Education: Advocates seek more state funding for adult literacy programs

State and local advocates made the case for increased state funding for adult literacy programs to the GBC Education Committee on June 7. Maryland ranks 46th in per capita funding for adult literacy programs even though the state is one of the top ten destinations for foreign born residents. Seventy-seven percent of Maryland’s foreign-born residents do not speak English at home.

Fact: Each year Massachusetts funds its adult literacy programs at the level of $40 million. Maryland funds its programs at $2.2 million.

Kathy Oliver, assistant state superintendent of schools, said that adult literacy programs serve more than 35,000 annually. She estimated that this is about five percent of the target population. Of these, fully seventy-six percent are African American, Hispanic or Asian. More than 5,000 are on waiting lists for adult literacy programs and one fifth of these people live in Baltimore City.

She added that the programs work, giving participants the skills to get jobs, advance in their jobs, or get a diploma. In FY’04 fifty-four percent of those who completed adult literacy programs got a job. Forty-nine percent advanced in their jobs. Seventy-six percent of adult secondary school students got their high school diploma.

Sonia Socha, executive director of the South Baltimore Learning Center, echoed Ms. Oliver’s plea. 𠇊ll of the city’s literacy programs are strapped. All of us have waiting lists. We have the space to offer more classes, but we don’t have the money.”

A bill to provide up to $1.4 million to fund adult literacy programs throughout Maryland did not make it out of committee in the last legislative session. However, language was included in the FY ’05 budget bill that will prompt additional State funding for adult literacy education. The GBC Education Committee voted to recommend support for increased funding.

In January, State Superintendent of Schools Nancy S. Grasmick set up a ten-member panel to study adult literacy education in Maryland. The panel documented the need for adult programs and estimated the cost of a comprehensive program to address the need. The panel’s recommendation was an investment of $27 million.