Since its inception, NASDAE (formerly NAEPDC) has established itself as a major force in the adult education community. The organization offers membership to 50 states and territories. NASDAE works with the Department of Education Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education (OCTAE), the Coalition for Adult Basic Education (COABE), the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA), the Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL), the National Governors Association (NGA), the National Center for Adult Literacy, the National Coalition for Literacy, and other national organizations in planning for programs and activities to support adult learning initiatives.
The NAEPDC was incorporated in 1990 to fulfill a desire of state adult education staff to enhance their professional development. Recently renamed NASDAE, it is organized by state directors of adult education and has the following main purposes:
- To coordinate, develop, and conduct programs of professional development for state adult education leadership;
- To serve as a catalyst for public policy review and development related to adult education;
- To disseminate information on the field of adult education;
NASDAE (formerly NAEPDC) responds to the needs of its member states through a variety of activities, such as:
- Training activities geared to specific needs of state staff
- Networking among members and with partner organizations
- A wealth of online resources to provide state policy and procedure models and options; and
- Specialized services for new state directors to support their leadership and management skills.
