Research/Report

Engagement Over Time: A Response to Reder’s Longitudinal Study of Participation and Skill Growth

Spring 2026

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General Adult Education Field

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Author(s): Gal Kaldes, Adult Literacy Research Center, Georgia State University 

This Forum responds to Stephen Reder’s research article Lifelong Learning in Adult Education: A 12-Year Longitudinal Study of Participation and Skill Growth” by saying Reder’s article makes an important contribution by leveraging longitudinal state administrative data to examine adult literacy participation and skill development across multiple years and providers. In a field where persistence is often framed primarily in terms of barriers and short-term engagement, the study highlights a more asset-oriented dimension of adult education and reveal a meaningful subset of learners sustain participation over extended periods and accumulate measurable gains.  

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