Adult Basic Education in Maryland. An Analysis of ABE Program Efforts on the State and Local Level.

Overview & Synopsis

A field study by Greenleigh Associates of the state and local adult basic education (ABE) program in Maryland found in part that: (1) 3% of educationally disadvantaged groups participated in ABE and less than 1% achieved an 8th grade level education through ABE; (2) inconsistencies were noted at the state level between actual operational procedures and stated policy of the State Department of Education; (3) the Adult Education Unit of the Department of Education was grossly understaffed; (4) of the money allocated for the program in FY 1969, the Federal share was 84%, the local share 15% and the state share was 1%, (the latter covered only the state office operation); (5) mechanisms for adult basic education policy decision making were unclear to a number of persons at all levels making innovation difficult; and (6) adult basic education programs at the local level vary widely due to inadequate planning, an absence of commitment and lack of direction from the State Department of Education. Twenty specific recommendations are made to rectify weaknesses of the program. (DM)