New Hampshire
From LiteracyTentWiki
February 16, 2005
Advocacy activities in New Hampshire are a shared responsibility between the Bureau of Adult Education in the New Hampshire Department of Education and the NH Literacy Task Force, an organization made up of the directors of the largest adult education programs in the state.
Since this network is currently involved in an advocacy campaign on the state level a rapid response to President Bush's proposed budget cuts was possible. News of the proposed cuts was circulated throughout the communications network of 50 adult education programs on Feb. 7, hours after the 10:00 am release of the budget. Contacts with the Washington offices of New Hampshire's two Congressman and two US Senators started the next morning on Feb. 8. Over the past week an escalating number of email contacts have taken place as both day and evening adult education programs have begun the process.
We expect to make the goal of 750 contacts in each Congressional district and 1500 to each US Senator over the next 4 weeks. Additional focused contacts will take place throughout the appropriations process with the US Senator from NH who sits on the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Efforts to support additional state funding for adult education appear at this point in the process to be successful. Yesterday the Governor released his budget to the legislature which contains a 12% increase in funding for adult education for FY 06 and an additional 7% increase for FY 07.
Art Ellison
