Dear Discussion List Subscribers:
As the Institute enters a new fiscal year October 1 and a new phase in its operation, it has decided to reorganize some of the work of LINCS, most noticeably, the Discussion Lists. The Institute decided to more closely align the Discussion Lists with the Resource Collections, needs of the field and priorities of the administration. The intent is to structure the Discussion Lists as communities of practice that can support teachers, administrators, and staff developers in critical literacy areas by sharing best practice and the best available research.
To that end, the Institute has added three new Discussion Lists and expanded the titles and offerings of others. Starting in October, the following 11 Discussion Lists will launch and be affiliated with these Resource Collections:
Program Management Resource Collection

·         Adult Literacy Professional Development Discussion List

·         Assessment Discussion List

·         Learning Disabilities Discussion List

·         Transitions to Post Secondary Education Discussion List (NEW)!
Workforce Competitiveness Resource Collection

·         Adult English Language Acquisition Discussion List

·         Technology & Distance Learning Discussion List

·         Workforce Competitiveness Discussion List
Basic Skills Resource Collection

·         Reading & Writing Skills Discussion List (NEW)!

·         Math & Numeracy Discussion List (NEW)!

·         Health Literacy Discussion List

·         Diversity & Literacy Discussion List
Other changes to the Discussion Lists include discontinuing Special Topics and Family Literacy as of September 30, 2009. While they will no longer operate as separate Lists, special topics and family literacy will be among the issues addressed online by all of the Institute’s moderators. The Institute would like to thank David Rosen, Special Topics Discussion List moderator; and Gail Price, Family Literacy Discussion List Moderator, for their contributions and for sharing their expertise with the field. They have both worked hard to bring relevant issues to the forefront.
Noreen S. Lopez
Senior Program Officer
National Institute for Literacy