Dear Literacy Link – Leamos Supporter and Editor,

Our most important funder and partner, the New Mexico Coalition for Literacy, is once again under threat from the New Mexico Higher Education Department. This probably sounds strange to you if you haven’t been following the politics of funding for small community-based literacy programs, or the machinations in Santa Fe.

Over July 4th weekend, the Higher Education Department’s Adult Education division sent an email to selected New Mexico college-based Adult Basic Ed providers, inviting them to bid on the contract currently held by the NM Coalition for Literacy. The Executive Director of the NMCL was sent this email by a whistle-blower who recognized that this action is not just unethical, but illegal. State agencies must follow established policies and procedures related to putting current contracts out for bid, and these were bypassed. The NMCL’s contract is still in force, and in fact the Coalition is the middle of contract amendments with the State HED for 2019-20.

Also, the Coalition recently received an AmeriCorps grant. AmeriCorps volunteers are due to arrive in New Mexico in September to provide free assistance to Coalition literacy programs. This grant is also threatened by the HED’s attempt to solicit bids.

There are two basic models for adult education. One is college- or university-based—free ESL, basic literacy or GED classes offered each semester. The other model is community-based one-to-one tutoring, like Literacy Link- Leamos. Programs like ours are housed in a public library or other community center. A small staff coordinates the efforts of many volunteers.

These two models have the same purpose: help New Mexican adults improve their education levels so they can better support their families and bring prosperity to our communities. Both models work. However, for small towns in the rural, southern half of the state, many students are more comfortable with library-based programs like ours. People working at low levels of education, with jobs and childcare needs, can’t complete a semester-based program that may be moving too fast for them, has attendance requirements which can bounce them from the class, or meets during a time when they cannot attend. Our program is more flexible and for these students, works better.

The NM Coalition for Literacy is our most important funder. They provide an Operating Expenses grant each year, which is critical for our survival. They also provide, at no charge to us, expensive data tracking and assessment systems which we could never afford to purchase on our own (the cost of CASAS assessment materials would be about $15,000 per year).

In 2016, the Higher Ed Department tried to do the same thing. The Coalition eventually defeated this attempt, but program funding was delayed for seven months while contract negotiations dragged on. Some small programs went under while waiting for funds. Literacy Link survived, but this year, with other grant funding down 25%, it will be much more difficult.

If you believe in what we do, and if you want to make sure the most vulnerable adults in our community continue to receive the educational support we provide, PLEASE call, email AND write physical letters to your state representatives and your County Commissioners. I’ve attached contact information to this letter. A hard copy of this letter plus the legislative contact list is in the mail to you with a couple of Literacy Link-Leamos articles.

Thank you for supporting Literacy Link – Leamos!

Sincerely,

Mary Beth Folia, Program Director
Literacy Link - Leamos

Content on the Beat

WARNING: All articles and photos with a byline or photo credit are copyrighted to the author or photographer. You may not use any information found within the articles without asking permission AND giving attribution to the source. Photos can be requested and may incur a nominal fee for use personally or commercially.

Disclaimer: If you find errors in articles not written by the Beat team but sent to us from other content providers, please contact the writer, not the Beat. For example, obituaries are always provided by the funeral home or a family member. We can fix errors, but please give details on where the error is so we can find it. News releases from government and non-profit entities are posted generally without change, except for legal notices, which incur a small charge.

NOTE: If an article does not have a byline, it was written by someone not affiliated with the Beat and then sent to the Beat for posting.

Images: We have received complaints about large images blocking parts of other articles. If you encounter this problem, click on the title of the article you want to read and it will take you to that article's page, which shows only that article without any intruders. 

New Columnists: The Beat continues to bring you new columnists. And check out the old faithfuls who continue to provide content.

Newsletter: If you opt in to the Join GCB Three Times Weekly Updates option above this to the right, you will be subscribed to email notifications with links to recently posted articles.

Submitting to the Beat

Those new to providing news releases to the Beat are asked to please check out submission guidelines at https://www.grantcountybeat.com/about/submissions. They are for your information to make life easier on the readers, as well as for the editor.

Advertising: Don't forget to tell advertisers that you saw their ads on the Beat.

Classifieds: We have changed Classifieds to a simpler option. Check periodically to see if any new ones have popped up. Send your information to editor@grantcountybeat.com and we will post it as soon as we can. Instructions and prices are on the page.

Editor's Notes

It has come to this editor's attention that people are sending information to the Grant County Beat Facebook page. Please be aware that the editor does not regularly monitor the page. If you have items you want to send to the editor, please send them to editor@grantcountybeat.com. Thanks!

Here for YOU: Consider the Beat your DAILY newspaper for up-to-date information about Grant County. It's at your fingertips! One Click to Local News. Thanks for your support for and your readership of Grant County's online news source—www.grantcountybeat.com

Feel free to notify editor@grantcountybeat.com if you notice any technical problems on the site. Your convenience is my desire for the Beat.  The Beat totally appreciates its readers and subscribers!  

Compliance: Because you are an esteemed member of The Grant County Beat readership, be assured that we at the Beat continue to do everything we can to be in full compliance with GDPR and pertinent US law, so that the information you have chosen to give to us cannot be compromised.