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TAALC Texas Literacy
2007 Summary
2007 has been an important year for
TAALC as it continues to develop the role of the
organization captured in the mission statement “TAALC
connects and equips nonprofit literacy programs that serve
adults in Texas” while serving an increasing number of
literacy programs and practitioners.
TAALC strongly values its relationships
with its literacy partners. Texas LEARNS, the Texas Adult
Education and Family Literacy Partnership, has provided the
operating budget of funds for professional development to
benefit nonprofit programs statewide. The Texas Center for
Adult Literacy and Learning (TCALL) continues to provide
critical support for professional development programs, as a
fiscal agent and as a source for communications and
networking platforms. ProLiteracy, America’s largest
literacy network, held a regional workshop in Pearland on
May 10 and 11. Since 2005 TAALC has worked with literacy
programs to guide them through the organizational changes
required for ProLiteracy Accreditation.
Literacy Day at the State Capitol in
Austin took place on February 22, during the Texas
Legislative Session. TAALC collaborated with the Literacy
Coalition of Central Texas to brief adult learners and
literacy advocates prior to visiting the offices of State
Representatives and Senators. Simultaneously the TALAE
(Texas Association for Literacy and Adult Education) annual
conference was attended by many TAALC members.
On April 19 and 20 the TAALC Board met
for a retreat in Pearland, just south of Houston. On the 19th
Ronnie Haggerty of the United Way led the group in an
exercise to update the Strategic Plan. On the 20th
Kim Olsen of El Paso Energy gave insight into effective
advocacy and lobbying efforts for Texas Literacy.
The Texas Education Agency presented
new Standards for Adult Education at a conference in Austin
held June 24 through 26. Thanks to the provision of funds
from Texas LEARNS, TAALC was able to provide reimbursement
funds for eight literacy programs to attend. Earlier in
June, from the 14 though 16, the Conference for
Internationals and Literacy Ministries took place at Baylor
University in Waco. Thirteen participants received
reimbursement funds from TAALC.
The 6th annual TAALC
Conference in Austin on August 6 and 7, chaired by Lucia
Street, was a success. Nearly 200 participants benefited
from participating in workshops on many subjects including
health literacy, GED preparation, civic participation, and
business support for literacy. TAALC awarded reimbursements
of costs to nearly fifty-five programs, with many bringing
more than four staff members. The 2008 conference will take
place on August 4 and 5.
An inaugural Membership Survey was
conducted during the summer, which collected information on
five areas – Organizational Profile, Waiting List, Training,
TAALC’s Role, and Membership. With nearly sixty
participants responding, TAALC received feedback from
programs of broad ranges in numbers of students served and
courses offered. English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL)
programs surpass Adult Basic Education (ABE) in number of
classes offered. TAALC Members would like to continue to
learn best methods for teaching as well as receive guidance
for growing their literacy programs.
Since the 1960s UNESCO (United Nations
Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) has
designated September 8 as International Literacy Day. On
September 14 TAALC held a literacy briefing at Sisters of
Charity of the Incarnate Word in Houston. On September 15,
TAALC sponsored the Tutor Training Symposium led by Literacy
Advance of Houston. TAALC plans to replicate these regional
literacy forums statewide. As most of TAALC’s membership
comes from the eastern half of Texas, TAALC aims to involve
a greater number of literacy programs from West Texas.
Plans are underway for a regional forum in Lubbock to take
place in 2008.
Literacy programs statewide are
strengthened by TAALC’s work in Training, Resources,
Advocacy, and Networking.
Training: TAALC’s Annual
Conference, Training of Trainers, and Bridges to Practice
programs continue to provide valuable information to
literacy educators.
Resources: TAALC is a source of
information sharing and professional development resources,
as well as a grantor of funds to reimburse professional
development training.
Advocacy: TAALC’s Advocacy
Committee is collaborating with others to strengthen
literacy and implement a Statewide Plan for the 2009
Legislative Session
Networking: This year TAALC
inaugurated a newsletter, to be issued quarterly.
As TAALC continues to grow in
connecting and strengthening nonprofit literacy programs in
Texas, it seeks new partners from the public, private, and
nonprofit sectors as well as dedicated individuals. The
need is great as literacy programs in Texas serve
approximately 3.6% of the 3.8 million in need of adult basic
education services (Texas LEARNS, April 2005). The
membership of 200 literacy programs plans to grow as
additional community based organizations, educational and
health institutions, faith-based organizations, and
organizations from particular ethnic and social, workforce,
and economic development sectors come together in
strengthening the progress to make Texas literate.
Beverly Barrett
Program Director
November 2007 |
