ISSUES THAT ADULT BASIC EDUCATION (ABE) MANAGERS FACE WHEN PROVIDING ABE SERVICES FOR UNDEREDUCATED ADULTS WITHIN A SPECIFIC IMPACT AREA OF THE NORTH OMAHA COMMUNITY (NEBRASKA)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of the perceived adequacy of services provided for undereducated adults from the point of view of both the students and managers of human service agencies providing Adult Basic Education (ABE) within a Specific Impact Area (SIA) of the North Omaha Community. The focus of the study utilized the personal interview method of gathering data to research the purpose of the study and the research questions. The specific research questions examined were: (1) Are undereducated adults satisfied with the services they receive from ABE managers within the SIA and, if so, to what extent? (2) Are ABE managers satisfied with the services they provide for undereducated adult students within the SIA and, if so, to what extent? (3) Is there a difference in the two groups with respect to the perception of the quality of services offered? In exploring this question, it was hypothesized that there would be no significant difference between undereducated adult students and ABE managers. The findings of the study revealed that both groups were generally satisfied with the ABE services received and provided and that there was no difference in perception. Major conclusions of the study were that: (1) The SIA population surveyed was similar, in most respects, to the population described in the national survey conducted by Mezirow et al. and (2) in light of the services received/provided, the problems of the undereducated adult, and what has been done about it, both groups were generally satisfied but the problem of adult undereducation remains the same. General recommendations included: (1) further research concerning the study (e.g., identified problems in management), and (2) a follow-up exit survey program to provide feedback for program managers