What We Do
Practitioner Resources

What We Do

FAQs

What is USCAL?
The United States Conference on Adult Literacy (USCAL), sponsored by ProLiteracy, is a national conference seeking to forge new partnerships while also providing expert professional development and training opportunities for programs and providers from adult literacy and education, family literacy, workforce development, library, corrections, and social service organizations in order to expand and improve services.

Why is USCAL important?
In response to the adult literacy crisis in America that impacts upwards of 30 million people, a diverse cross-section of national and regional organizations representing business, safety, volunteers, and workforce development are joining forces to host USCAL. The formation of USCAL was in acknowledgement of tightened travel and conference budgets. By bringing together key partner organizations, conference participants can discuss and create powerful solutions for a variety of new issues—from decreased funding and contingency planning to the increased need for advocacy and social entrepreneurship—that can impact our day-to-day work.

What topics will USCAL cover?
USCAL will span such interconnected sectors as libraries, workforce training, correctional education, consumer safety, workforce job development, English as a Second Language, and adult literacy. Specific topics will include:

  • Creating successful collaborations and community linkages to expand and improve community-based adult literacy and basic education programs, particularly between workforce development, health, library, financial, corrections, and citizenship service sectors.
  • Improving instruction in adult literacy, basic education, or English language learning programs.
  • Recognizing literacy as a human right and demonstrating the connection between literacy, social justice, and social change.
  • Supporting literacy for social change in a global context.
  • Promoting adult learner leadership and governance in programs, workplaces, and communities and in adult learner advocacy efforts at the local, state, and federal levels.
  • Leading and managing adult literacy and basic education programs in tough economic times, with a focus on enhancing the skills of senior program managers, board chairs, and executive directors.
  • Using technology and digital literacy to enhance learning.
  • Transitioning adult learners to new learning environments, the workplace, and post-secondary education, while promoting career pathways.

Who are the USCAL partners?
With ProLiteracy, USCAL national partners include:

  • American Association of Adult and Continuing Education (AAACE)
  • American Library Association (ALA)
  • Association of Adult Literacy Professional Developers (AALPD)
  • Center for Applied Linguistics
  • Correctional Education Association
  • Council for Advancement of Adult Literacy
  • Home Builders Institute (HBI)
  • Home Safety Council
  • Houston READ Commission
  • Interweave Solutions
  • Jobs for the Future (JFF)
  • KET, Kentucky Educational Television
  • Literacy Funders Network
  • Literacy Powerline
  • Literacy Texas
  • National Association for Adults with Special Learning Needs (NAASLN)
  • National Coalition for Literacy (NCL)
  • National Forum on Information Literacy
  • ProLiteracy Council of State Organizations
  • Senior Service America
  • Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
  • Texas Center for the Advancement of Literacy and Learning
  • The Coalition of Lifelong Learning Organizations (COLLO)
  • Voice of Adult Learners United to Educate (VALUE)
  • Women Expanding Literacy Education Action Resource Network (WE LEARN)
  • World Education

When and where is USCAL taking place?
USCAL is taking place November 2-5, 2011, at the Westin Galleria and Oaks in  Houston, Texas.