Help adults boost their basic skills

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Updated: February 27, 2012 9:48AM

Thursday’s editorial “State’s future demands better 2-year college grads” is right about the role of better post-secondary education outcomes for our state’s economic future. We must also prioritize strategies for all the working age adults who have low basic skills — such as in reading and math — who show up at community colleges and community-based employment programs.

More than 600,000 Illinois adults between the ages of 25 and 64 have no high school degree, including about 370,000 in Chicago. “Bridge” programs that combine literacy and occupational skills can accelerate adult learners’ progress in attaining post-secondary credentials. City Colleges of Chicago is partnering with community groups to expand and improve these model programs, but they need to be a higher priority with Congress. Congress continues to reduce federal resources and change policies in a way that further limits opportunities for lower-skilled adults. Moreover, as the city, county and state re-shape and improve their respective work force systems, they must support strategies that reach the lowest-skilled adults. To do otherwise is to address only half the problem.

Jennifer Keeling,

director of policy,

Chicago Jobs Council

What’s going on?

The Sun-Times’ Dave McKinney has reported that former Illinois Secretary of State employee Dana Beale, the wife of Ald. Anthony Beale, is the subject of an ethics investigation regarding her job performance. The paper has also reported that Mrs. Beale is receiving $400 a month as a legislative aide to state Rep. Robert Rita. This taxpayer would like to know what’s going on.

Lee J. Regner, Park Ridge

Put court records online

While I agree that cameras in the courtrooms are a step in the right direction in Illinois [“Cameras in court help keep justice in focus,” Wednesday], citizens should inquire why these court records aren’t available online as they are in Wisconsin.

Let the citizens see real transparency within the court system. A convenience fee could be collected to help our state’s financial situation, and people wouldn’t have to go to the courthouses and navigate through the metal detectors.

James Vepley, Beach Park