[NLA] President's FY2004 Adult Education Budget

[Thomas Sticht]

The following is from the www.ed.gov web site. Tom Sticht

The President’s Fiscal Year 2004 Budget Summary
February 3, 2003
Vocational and Adult Education

Overview

Programs in the Vocational and Adult Education account, as they are
currently configured, provide formula grants to States to further State
and community efforts to improve vocational education programs and adult
education and literacy systems. With the exception of two literacy
programs for incarcerated youth and adults, all programs in this account
are subject to reauthorization in 2004.

The fiscal year 2004 budget request of $1.591 billion for this account
supports the Administration's reauthorization strategy to reshape the
Federal investment in education for the workforce and intensify the focus
on adult literacy skills. A proposed new Secondary and Technical Education
program would shift from providing traditional vocational education to an
entirely new focus on supporting academic achievement at the high school
level and on providing high-quality technical education at the community
college level that is coordinated with local high schools. It would also
promote stronger accountability for results by linking grantee funding to
success in achieving student outcomes. Funding in this account would
provide States, local educational agencies, community colleges, and
schools with the resources to strengthen academic and technical education
at the secondary and postsecondary levels. Also, proposed amendments to
the adult education programs would strengthen local accountability for
improved instruction in reading, mathematics, and English literacy.

Adult Education and Litearcy Budget for FY 04

Adult Basic and Literacy Education State Grants - $584.3 million
(Note: this includes funds for National Leadership Activities
which were $9.5 million in FYS 02,03)

National Institute for Literacy - $6.7 million

Total: $591.0 which is $0.1 million less than in FYS 02,03

The Administration plans to propose amendments for the reauthorization of
the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act to  increase the focus on
building stronger skills in basic reading, math, and English acquisition
for adults who need to strengthen weak literacy skills or want to earn
their high school diploma or its recognized equivalent (the GED). Among
other things, proposed amendments would revise current accountability
provisions, add a new State requirement for developing and implementing
educational standards for adult literacy activities leading to high
school-level proficiency, require that teachers be trained in the use of
research-validated instructional practices in reading, math and English
fluency, and strengthen provisions for employer partnerships and for the
participation of community- and faith-based organizations in the program.

The request includes $6.7 million for the National Institute for Literacy,
with the expectation that new authorizing legislation would continue
support for its communication, capacity-building, and policy analysis
activities. No funds are requested under the current, separate National
Leadership Activities authority. The reauthorization strategy will address
national activities, including technical assistance and evaluation, as
part of the proposed State Grants program.



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