Statewide Literacy Organizations in Texas
What ARE All These Statewide Organizations?
Particularly for newcomers, the field of adult and family literacy can seem like a minefield of acronyms. An acronym list is maintained by TCALL on the Texas LEARNS website, as part of the Adult Education Administrators’ Manual. You’ll also find that acronym page linked from several other major pages on the TCALL website.
Listed below are the names and descriptions of various voluntary and professional organizations in Texas that are related to adult education and family literacy – most of which are commonly referred to with acronyms.
Literacy Texas – This statewide organization of regional literacy coalitions, nonprofit and volunteer literacy providers serves programs through resources, training, networking and advocacy. Literacy Texas holds an annual conference each summer, usually in Austin. www.literacytexas.org
TALAE – Texas Association for Literacy and Adult Education is a voluntary professional association open to any person involved or interested in any facet of literacy and adult education, including family literacy. Since its inception in 1968, TALAE’s purposes have included professional growth of educators, the exchange of ideas and cooperation among literacy educators, and creating linkages with local, state, regional, and national organizations interested in literacy and adult education. TALAE also supports adult learners directly with its GED scholarship program and is planning to expand into scholarship awards to adult English language learners as well. The TALAE website is hosted by TCALL and linked from TCALL’s home page.
TCABE – Texas Council for Adult Basic Education is a voluntary membership organization engaged in advocacy around adult literacy issues as well as adult education leadership development. TCABE hosts an annual State Leadership Conference, usually in the fall. The TCABE organization does not have a website, but can be reached through its current President. Contact TCALL for that information.
TexTESOL – Texas Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages is an affiliate of TESOL, the international organization for Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages. TESOL’s mission is to develop and maintain professional expertise in English language teaching and learning for speakers of other languages worldwide. TexTESOL comprises five regional affiliates that host an annual state conference on a rotating basis. www.textesol.org
TFLO – Texas Family Literacy Organization (formerly called TESA - Texas Even Start Association) is a voluntary membership organization engaged in advocacy around family literacy issues as well as family literacy leadership development. http://tflo.org/
For more information on any of these organizations, email tcall@tamu.edu or call 800-441-READ (7323).
