A National Priority
According to the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE), intermediate adult readers make up the largest sector of adult learners. Over the past decade, OVAE has found that across the country, these intermediate adult learners often do not progress out of adult basic education (ABE) level classes into adult secondary education (ASE) classes or beyond.
OVAE began a national reading reform initiative, STudent Achievement in Reading (STAR), to provide training and resources on evidence-based reading instruction to states, teachers, and adult education programs. By promoting evidence-based practices for effective reading instruction, OVAE hopes that intermediate adult learners will not only acquire basic reading skills more quickly, but will also transition successfully into higher education or training.
Click here to view a video featuring Cheryl Keenan, Director of Adult Education and Literacy at OVAE, as she speaks at a meeting of STAR participants.
As you watch, listen to find out:
- Why Cheryl Keenan calls reading a gatekeeper skill
- What OVAE feels about reading instruction being integrated with job skill instruction
