ERIC_NO:
ED337657
TITLE:
GAIN Appraisal Program III. Third Report.
AUTHOR:
Armstrong, Bill; And Others
PUBLICATION_DATE:
1989
ABSTRACT:
Demographic and educational data were gathered from July 1986 through April 1989 for approximately 121,504 participants in Greater Avenues for
Independence (GAIN) from all 58 counties in California that have implemented
GAIN. Instrumentation was the GAIN Appraisal Program, three tests developed
to provide an initial appraisal of participants' level of skill development
in basic reading comprehension, basic mathematics computation, and listening
comprehension. Major findings regarding demographic characteristics were
as follows: (1) females outnumbered males, 58 percent to 42 percent; (2)
approximately 45 percent were Caucasian, 26 percent were Hispanic, and
15 percent were Black; (3) approximately 84 percent were under the age
of 40; (4) English was the native language of approximately 82 percent;
(5) the average number of years of education was 10.8; and (6) approximately
45 percent reported having a high school diploma or its equivalent. Findings
related to test score performance included the following: (1) almost 87
percent scored above a functional competency level on the GAIN Appraisal
Reading Test; (2) 57 percent performed above a functional competency level
on the Math Test; and (3) 82 percent achieved scores indicating less than
a functional level of competency. Of the available data for Aid to Families
with Dependent Children participant categories, 81 percent were mandatory
participants and 19 percent were voluntary. (Appendixes include
English-as-a-Second-language data.) (YLB)
MAJOR_DESCRIPTORS:
Academic Achievement; Adult Basic Education; Employment Programs; Participant Characteristics; Skill Development; Welfare Recipients;
MINOR DESCRIPTORS:
Basic Skills; Educational Background; Educational Legislation; English (Second Language); Functional Literacy; Listening Comprehension; Mathematics Skills; Reading Comprehension; Refugees; State Legislation; Student Evaluation;
IDENTIFIERS:
California; *Greater Avenues for Independence
PUBLICATION_TYPE:
142