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Latest News


Trump Administration Budget Threatens to Eliminate All Adult Education Funding
The Appalachian Learning Initiative (APPLI, like "apply") is bringing attention to the recently released "Skinny Budget," released by the Office of Management and Budget on May 2nd, 2025, which proposes cutting $729 million in Adult Education funding from the federal budget.
This proposal would result in the total elimination of all funding for adult education allocated under the U.S. Department of Education through the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA), Title
Marcus J. Hopkins
May 134 min read


Appalachian Maryland in 2025
As of the most recent data release, more than 3 out of every 5 adults aged 16-65 (60.9%) living in Maryland's Appalachian counties read at or below an 8th-grade level.
In addition to reading proficiency issues, nearly 3 out of every 4 adults (72.3%) struggle with basic math.
Marcus J. Hopkins
May 135 min read


Appalachian Kentucky in 2025
As of the most recent data release, nearly 3 out of every 4 adults aged 16-65 living in Kentucky's Appalachian counties read at or below an 8th Grade level.
In addition to reading proficiency issues, nearly 4 out of every 5 adults struggle with basic math.
Kentucky's Appalachian counties tend to have significantly higher incidence and prevalence rates of both infectious and non-infectious diseases and health behaviors, and face substantial barriers to health and learning.
Marcus J. Hopkins
Mar 155 min read


Appalachian Georgia in 2025
As of the most recent data release, more than 3 out of every 5 adults aged 16-65 living in Georgia's Appalachian counties read at or below an 8th Grade level.
In addition to reading proficiency issues, nearly 3 out of every 4 adults struggle with basic math.
Georgia's Appalachian counties tend to have significantly higher incidence and prevalence rates of both infectious and non-infectious diseases and health behaviors, and face substantial barriers to health and learning.
Marcus J. Hopkins
Feb 155 min read


Introducing the Appalachian Advocacy Toolkit
The Appalachian Learning Initiative has launched the first iteration of its latest tool: The Appalachian Advocacy Toolkit
Marcus J. Hopkins
Feb 23 min read


Appalachian Alabama in 2025
Nearly 2 out of every 3 adults living in Alabama's Appalachian counties read at or below an 8th Grade level
Marcus J. Hopkins
Jan 305 min read


What's Lies Ahead in 2025 for the Appalachian Learning Initiative
Big changes are coming to APPLI in 2025, so I wanted to take some time to provide an update on some items past and what we have in store.
Marcus J. Hopkins
Jan 54 min read


Appalachian Tennessee's Struggles Continue to Mount
APPLI has been highlighting the adult literacy, numeracy, public health, and socioeconomic struggles in Appalachian Tennessee.
Marcus J. Hopkins
Oct 31, 20244 min read


The Appalachian State of South Carolina in 2024
Just 7 of South Carolina's 46 counties lie within the Appalachian Region.
Marcus J. Hopkins
Sep 29, 20242 min read


How We Define "Low-Income" is Desperately Skewed
Is it time that we stop pretending that the FPL is any kind of real measure of poverty, or does it need to be reexamined?
Marcus J. Hopkins
Jun 5, 20244 min read


Funding Failures in Adult Education
This year we began examining federal funding for adult education through various funding mechanisms. The United States has a funding problem
Marcus J. Hopkins
Feb 28, 20245 min read


What's Ahead for APPLI in 2024
2024 is well underway, so I wanted to provide some insight into what the Appalachian Learning Initiative has planned for the year.
Marcus J. Hopkins
Jan 31, 20243 min read


How Do You Solve a Problem Like Mathematics?
In 2022, out of 81 countries that participated in PISA evaluations, American students scored 26th in mathematics skills.
Marcus J. Hopkins
Dec 13, 20233 min read


HIV in Appalachia—Combating Stigma Amid Growing Backlashes
In honor of #ZeroHIVStigmaDay, the Appalachian Learning Initiative is highlighting HIV in the Appalachian Region.
Marcus J. Hopkins
Jul 21, 20236 min read


The Appalachian Pride 2023 Reading List is Live!
The Appalachian Learning Initiative kicks off #Pride2023 with its second annual Pride Reading List.
Marcus J. Hopkins
May 31, 20231 min read


Viral Hepatitis in Appalachia
May is Hepatitis Awareness Month, and the Appalachian Learning Initiative is highlighting the impact of
Viral Hepatitis in Appalachia.
Marcus J. Hopkins
May 3, 20236 min read


The Wonderful Women From Appalachia
APPLI is celebrating Women's History Month by highlighting the lives of the Wonderful Women From Appalachia.
Marcus J. Hopkins
Mar 1, 20233 min read


County-Level Adult Education Resource Listings Now Available
The Appalachian Learning Initiative has begun rolling out the latest feature on our website: county-level adult education resources.
Marcus J. Hopkins
Feb 28, 20233 min read


COVID-19 Risks Still High in Central Appalachia
Counties in the Central Appalachian Region, including those in KY, TN, VA, and WV still face high rates of COVID-19
Marcus J. Hopkins
Feb 14, 20233 min read


Black Appalachians and Adult Literacy
This Black History Month, APPLI will be featuring works by and about Black Appalachians.
Marcus J. Hopkins
Feb 1, 20233 min read
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