In the United States, adult and workforce education (AE) seems to be located, simultaneously, both everywhere and nowhere in particular. Ongoing shifts in national economic demands and changes in requirements for training and education have brought learning in the adult years into the federal public policy arena. Sometimes referred to as lifelong…

The Adult Education--Basic Grants to States program authorized under the" Adult Education and Family Literacy Act of 1998" (AEFLA), enacted as "Title II" of the "Workforce Investment Act of 1998" (WIA) (P.L. 105-220), is the major source of federal support for adult basic education and literacy education programs.…

Throughout the history of the United States, adult education has played a continuous role in helping adults reach for better lives. In the early 20th century, as this country witnessed expanded growth and tremendous work opportunities, it became apparent that in order to have a productive workforce and economic stability, the language needs of so…

A study examined the Federal Government's role in adult literacy. A far-reaching plan of action for the Federal Government was proposed that was based on an understanding of national literacy need and the structure and politics of Federal Government. The focus of the current national literacy movement was found to be seriously flawed in…

The National Council of La Raza's position on the reauthorization of Title I of the Higher Education Act is detailed in this paper, which was presented as testimony to the House Postsecondary Education Subcommittee. The paper begins by concurring with the assessment that, as long as Title I remains a largely untargeted program which serves…

Limited English proficient (LEP) persons comprise a significant and growing portion of the population of the United States. Although these people with their language, culture, and strong work ethic represent a valuable human resource for this country's future productivity, LEP persons are grossly underrepresented in vocational and educational…

This document examines the role of the federal government in achieving the six National Education Goals. Six chapters identify and analyze federal programs aligned with the purposes of each goal. Following the preface and a list of the National Education Goals, Anne Crowley's introductory chapter presents a historical overview of the events…

This document deals with the problem of adult illiteracy in America and methods of addressing the problem. The first section contains reports on two gatherings held to address the illiteracy problem: a roundtable discussion by members of the National Governors' Association's Task Force on Adult Literacy of the state role in addressing adult…

A study reviewed the Adult Education Act's (AEA's) largest program--the State Grant Program, its coordination with federal employment training programs, and the extent to which the program ensured accountability for program quality and results. The study relied on national data in conducting its review and performed more detailed work in three…

Reported here are the continuing hearings on H.R. 15 (a bill to extend for five years certain elementary and secondary education programs and the Adult Education Act) which examine the accomplishments and problems of the Adult Education Act since it was last amended in 1976. One-half of the content consists of the testimony, statements, and…

From the perspective of the field of adult literacy, the year 1999 is best seen not as the penultimate year of the millennium but as the year bookended by the reauthorization of the National Literacy Act in late 1998 and the National Literacy Summit of early 2000. Both of those events represent a huge milestone, and 1999 may be regarded as the…

The four papers in this series were commissioned for the first meeting of the National Commission on Adult Literacy, which met in Nashville on November 14, 2006. The first paper, "Adult Education and Literacy Legislation and Its Effects on the Field," provides the basic provisions of the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA,…

This report from phase 1 of a two-phase study conducted during 1989-1991 reviews 85 programs in 12 federal agencies that authorize the expenditure of funds for adult education services. The impetus for this study was the requirement in Section 6214 of the Hawkins-Stafford Elementary and Secondary School Improvement Amendments of 1988. Data were…

Adult basic education programs in California, Illinois, North Carolina, Texas, and Virginia were reviewed to assess the progress made by the programs in reducing illiteracy. The programs' management was also evaluated. It was found that although some positive achievements have been made, the program successfully reaches only a small fraction of…

This report, which is intended for individuals developing family literacy (FL) programs, contains background information on the research, development, operation, evaluation, and outcomes of federal- and state-level FL initiatives. Discussed in section 1 are the following topics: the importance/benefits of FL programs; definitions of literacy and…