Timely Topics: A Collection of Articles from Literacy Links

INTRODUCTION

The Texas Center for Adult Literacy & Learning (TCALL) was created in 1988 by the Board of Regents at Texas A&M University with the purpose of helping reduce the incidence of adult illiteracy in Texas. The purpose is being accomplished through a combination of externally funded projects and internally planned activities. Our three-year mission 2002-2005 is to better understand the relationship between literacy and poverty.

Our activities contribute to this mission by improving access to adult literacy, family literacy, and ESL programs and materials; creating new knowledge of the cultural, economic, and other structures bearing on literacy attainment and use; and supporting initiatives designed to address literacy as a poverty issue.

The functions of TCALL are (1) to develop an information network with other organizations engaged in adult and family literacy efforts. Information is shared with and acquired from local literacy programs, state and federal agencies, adult and family literacy education special projects, adult education research projects, and other sources; (2) to function as a regional resource center for the acquisition and dissemination of adult and family literacy information. Information available from TCALL includes current research findings related to adult literacy, reports of effective adult and family literacy instructional practices/programs, notices of funding sources and grant opportunities for literacy providers, calendars of professional development opportunities and other literacy related activities, and directories of agencies and personnel to contact for literacy related information; and (3) to develop collaborative research and program evaluation activities with appropriate interested organizations in Texas (needs assessments of adult and family literacy practitioners, program evaluations, and other research activities).

Information is disseminated through Literacy Links, a publication regularly featuring current adult literacy information including reports from literacy projects in Texas, funding sources, grant writing tips, current research findings, effective instructional practices, and free and inexpensive instructional resources; three major statewide email discussion groups for: adult education, administrators, teachers and family literacy practitioners; the Literacy Hotline, which provides a toll-free phone service to potential learners and volunteers seeking information about available literacy programs; a web site (http://www-tcall.tamu.edu) with current information such as calendars of events, directories, and funding opportunities; regional, state and national conferences; and technical assistance in response to specific program needs and requests.

Our current funded projects include The Texas Adult Literacy Clearinghouse; evaluation of several Even Start programs; technical assistance for the First Lady's Family Literacy Initiative for Texas; and maintenance of a directory of local adult and family literacy providers.

Our research activities include cultural responsiveness in family literacy; understanding the skill set of adult literacy administrators; examining the way adult literacy and ESL practitioners use research; and understanding how the issue of learning disabilities affects adult learners.

Previous projects have included Evaluation of the First Lady's Family Literacy Initiative for Texas; Evaluation of Adult Education for the Homeless in Texas; Directory of Adult Literacy Providers; Various Workplace Literacy projects; and Community Network Development Project.

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