Eric.ed.gov – Who Counts in Adult Literacy Programs? A National Survey of Numeracy Education. NCAL Brief.

A national survey examined the following: the extent of math-related activities in adult literacy programs, staff training in math, assessment frameworks being used, and the use of computers for teaching math. Of the 605 programs that received the questionnaire, 350 (57.9%) completed questionnaires. The 350 programs served more than 750,000 adult students in 1992-1993. Among the key findings of the study were the following: (1) although more than 80% of adult literacy students receive math-related instruction, less than 5% of their teachers are certified to teach math; (2) the math skills of adult literacy students are usually assessed by standardized tests that do not adequately cover many of the math skills required in new curricular frameworks or high-performance workplaces; and (3) although more than 75% of adult literacy programs report the availability of computer software for math instruction, less than 25% of adult literacy students use such software. The following were among the conclusions drawn: adult literacy teachers need more training in adult mathematics instruction; assessment tools must be developed to gauge adult students’ math knowledge/achievement in relation to real-life functional contexts; and policymakers should recognize that math instruction is an integral component of instruction in most literacy programs. (MN)