Serving adults with difficulty reading in Indiana: A stakeholders' needs assessment

• In Event: Adult Community, Literacy, and Language Educators: Professional Development and Perspectives

Abstract

A large majority of adults who come to Indiana adult education programs demonstrate difficulty with essential English literacy tasks, including reading. This study sought to understand the perspectives of multiple stakeholders in the publicly-funded adult education system of Indiana regarding improving instruction for adults with difficulty reading. The authors conducted a qualitative needs assessment with 38 stakeholders in the Indiana adult education system including learners, teachers, and program directors. Findings from the needs assessment will inform the creation of an evidence-based professional development (PD) focused on serving adults with difficulty reading, to be offered free or low-cost to adult basic and English language teachers in the Indiana adult education system. This paper reports preliminary findings from the stakeholders' needs assessment.

Authors

• Amy Pickard, Indiana University

• Lara Pastore, Indiana Department of Workforce Development