Private Suppliers

Many private suppliers specialize in providing you with professional program development and delivery services.   You may want to hire them instead of undertaking basic skills training using your company's internal resources. 

You can contact private suppliers through national organizations and through state and regional operators.

National

Suppliers of occupational literacy books and materials and their product lines are accessible through the Literacy Volunteers of America Catalog.  Reading evaluation aids are also available.
   URL: http://www.literacyvolunteers.org/catalog/default.html

For a test of basic English language skills, see the Basic English Skills Test (BEST).  This  is a unique measurement tool designed for adult ESL learners at the survival and pre-employment skills level.  Developed by CAL language testing professionals, the BEST consists of an Oral Interview Section and a Literary Skills Section that are scored separately.
    URL: http://www.cal.org/best

The Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) series offers an ideal way for adult educators to plan instruction that helps build successful careers.  Multiple versions of TABE exist to serve the educational, business, and industrial marketplaces.
    URL: http://www.ctb.com (Go to Products and Services, then to Adult Education)

Workforce Learning Systems Training by CASAS provides businesses with training tools and expertise through workshops that determine employee skill levels and basic skill needs, identify training requirements, develop worksite specific training materials and identify instructional strategies to meet training objectives.
    URL: http://www.casas.org/02TrainingProfDev/02WLSTrain.cfm

Find the resources on Tools of the Trade that are of most use to you.  Search America's Learning Exchange for seminars, courses, resource tools, training providers, consultants, research, and certification information related to employee and staff development.
    URL: http://www.alx.org/tott/

Computer Curriculum Corporation's Destinations Internet is a comprehensive, online learning program that addresses national, state and local standards in reading, writing, math and life/learning skills.  The online courses are designed to stimulate interest in literacy and learning among adult learners seeking to attain high school diplomas, pass GED exams, or prepare for the workforce.
    URL: http://www.investlearning.com

The National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP) is your source for reaching workforce development professionals.  NAWDP represents professionals in the employment and training field.   Its members work with at-risk youth, older workers, individuals with barriers to employment, welfare-to-work participants, students in school-to-work, dislocated workers and more.
    URL: http://members.aol.com/nawdp/

LiteracyLink offers professional development resources and training to literacy educators of adult students. LitTeacher is a technology-based continuing education resource center, offering peer evaluation tools, practice guides and staff development videoconferences.
    URL: http://litlink5.pbs.org/litteacher.html

This report, from the US Office of Educational Research and Improvement, presents abstracts and evaluative reviews for 58 exemplary workplace education products.  An overview of the selection process and a guide to the content of the documents is included.
http://ericir.syr.edu/plweb-cgi/fastweb?getdoc+ericdb2+ericdb+998839+0+wAAA+%28ED427190%29

The Learning for Life Program develops and produces live, interactive basic education / adult literacy courses disseminated nationwide via satellite and cable.   The Program is uniquely designed to serve adult learners, and due to the medium of instruction, is offered in all 50 states
   URL: http://stepstar.esd101.net/adulted/default.htm

The Learning Resources Network provides information and consultation to programs offering lifelong learning activities such as courses, classes, seminars, conferences, meetings, and training.
     URL: http://www.lern.org/

American Institutes for Research provide the adult education community with large-scale literacy assessment and support the evaluation of adult education programs and of professional development for adult educators.
     URL: http://www.air.org/program_areas/adultlit/adultlit-set.htm

The World Learning and the School for International Training provides language and cross-cultural training to help participants work more effectively in multicultural environments at the community level or on a national scale.
     URL: http://www.worldlearning.org/

These tips for hiring an effective trainer can help HR people to  thoroughly evaluate vendors and avoid wasting money on gimmicky training efforts. 
     URL: http://www.workforce.com/archive/feature/22/26/14/223471.php

TrainingConsortium is a searchable database of training consultants, speakers and vendors. Detailed listings include industry experience, area of expertise, geography and target audiences. Employers can search for trainers who match their needs and specific criteria.
    URL: http://www.trainingconsortium.com

WorkKeys^®, ACT's system for identifying gaps between job requirements and workforce skills can help improve the workforce. Employers can also use it to identify and develop workers for a wide range of skilled jobs.
     URL: http://www.workkeys.com/

Advance Learning provides interactive multimedia, IT literacy training courseware, systems and solutions to academia, government and for-profit corporations worldwide. The International Computer Driving Licence is designed for those who wish to gain or improve basic qualification in computing; no prior knowledge of IT or desktop skills is required.
     URL: http://www.advancelearning.com

Language Solutions is a language training company specializing in training people who speak English as a Second Language (ESL) to improve their English literacy skills for Speaking, Listening and Reading. The training offered is specifically geared for Life Skills (Survival English) and Occupational English.
     URL: http://www.languagesolutionsllc.com

State and Regional

California
The Education Training Institute delivers quality and customer-focused consulting, training and economic development services to San Diego individuals, businesses, and government agencies in order to address the needs of a diverse workforce. ETI is a full-service training organization specializing in assessing your training needs and developing solutions that increase productivity, quality, and the ability to adapt to rapid changes in the workplace.
    URL: http://www.workplace-eti.com/workplace/

Brandon Hall provides information, trends, best practices, tools and vendors about using technology for learning to help employers make the right decisions for their organization.
     URL: http://www.brandon-hall.com/

Connecticut
If your employees need to develop skills in reading, writing, math, computers, English as a Second Language, and communications, ADULT ED AT WORK is a network of Connecticut adult education programs that offer on-site educational consultation and instruction to businesses:
    URL: http://www.crec.org/atdn/adultedatwork.shtml

Illinois
The Curriculum Publications Clearinghouse distributes state-developed curriculum materials in adult, vocational, and technical education on a cost-recovery basis.
     URL: http://www.wiu.edu/users/micpc/

Kansas
Information for adults in the Kansas City area to gain access to free, confidential one-on-one reading help through Literacy Kansas City:
    URL: http://www.literacykc.org

New Mexico
InSight Educational Services specializes in reasonably priced evaluations of employee basic skills that can be easily accessed and are non-threatening.   Evaluations give the employers and employee usable information regarding reading and writing levels, mathematics capabilities and learning styles.
    URL: http://www.correctionseducation.com/WBSE

New York
The Literacy Volunteers library is a resource with over 3,600 items to help tutors and students in the Rochester, NY area:
   URL: http://www.literacyrochester.org/resources.htm

The New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC), an association of workforce development practitioners, provides high quality education, training and employment services to unemployed and underemployed New Yorkers. The Coalition provides staff development, research and technical assistance to member organizations.
    URL: http://www.nycetc.org

Wisconsin
The Racine Literacy Council provides free one-on-one tutoring in basic reading and writing skills for adults in the Racine Area of Wisconsin.  The Council will also provide a customized workplace education to increase employees’ basic skills for a fee:
    URL: http://www.racineliteracy.com

For problems or questions regarding this web site contact campbell@conferenceboard.ca.
Last updated: June 23, 2006.