The Journal of Research and Practice for Adult Literacy, Secondary, and Basic Education announces a call for submissions for its upcoming issues. Administered by The Commission on Adult Basic Education (COABE), the journal aims to advance the adult basic education field by facilitating the exchange of research, ideas, and consideration of experiences. The journal seeks to publish research of all types, critical essays, philosophical and theoretical pieces, and other scholarly work of relevance to individuals in the adult basic education and literacy field. Specific guidelines for authors and steps for submission can be found at http://www.coabe.org/html/abeljournal.html Questions can be directed to the editor, Dr. Jim Berger, by e-mailing him at journal@coabe.org.

The Journal of Research and Practice for Adult Literacy, Secondary, and Basic Education considers two types of manuscripts: 

I.        Major research articles relevant to adult education. Must be 7,000 words or less (including abstract, tables, figures, and reference) and address the implications for both theory and practice of continuing higher education with an ultimate goal of furthering the field. Areas of interest include but are not limited to the following:

•    General Educational Development (GED®)
•    Adult Basic Education
•    Adult Literacy
•    English as a Second Language
•    Adult Secondary Education
•    Workplace Education
•    Transition to Postsecondary Education
•    Health Literacy
•    Technology
•    Corrections Education

II.      Practitioner articles based on actual teaching or administrative practices. Must be 2,500 words or less (including resource list and references, if any) and present practical application techniques to those in the adult education and literacy field. Authors may include teachers, tutors, program directors, supervisors, and other practitioners.

Guidelines for Authors

Research Articles

The Journal of Research and Practice for Adult Literacy, Secondary, and Basic Education seeks to publish research of all types, critical essays, philosophical and theoretical pieces, and other scholarly work of relevance to individuals in the adult basic education and literacy field. Articles should address topics of interest to the field, including but not limited to distance learning and technology, English as a second language, instructional strategies and tactics, program improvement, historical research, policy impact research, resources, etc. See previous journal issues for a fuller sense of relevant topics. All research articles are subject to double-blind peer review by three consulting editors; author identities are concealed from reviewers, and vice versa.

Review Criteria

1. The overall soundness of the research approach (e.g., methodology, logic of analyses, etc.)

2. The practical relevance of this article to the adult basic education and literacy field

3. The overall soundness of the inferences, conclusions, and implications for practice

4. The quality and timeliness of references cited

5. The organization, writing quality, and readability of the manuscript

6. Adherence to the journal’s submission guidelines

Specifications

1. The Adult Basic Education and Literacy Journal accepts research manuscripts up to 7,000 words long, including abstract, tables, figures, and references, and reserves the right to return any manuscripts that exceed that length.

2. All research manuscripts must conform to the guidelines set forth in the latest edition of the

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA), including References.

3. Technical terms must be briefly explained in terms that all people in the field can understand. Authors should use simple, direct prose.

4. To facilitate blind review, a removable cover page should be included. This cover page should include the following: (a) the title of the manuscript; (b) the name, complete address and phone number, e-mail address, title, and institutional affiliation of each author; (c) any necessary

notes identifying the contributions of colleagues, or any previous oral or written presentation of contents of the manuscript; (d) a list of up to five key words to facilitate database searches; (e) a typed and dated warrant statement, signed by all authors, and reading as follows: “I hereby confirm the assignment of first publication rights to the manuscript named above in all forms to the Commission on Adult Basic Education, effective if and when it is accepted for publication in the Journal of Research and Practice for Adult Literacy, Secondary, and Basic Education. I warrant that my manuscript is original work and has not been accepted for publication by another periodical. I further warrant that my work does not infringe upon any copyright or statutory rights of others, does not contain libelous statements, and that consulting editors, staff, and officers of the Commission on Adult Basic Education and are indemnified against all

costs, expenses, and damages arising from any breach of the foregoing in regard to this manuscript. Finally, I acknowledge that the Commission on Adult Basic

Education is relying on this statement in any publishing of the manuscript’s information.”

5. The first page of the manuscript should repeat the title, but not the authors’ names, and include a clearly written abstract of approximately 100 words.

6. Tables should be used sparingly and must be explained in the text.

7. If figures are used, the author must be prepared to submit camera-ready copy at time of acceptance.

Submissions

Manuscripts should be submitted electronically as attached files in Microsoft Word by visiting: http://www.coabe.org/html/abeljournal.html . To ensure blind review, the author should remove identifying information from the text.

Practitioner Perspective Articles

Articles should be written in the first person, and authors should describe and reflect on actual teaching or administrative practices in an accessible manner. The topic should have broad appeal to practitioners. Articles are peer-reviewed by selected guest reviewers with experience in the topic area. Authors are free to submit unsolicited manuscripts, or they may contact the journal editor via phone or e-mail to discuss ideas and approaches before beginning work.

Review Criteria

1. The article’s practical relevance to those working in adult basic education and literacy

2. The organization, quality, accessibility, and readability of the manuscript

3. Inclusion of sufficient information to enable other practitioners to apply what they learn

Submissions

Manuscripts should be submitted to the editor electronically in Microsoft Word. They should include a cover page with the author’s mailing address, e-mail address, affiliation, and phone number with best time to call. Manuscripts must be original works and must not have been published or accepted for publication in another periodical.