NLA INFO: Adult Education bill introduced in Congress

[Johnson, Alice]

     A new Policy Update that summarizes the Employment, Training and 
     Literacy Enhancement Act introduced in Congress last week follows.
     
     Alice Johnson
     National Institute for Literacy
      
     
     
     New Adult Education and Training Bill Introduced in Congress
     
        April 17, 1997 -- A bipartisan group of lawmakers today introduced 
     legislation that consolidates over 50 employment, training, and 
     literacy programs into three block grants to states:  one for adult 
     employment and training, one for disadvantaged youth, and one for 
     adult education and literacy.  
     
        The Employment, Training, and Literacy Enhancement Act of 1997, 
     H.R. 1385 -- introduced by Reps. Buck McKeon (R-CA), Bill Goodling 
     (R-PA), and Dale Kildee (D-MI) -- picks up where the House left off 
     last year when the CAREERS bill was not enacted.
     
     Key Adult Education and Literacy Provisions
     
        H.R. 1385 includes a number of provisions that are important to the 
     adult education and literacy community.  It includes separate funding 
     streams for each of the three block grants and requires states to give 
     all local providers "direct and equitable access" to federal adult 
     education funds.  It prohibits states from using funds allocated by 
     this bill to supplant state adult education and literacy funds.
     
        Of the funds that flow from the federal government to the states 
     for adult education and literacy through this bill, 85 percent must 
     reach local programs for service delivery, 10 percent may be used for 
     professional development and other program improvement activities 
     within the state, and not more than 5 percent may be used for state 
     administration.
     
        H.R. 1385 explicitly includes family literacy as part of the adult 
     education and literacy system.  It continues national program support 
     activities through both the Department of Education and the National 
     Institute for Literacy.  It eliminates the current set-aside for 
     corrections education, as well as the current limit on how much can be 
     spent on adult secondary education.
     
     Key Employment and Training Provisions
     
        In order to improve access to employment and training services, the 
     bill transfers responsibility for design and implementation of 
     programs to states and local communities and creates a full service 
     employment and training system, similar to the "one-stop" centers 
     already operating in some states.  The system offers comprehensive 
     education and training information, such as skill assessment, job 
     search and placement assistance, and information about local adult 
     education and literacy programs.
     
        H.R. 1385 requires each state to establish a state plan that 
     includes specific goals, benchmarks, and measures.  The state plan 
     will be used by the federal government to monitor how each state is 
     meeting its goals and benchmarks and by the state to monitor local 
     program progress.  Adult education and literacy measures -- called 
     "core performance indicators" -- include the following:
     
     z demonstrated improvements in state literacy and numeracy skill 
     levels;
     z placement or retention in or completion of postsecondary education, 
     training, or employment;
     z attainment of the literacy skills and knowledge individuals need to 
     be productive and responsible citizens and to become more actively 
     involved in the education of their children.
     
        The bill requires a joint planning process at the state level, 
     coordinated by the Governor, who would bring together representatives 
     of the education and business communities to develop the plan.  The 
     state agency with responsibility for adult education and literacy 
     would have final authority over the adult education and literacy 
     sections of the plan.  
     
        States that exceed their goals could receive additional funding 
     through new incentive grants from the Secretary of Education, while 
     those that fail to meet their goals would be sanctioned by a reduction 
     in funding.
      
     Next Steps
      
        The Subcommittee on Postsecondary Education, Training, and Lifelong 
     Learning, chaired by Rep. McKeon, is scheduled to consider H.R. 1385 
     on April 24.  Since the bill has bipartisan support, it is likely to 
     move quickly to full committee, chaired by Rep. Goodling, for 
     consideration.  As it moves through the legislation process, specific 
     elements of the legislation are likely to change, and these changes 
     will be covered in future Policy Updates.
      
     For a copy of H.R. 1385, call the House Document Room at 202/226-5200.