About Us

We are a community dedicated to quality mathematics instruction at the adult level. We support each other, we encourage collaboration and leadership, and we influence policy and practice in adult math instruction.

- Mission Statement (March 22, 1994)

The Adult Numeracy Network (ANN), formerly the Adult Numeracy Practitioners Network, was formed by adult education practitioners at the first national Conference on Adult Mathematical Literacy held in Arlington, Virginia, in March 1994. They had joined researchers, program administrators, government officials and others to discuss the status of adult numeracy education and to determine future directions. The conference was co-sponsored by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), the National Center on Adult Literacy (NCAL), and the Office of Vocational and Adult Education of the U.S. Department of Education.

Forming the Network was a voluntary commitment by the practitioners to continue the work of the conference at the grassroots level where teachers and students meet. The Network adopted a constitution and by-laws in April 1995, at its first annual meeting in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In July 1997, the ANPN board voted to change the name of the Network to the Adult Numeracy Network. In April 1998, the ANN became an affiliate-at-large of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

Since its founding, the ANN has:

• Conducted fifteen annual meetings as professional development conference in conjunction with the annual NCTM national meetings (1995-2003) and numeracy strands at eight national adult education conferences in conjunction with COABE (Commission on Adult Basic Education) 2000-2008
• Co-sponsored the Adults Learning Maths international researchers conference (ALM-7), held in Boston, Massachusetts in 2000
• Published a newsletter, The Math Practitioner, for ANN members
• Sponsored an electronic forum, The ANN Numeracy Discussion List
• Obtained funding to enable adult ed math teachers, learners, and other stakeholders to participate in a national planning project for system reform
• Published A Framework for Adult Numeracy Standards: The Mathematical Skills and Abilities Adults Need to be Equipped for the Future
• Submitted a policy statement on numeracy to the National Literacy Summit Initiative
• Consulted with U.S. Department of Education, Division of Adult Education and Literacy, about a strategic plan for numeracy (ANN Board Strategic Planning Meeting, October 15-16, 2004)
• Published The Teaching and Learning Principles
• Testified before the The National Mathematics Advisory Panel 2006

View a list of the current ANN Board members.

For further information about ANN, contact your regional representative.