NLA INFO: Adult Education bill introduced in Congress

[Sheila Rosenberg]

alice-

thanks so much for the update. i was looking for this bill and hadn't seen
it filed in thomas. really appreciate the way nifl keeps us up on the
legislation. helps immensely. thanks again!! 


At 10:35 AM 4/23/97 EST, you wrote:
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>     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
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>     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
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>        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.
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>     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. 
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