PUB DATE 2001-00-00

This study identifies the population in need of adult education, how to attract learners, the need to promote English-as-a-Second Language (ESL) instruction, how to target the state's responsibilities, and the overall U.S. economic need to eliminate adult illiteracy. Research indicates that between 20 and 30 million American adults are seriously handicapped in their work and everyday lives by not having basic literacy skills. Furthermore: (1) 99W of all workers need to read in order to accomplish their job tasks; (2) one out of three mothers on welfare is unable to read; (3) people with fewer than six years of schooling are four times more likely to end up on welfare than those with at least nine years of schooling; and (4) 60 million American adults do not have high school diplomas. Federal- and state-funded programs in adult literacy attract only 8W of the illiterate population, and 20W of those do not attend classes. This paper concludes that the more than 1,700 community colleges in the U.S. are excellent venues to promote literacy education. State and federal agencies must cooperate with community colleges to develop the financial structure required to educate the illiterate population. (KP) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document