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Literacy Mayor 2010

Raising the Priority of Adult Literacy

We believe that adult basic education can and will play a significant role in addressing issues of economic development, community safety and prosperity. We hope that this critical issue – the need to invest in adults’ basic skills – will be championed by the next Mayor of the City of New Orleans.

We are interested in how the candidates for the office of Mayor will support this foundation education need of our society. We have asked each candidate to share their responses to five questions.  Responses will be posted here as they are received.

Literacy Mayor New Orleans 2010

Questions for candidates

(Responses will be posted as the candidates submit them.)

1. Coordination of Services:  

In spite of the array of programs intended to address adult learning in Louisiana through many government departments, the numbers of individuals being served successfully is small relative to the adults who could benefit. 

Will you work to establish a Regional Literacy Commission to coordinate and support adult literacy provision across all funding streams?  
 

Mitch Landrieu: In 2005 the Governor convened an Adult Learning Task Force. In its final report, the task force said that the state needed to streamline and coordinate the wide array of adult literacy programs being offered by various departments across state government. The Literacy Alliance and Boggs Literacy Center support the task force’s recommendation. I will support efforts to create a regional plan that coordinates services, bring together literacy leaders, and connect literacy and vocational skills education services.


2.   Economic Self-Sufficiency:  
 
At least 175,000 New Orleans residents have one educational barrier to employment, including the skills needed to enroll in technical training programs.  For those already working, limited basic skills or limited English proficiency often keeps them from becoming self-sufficient.  
 
What steps will you take to ensure that workers have the opportunity to improve their literacy skills, get a high school diploma, and continue their education?     

Mitch Landrieu:  As Mayor, I will dedicate community developmetn resources and forge partnerships with city schools, businesses and other community institutions to create job training and adult literacy programs that empower our citizens.  Also, to improve adult literacy rates we must improve public schools. Failing schools cannot be tolerated. All of our children need and can have access to a good education. I will be a champion for our kids and our schools so all children have the opportunity to reach their God-given potential. We must act now to build our workforce and support adults who want to gain literacy skills or get a high school diploma. Our K-12 schools can also be adult learning centers. As mayor I will identify effective job training, adult literacy and other education programs that could use school facilities for their programming.

3.   Families in Libraries:  
 
Intergenerational literacy programs (combining adult education and early childhood education) are directed at improving the literacy or academic skills of parents and caregivers so they can support the education of their children.  Public libraries around the country are models of community literacy where people of all ages come to learn. 

 

What steps will you take to support, promote, and sustain an increase in funding that would significantly increase adult literacy services in the public library system? 

Mitch Landrieu: During my 22 years as a public servant I have supported public libraries. As Lt Governor I oversee Louisiana state libraries and have expanded our literacy initiatives. The 2009 Louisiana Young Reader’s Choice Awards attracted 20,000 participants and was a huge success, and the State Library’s Summer Reading Program involved 85,000 participants statewide. As mayor I will continue to support, promote, and work to sustain public libraries and their adult literacy services.

 

4.    English Language Learning:  
 
The rebuilding of the greater New Orleans has brought increased numbers of immigrant workers vital to our recovery.  These new New Orleanians need to become fluent in English to thrive.

How will you increase access for those seeking English language instruction while maintaining support for others in need of adult education and literacy services?

Mitch Landrieu:  As mayor, I will support additional programs that could specifically target and support this population.

 

5. Setting Expectations:  
 
In order to overcome the stigma of adults returning to school, will you use your bully pulpit to set the expectation that all adult parents, workers, and community members will enhance their potential by improving their reading, math, and English skills?

 Mitch Landrieu: When I am mayor, I will use the bully pulpit to support adult literacy efforts and speak out on the positive impact of adult education.