Sample Letters  

Spread the Word: Literacy

Arizona Association for Lifelong Learning Literacy Awareness  

 2/27/04  sample letter to the governor:  It is important to thank her for her support !

 

The Honorable Janet Napolitano
Governor of Arizona
1700 West Washington
Phoenix, Arizona 85007

 Dear Governor Napolitano,

Write about your experience--------

   I am writing to thank you for your support for support for funding of the adult education programs offered in Arizona.   State assistance is essential in continuing these services and helping more and more of our residents.  Last year alone, 42,000 Arizona adults received over 2.8 million hours of instruction in adult education programs. 9,500 Arizona residents obtained a GED diploma, and 1,254 seeking employment found a new job. In addition, 7,500 adult students improved their English speaking abilities.

Adult education produces beneficial effects in many policy areas: family support and school reform; English language instruction and citizenship; credentialing and further education; crime and recidivism; public health; employment; and welfare. The state investment per student is currently only $95.

 Here in Arizona, up to 25%of all high school diplomas awarded are GED diplomas. As you know, many jobs require a diploma as a requirement for work. 

The need for English classes is constantly expanding- adult students who wish to learn English are placed on waiting lists in the majority of programs.

  Please continue to protect funding for adult education.

  

Sincerely,

  -------------

  TO STATE POLICYMAKERS  

The Honorable (last name)  
Arizona State Senate--- or Arizona House of Representatives
Capitol Complex
1700 W. Washington
Phoenix, AZ 85007-2890

 Dear Representative/Senator (last name):  

Dear ____________,

 

Last year, Adult Education was funded in the State budget. I am writing to ask for continued support for Adult Education and Family Literacy programs.

The need for adult education in Arizona is tremendous. 

Ø      Adult education was responsible for  25% of  the high school diplomas or GED's in  and we did that with an investment of only $95 per student from the state.

 Ø      Over  adult learners were enrolled in 36 statewide programs last year.  The State of Arizona can serve 42,000 adult education students for the same amount it takes to run one high school with 900 students.

Ø      Arizona is home to the 4th largest ESOL population in the United States.

 Also,  state Adult Education funding is important so that Adult Education receives the federal funding which requires a state match. 

 I believe that adult education must continue to be seen as a funding priority in order to improve the quality of life of our residents and economic development of our state.  

 

                                Sincerely,

 

_________________________________________________________________

 You are encouraged to e-mail or send letters to all legislators.  The physical address you can mail letters to is:    

 Capitol Complex
1700 W. Washington
Phoenix, AZ 85007-2890


Letter to thank for support letter adapted from NIFL 21st Century Literacy Campaign 

The Honorable (last name)  
Arizona State Senate--- or Arizona House of Representatives
Capitol Complex
1700 W. Washington
Phoenix, AZ 85007-2890

 Dear Representative/Senator (last name):

Mention your position. . I am writing to thank you for your support last year for funding of the adult education programs offered in Arizona.   State assistance is essential in continuing these services and helping more and more of our residents.  Last year alone, Arizona adults  received over 2.8  million hours of instruction in adult education programs. 9,500 Arizona residents obtained a GED diploma, and 1,254  seeking employment found a new job. In addition 7,600 adult students improved their English speaking abilities.  

 For our state and this nation to thrive in the face of international competition we can no longer continue to depend on just the 22% of our population who have completed college.  We need to help everyone develop their capabilities and advance the types of work they can do.  This is especially true for the 21% of us who never finished high school.  When employers cannot find workers with needed skills, our economy slows.

Corporations are desperate to hire people with much-needed thinking skills, high levels of literacy, and a good understanding of technology and mathematics.  But many of the chronically unemployed and on welfare lack these skills. While studies show a direct relationship between a person’s literacy level and the income they make, too many languish at the lowest level. 

 The bridge over this gap between skills and employment is adult education.  Adult education helps potential workers master the basic literacy skills they need to find and keep a job.  Adult education does not replace the training an employer provides but instead helps the worker master the skills needed as preparation for more specialized training.

Adult education is more than just GED prep and volunteer reading programs.  Adult education helps teach the skills most of us take for granted, but too many Americans never mastered.  It covers the key skills for entry-level employment – How to speak and read English, how to follow step-by-step directions, how to make change and balance one’s checkbook.  It covers job readiness, computer literacy, family literacy, and workplace skills.

Of course educating the workers who turn the wheels of our economy takes more than just a volunteer effort.  State funding for adult education programs will help develop America’s greatest resource – its people. Without adult education, our high school dropouts and language learners will have no chance to improve their lives and those of their families.

If you would like more information or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to have your staff contact me at (fill in phone and fax numbers).

 

Thank you for your consideration.

 

Sincerely,