deborah CooperGraduate Student

Submitted to: Dr. Stephen Bronack, ProfessorClemson University, Masters Human Resource DevelopmentSubmitted in partial fulfillment for the requirements of MHRD 849/441

Evaluation PurposeEvaluation Purpose

Analysis of:1. Documents2. Processes3. OutcomesMain Goal: Determine eligibility for grant funding of theGreenville Literacy Association’s Adult Basic Education(ABE)/ Pre- General Education Development (GED) Program

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Funder Expectations

Program compliance: National standards and South Carolina (S.C.) mandates Administration capacity Demographics served Community need Stewardship Outcome measures


Grantor Profile

Community Foundation of Greenville, Inc. Local philanthropic Foundation Committed to the responsible allocation of grant making funds Over the last decade has distribute over $40 million in charitable grants to civic organizations and charitable causes Funded programs must have direct relevance and impact on the Greenville County community


Requesting Organization:

Greenville Literacy Association, Inc. Community-based, 501 (c) 3 nonprofit Located in Greenville, S.C. Governance: Board of Directors Adult education programs: ABE / Pre-GED and English as a Second Language(ESL) Operates 6 learning facilities in Greenville County


Research MethodologyThree instruments utilized:1) Content analysisa. Organization documents: annual reports, student/program data, program materialsb. National & state standards and mandates2) Interviewsa. Executive Directorb. ABE Program Managerc. Instructor3) Observationa. Learning/classroom activitiesb. Facility resourcesc. Intake procedures


Adult Literacy?

Ability to read, write, and speak in English Compute and solve problems at levels of

proficiency necessary to function on the job and in society, to achieve one’s goals, and develop one’s knowledge and potential


Adult Basic Education (ABE) Learners are:

Not enrolled in secondary school Lack sufficient mastery of basic skills required to function in society Lack a high school diploma Lack basic English skills.


Adult Literacy Facts

14.5 % of the U.S. adults lack adequate levels of literacy proficiency15 % of U.S. adults are without a high school diploma/GED and remain below the basic literacy skill level needed to participate in the workforce 15 % of adults in South Carolina lack a High School Diploma


Literacy in Greenville County

20 % of adults, over 25 years of age, are at level 1 literacy (at or below the fifth grade level) 13.6 % of adults in lack a high school diploma 6.9 % have fewer than nine years of education

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Adult Basic Education (ABE)

Design specifically for improving basic skills of reading, writing, and mathematical computation

Prepares students for entry into GED classes Improves employability Almost 75,000 adults throughout the state

participate in adult education programs

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Data InterpretationFoundation for Analysis of ABE Program U.S. Dept. of Education/Office of Vocational & Adult

education sets national standards & benchmarks S.C. Department of Adult Education sets mandates

and comprehensive guidelines S.C. Department of Adult Education ABE

Assessment PolicyCooper, D - HRD/849-441 12

GLA – ABE Student Demographic Data Jan 2005 – June 2008

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61 % BETWEEN AGE 25 - 5961 % BETWEEN AGE 25 - 59

56 % OF THE STUDENTS AT INTAKE HAD A 56 % OF THE STUDENTS AT INTAKE HAD A FUNCTIONING LEVEL OF 9 - 11YEARS OF FUNCTIONING LEVEL OF 9 - 11YEARS OF EDUCATIONEDUCATION

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COMMUNITY BASED COMMUNITY BASED ABE/PRE-GED PROGRAMS IN SOUTH CAROLINAABE/PRE-GED PROGRAMS IN SOUTH CAROLINA

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DATA CONSISTENCY

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High Degree Information acquired through Interviews was compatible with documented informationObservations were consistent with interviews and documentation

Research Research ConclusionsConclusionsGLA…. Follows National standards Utilizes state measures, practices and procedures mandates Utilizes a systematic student intake process and assessment Pre and post testing: Tests of Adult Basic Education (TABE) LACES Literacy Pro System for data collection and reporting Largest Community-Based literacy program in South Carolina

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LIMITATIONS OF STUDY

Summative Approach

No assumptions or recommendations for program

changes or improvements are made

Demographic data was generalized

Demographic data was assumed accurate

Opinions expressed are those of the author and do

not reflect those of the Community Foundation

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Comments & Comments & RecommendationsRecommendations

ABE Program is important to the community GLA’s ABE-Pre GED Program meets funder expectation GLA’s grant request warrants consideration Recommending full funding

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REFERENCESREFERENCES Greenville Literacy Association (2007, July 1 – 2008, June 30). Annual Report.

Greenville Literacy Association (2006, July 1 – 2007, June 30). Annual Report.

Greenville Literacy Association (2005, January 1 – 2006, June). Annual Report.

Literacy Pro Systems, Inc. (n.d.). LACES. Retrieved March 14, 2009 form http://www.literacypro.com/

National Center of Education Statistics (2009). Three Types of Literacy. Retrieved March 14, 2009 from http://nces.ed.gov/NAAL/literacytypes.asp

National Institute of Literacy (2009). Adults with Basic and Below Basic Literacy Levels:Findings from NAAL and Implications for Practice [webcast]. Retrieved April 04, 2009 from http://www.nifl.gov/nifl/webcasts/NAALfindings/webcast081506.html

National Institute for Literacy (2003). Fact Sheet Overview. Retrieved April 04, 2009 from http://www.nifl.gov/nifl/facts/facts_overview.html

National Institute for Literacy. (2008, February 14). Frequently Asked Questions: What is Literacy. Retrieved March 14, 2009 from http://www.nifl.gov/nifl/faqs.html#literacy

South Carolina Department of Education (2008). Adult Basic Education. Retrieved April 04, 2009 from http://ed.sc.gov/agency/Standards-and-Learning/Adult-Education/old/ace/AdultBasicEducation.html

South Carolina Department of Education (2009, January). National adult literacy survey shows big improvements from 1992 to 2003. Retrieved April 04, 2009 from http://ed.sc.gov/news/more.cfm?articleID=1111

South Carolina Department of Education Office of Adult Education. (2007-2008) Fast Facts Adult Education in South Carolina.

South Carolina Department of Education Office of Adult Education. (2008-2009). Adult Education Assessment Policy.

Tenenbaum, I. M. (2004, July 1 – 2006, June 30). S. C. State Plan for Adult Education and Family Literacy.

The National Reporting System. (2007, June). Implementation Guidelines: Measures and Methods for the National Reporting System for Adult Education. Retrieved March 14, 2009 from http://www.nrsweb.org/docs/ImplementationGuidelines.pdf

Thomas, J. (personal communication, April 4, 2009).

Trident Literacy Association website. (2009). Retrieved April 04, 2009 from http://www.tridentlit.org/

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Hrd 849 441 Cooper, D Evaluation April 09

Education

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