Education group calls for support for literacy skills PAACE President says traditional ED leaves to many behind

PITTSBURGH (March 27) -- Kim Rossman, President of Pennsylvania Association for Adult Continuing Education (PAACE), the statewide group that provides literacy training to those left behind by traditional education, says increased emphasis on Adult and Family Literacy is an urgent matter of state policy.
 
Rossman is echoing the message conveyed by Pennsylvania Secretary of Education, Ron Tomalis to PAACE at its annual conference earlier this month.  Tomalis gave the keynote address to 450 practitioners of Adult Education and Family Literacy meeting in State College.
 
Tomalis praised those who help adult literacy learners and empower them to strive for productive roles in society.  Tomalis also emphasized that literacy programs enhance the family and community roles of those whose skills are improved by stepping forward and requesting adult literacy and education services.
 
Adult literacy and family education programs had been reduced sharply over the past several years but Gov. Tom Corbett has stopped the decline and they have been level funded in his last two budgets.
 
Rossman hopes a $2  million dollar increase will be possible to restore services to the overwhelming number of adult learners in need throughout the state.  “It makes economic sense to get people into the workforce where they earn salaries and pay taxes.”
 
The group is also launching a new messaging motto:  “EPIC—Educating Pennsylvanians and Investing in our Communities!”
 
JoAnn Weinberger, Chair of the PAACE Public Policy Committee, has called on members of the group and their learners and family members to contact legislators with the “positive message of EPIC value.”

Contact Information

Kim Rossman

President

Pennsylvania Association for Adult Continuing Education

(1) 814.867.0203

kim@tlcliteracy.org