Adult and Community Learning Services (ACLS)

FY14 Community Planning Topics Survey

May 15, 2013

Dear Program Directors,

ABE community planning coalitions have a long history of building relationships and partnerships with community members that represent education, employment and training, and health and human services for the benefit of adult learners and their communities. As one of our ABE Directors said "ABE community planning partnerships help us to reduce the obstacles students face so they can persist in their educational pursuits." In a 2010 ACLS ABE community planning evaluation, it was found that "The stronger the [ABE community planning] partnership, the more comprehensive are services to adult learners and, therefore, the stronger the community impact." Based on that evaluation which included extensive input from the ABE system, ACLS is continuing its commitment to supporting community planning coalitions through both funding and professional development.

As beneficial as these community coalitions are, however, creating and sustaining them is both a science and an art. That's why ACLS has issued Indicators of Effective Community Planning for CALCs , which provide guidance to strengthen and build the capacity of CALCs and their community planning coalitions. The Indicators are consistent with experience and a body of research that provides a framework for effectiveness across levels of development. The Indicators include a self-assessment and planning tool for coalitions to assess their level of functioning in order to identify strengths and areas that require focus; inform action steps for continuous improvement; and help track progress along a continuum of proficiency. Please note that the Indicators are in draft form and will be revised over the summer.

Because ACLS will supplement the Indicators with trainings in FY 14, I am inviting you to participate in a short survey to help us determine the training topics that are best suited to meeting your needs and the needs of your coalitions. Directors who do not have a background in community planning are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to let us know what supports they will find useful.

Please click on http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ACLS-CP-Survey for our five (5) minute survey. Individual responses will be aggregated and submitted to ACLS in a unified summary. All individual responses are confidential and providing contact information is optional

Please complete this survey by May 24^th.

Should you want to review the Indicators prior to participating in the survey, you can find them on the ACLS website at www.doe.mass.edu/acls/cp.

Thank you for your input. If you have questions about ABE community planning, the Indicators, or the survey, please contact Arlene Dale, ACLS Community Planning Specialist at adale@doe.mass.edu or 781-338-3878.

With Literacy in Mind,

Anne Serino