AIR Symposium Focuses on the Challenges Facing Today’s Low-Skilled Adults

Washington, D.C. – The American Institutes for Research (AIR) will host a symposium, “Changing the Odds: Informing Policy with Research on How Adult Learners Succeed,” on Wednesday, September 16, 2009 at its Corporate Headquarters at 1000 Thomas Jefferson Street, N.W. in Washington, D.C.

The symposium will bring together national experts in adult literacy and workforce policy, research, and practice as well as private sector content developers and others to identify and address the needs of low-skilled adults. Participants will consider innovative methods and collaborations for supporting today’s adult learners, and discuss challenges and solutions to improving adult education and workforce development outcomes facing the nation.

The keynote speaker will be Professor Stephen Reder of Portland State University. Panel discussions include “Achieving Postsecondary and Vocational Success;” “Innovative Program Models for the 21st Century;” and “Changing Demographics and Changing Markets.” The symposium will launch a series of white papers on these issues to be published by AIR.

When: Wednesday, September 16, from 8:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. ET

Where: 1000 Thomas Jefferson Street, NW, Washington, D.C.

Panelists include:

• Hans Bos, Vice President, EHDW, AIR
• Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield, Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP)
• Michael Fix, Senior Vice President and Director of Studies, Migration Policy Institute
• Jonathan Gueverra, CEO, Community College of the District of Columbia Heidi Hartmann, President, Institute for Women’s Policy Research
• Harry Holzer, Professor, Georgetown University
• Rita Kirshstein, Managing Director, AIR
• Jane Oates, Assistant Secretary, Education and Training Administration, U.S. Dept. of Labor
• Heide Spruck Wrigley, Researcher, LiteracyWork International, Inc.
• Judy Taylor, Program Director, Jobs for the Future
• Nancy Williams, Director, National Programs, Verizon Foundation

AIR provides the adult education community with the tools necessary to determine and incorporate effective practices, and provides adult education stakeholders information on policy, research findings, and initiatives in the field. Current projects include a study to identify and examine a promising literacy intervention; design and analysis work of the 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy; training and technical assistance support on the National Reporting System for Adult Education project; operation of California’s professional development system for the adult education field; and a study of promising practices in transitioning English as a second language learners to adult basic education and beyond.

About AIR
Established in 1946, with headquarters in Washington, D.C., the American Institutes for Research (AIR) is a nonpartisan not-for-profit organization that conducts behavioral and social science research and delivers technical assistance both domestically and internationally in the areas of health, education and workforce productivity. For more information, visit www.air.org.