FLAGS - Family Literacy Alliance of Greater Syracuse

New Expectations for a New Century: The Adult Education Imperative is a presentation by Cheryl Keenan, Director, Division of Adult Education and Literacy, Office of Vocational and Adult Education, U.S. Department of Education. She gave the Keynote Speech at the Commission of Adult Basic Education Conference, Anaheim, CA on May 5, 2005. For more information on COABE, go to COABE | Commission on Adult Basic Education.

From the Family Literacy Alliance –

Launch of Adult Education Content Standards Warehouse
The US Department of ED, Office of Vocational and Adult Education has announced the launching of the Adult Education Content Standards Warehouse. The American Institutes for Research (AIR) through a contract with the United States Department of Education operates the warehouse, a key feature of a National Leadership activity funded under the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act. The warehouse is located at: <http://www.adultedcontentstandards.org>.

Information gathered though the warehouse is designed to help states progress in their development and alignment of content standards and plan for curriculum and professional development to implement standards-based education. Visitors to the warehouse will see a representative range of state content standards as well as nationally developed standards in the areas of English language acquisition (ELA), reading, and mathematics. The Web site lets you download an entire standards document, search across multiple standards for specific skills and knowledge, take a guided tour to see how the site can help in writing standards, and read about each standards document submitted for posting (for example).

Also visit the warehouse for information about the other activities funded under this contract to promote program improvement through the adoption of state content standards. Fourteen states have been working, since October 2004, in two collaborative groups around the development and alignment of content standards for ELA and adult basic education programs. And AIR is producing a "how-to" guide for establishing standards-based adult education. The guide will be posted on the warehouse, later this summer.

From Reading Rockets –

Opinion: When Preschoolers Get Expelled, Not Just Kids Need Correcting
The Christian Science Monitor
Why are preschoolers being expelled at such a high rate? Maybe the problem is not one of out-of-control children or poorly prepared teachers; maybe the problem is the way preschools are currently structured. The recent focus on meeting academic standards at the preschool level – a focus that now overshadows the development of social and emotional skills – is like building a house without a foundation.

Staples Foundation for Learning
The Staples Foundation for Learning considers educational funding to be an investment in the future of communities. Their goal is to help local groups with programs and services that will positively impact their communities every day. The foundation focuses their work on supporting programs that provide job skills and/or education to all people, with a special emphasis on disadvantaged youth. Most grants awarded by the Foundation are in the $5,000-$25,000 range. To be eligible for funding, an organization must be a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization whose goals align with the Staples Foundation for Learning’s mission. Applications for the current cycle of funding choices are due by June 28, 2005 and can be submitted online. Visit the link above for additional information on eligibility and restrictions, and to begin the application process.

MAZDA FOUNDATION
The Mazda Foundation awards grants to several types of organizations, including those that promote education and literacy. Deadline for 2005 grant applications: July 1, 2005

Prisoner Re-entry Initiative Revised Full Announcement 2
DOL/Employment Training Administration
Office of Grants and Contract Management Workforce Investment Act Demonstration Grants; Solicitation for Grant Applications
Deadline: July 13, 2005
(After clicking on the link, scroll to the bottom to find the most up-to-date information.)

Palmer Foundation Grants Empower Young People Ages 0 to 25
The Palmer Foundation seeks to empower young people to reach their potential to become responsible contributors to their families and communities. The Foundation provides grants to domestic and international programs that empower young people ages 0 to 25. Priority is given to applicants that and clearly avoid duplication of existing services and demonstrate a level of cooperation with other organizations. The next deadline for letters of intent, which must be submitted online, is July 31, 2005. Visit the link above for more information.

The WHO Foundation 2005 Grants for Grassroots Charities Serving Women and Children
The Women Helping Others (WHO) Foundation nationally supports grass-roots charities serving the overlooked needs of women and children. The Foundation’s priority areas are in health, education, and social services. The Foundation recognizes the value of new programs created to respond to changing needs and will consider funding projects of an original or pioneering nature within an existing organization.

Eligible applicants are nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) non-profit status and are able to receive deductible charitable contributions. Organizations must have been incorporated for a minimum of three years prior to application. Preference will be given to organizations with an operating budget of $2 million or less, those not dependent upon government grants, and those with greater organizational program costs than personnel costs.
Deadline: September 13, 2005

The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy
The 2006 National Grant Competition applications will be released in June of 2005. To be added to the mailing list, please contact Crystal Hurd, Program Associate:
Email your request to: churd@cfncr.org. Please be sure to include your organization's full name and mailing address.
Mail your written request to:
The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy
1201 15th Street, NW
Suite 420
Washington, DC 20005

Toyota Teacher of the Year
The National Center for Family Literacy (NCFL) and Toyota are pleased to announce the nomination process for the 2006 Toyota Family Literacy Teacher of the Year Award. The Toyota Family Literacy Teacher of the Year award was established to honor excellence in family education. Awards are given to educators who demonstrate exemplary efforts to help parents and children achieve their academic and non-academic goals. Nominations will be accepted June 1, 2005 – October 1, 2005

NOTE: If you have difficulty accessing any of these items, please contact nvolk@unitedway-cny.org.