Adult Literacy in Utah : Even a Leader Has Unmet Needs / Garth L. Mangum.

Despite the fact that, of all the 50 states, Utah has the highest percentage of state and local government expenditures for education and the highest proportion of adults who have graduated from high school, one out of every five adults in Utah lacks basic literacy skills. At present, the following adult literacy programs offer instruction in basic skills to Utah residents: a community education program, an adult high school program, an adult basic education program, an adult refugee education program, prevocational programs at five area vocational schools and two technical colleges, and a Job Training Partnership Act program. Although no single source of authority or responsibility for adult literacy programs exists in Utah, the quality of the individual programs is good. Serious logistical problems exist, however, in getting enough of the scattered population in rural areas together to conduct a program. An expanded adult literacy program would undoubtedly lower unemployment and raise earnings in Utah. With the state pressured to expand and improve schools and colleges, however, adult programs remain a low priority. (Eleven tables depicting program enrollment and impact data are appended.) (MN)

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